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Coal Properties and Utilization
Research Guide
What is Coal Properties and Utilization?
Coal Properties and Utilization is the study of coalbed methane recovery and use, encompassing coal permeability, methane adsorption, pore structure, CO2 sequestration, low-rank coals, spontaneous combustion, microbial methane generation, enhanced recovery techniques, and geological controls on reservoirs.
This field includes 33,699 papers on coalbed methane systems. Research examines pore networks in mudrocks that enable gas flow in shale-gas reservoirs, as classified in "Spectrum of pore types and networks in mudrocks and a descriptive classification for matrix-related mudrock pores" (Loucks et al., 2012). Shale composition and pore structure determine gas storage potential, per "The importance of shale composition and pore structure upon gas storage potential of shale gas reservoirs" (Ross and Bustin, 2008).
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Coalbed Methane Adsorption Isotherms
This sub-topic analyzes methane adsorption capacity of coals using Langmuir and Dubinin models across rank, moisture, and pressure conditions. Researchers correlate adsorption with micropore volume and coal composition.
CO2 Sequestration in Coal Seams
Studies evaluate coal's preferential adsorption of CO2 over methane for enhanced CBM recovery and carbon storage. Experiments include competitive adsorption, swelling effects, and injectivity tests.
Coal Permeability Evolution CBM Production
Research models changes in cleat permeability due to matrix shrinkage, swelling, and stress during depletion and injection. This incorporates triaxial tests, fracture propagation, and numerical simulation.
Pore Structure Characterization Coals
This area employs gas adsorption, mercury intrusion, and imaging to quantify coal pore networks by size and connectivity. Studies link nanoporosity to gas storage and diffusion kinetics.
Microbial Methanogenesis in Coalbeds
Researchers investigate coal-degrading microbes, metabolic pathways, and biostimulation for biogenic methane generation. Genomics, isotope tracing, and field trials characterize microbial contributions.
Why It Matters
Coal properties and utilization enable coalbed methane extraction for energy production and support CO2 sequestration to mitigate emissions. "Oxy-fuel combustion technology for coal-fired power generation" (Buhre et al., 2005) details oxy-fuel processes that capture over 90% of CO2 from flue gases in coal plants, applied in pilot projects like Callide Oxyfuel in Australia. Pore structure analysis in "Pore structure characterization of North American shale gas reservoirs using USANS/SANS, gas adsorption, and mercury intrusion" (Clarkson et al., 2012) improves permeability models for enhanced recovery, boosting methane yields from low-rank coals. "Coalbed methane: A review" (Moore, 2012) summarizes geological controls that guide reservoir management in basins like the San Juan Basin, where production exceeds 1 trillion cubic feet annually.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Coalbed methane: A review" (Moore, 2012) provides a foundational overview of coalbed methane recovery, adsorption, and geological factors, making it the ideal starting point for understanding core concepts before diving into specialized pore or combustion studies.
Key Papers Explained
"Coalbed methane: A review" (Moore, 2012) establishes the broad context of methane adsorption and recovery. Loucks et al. (2012) in "Spectrum of pore types and networks in mudrocks and a descriptive classification for matrix-related mudrock pores" classifies pores critical for flow, which Ross and Bustin (2008) in "The importance of shale composition and pore structure upon gas storage potential of shale gas reservoirs" link to storage capacity. Clarkson et al. (2012) in "Pore structure characterization of North American shale gas reservoirs using USANS/SANS, gas adsorption, and mercury intrusion" builds on these with quantitative methods, while Buhre et al. (2005) in "Oxy-fuel combustion technology for coal-fired power generation" extends to utilization via CO2 capture.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Current research emphasizes integrating pore characterization from Clarkson et al. (2012) and Chalmers et al. (2012) with vitrinite reflectance kinetics from Sweeney and Burnham (1990) to model enhanced recovery under sequestration conditions. Focus shifts to low-rank coals and microbial generation, using frameworks from Moore (2012).
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spectrum of pore types and networks in mudrocks and a descript... | 2012 | AAPG Bulletin | 2.4K | ✕ |
| 2 | The importance of shale composition and pore structure upon ga... | 2008 | Marine and Petroleum G... | 2.1K | ✕ |
| 3 | Evaluation of a Simple Model of Vitrinite Reflectance Based on... | 1990 | AAPG Bulletin | 1.9K | ✕ |
| 4 | The Application of Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Studies to Prob... | 1974 | Economic Geology | 1.7K | ✕ |
| 5 | Pore structure characterization of North American shale gas re... | 2012 | Fuel | 1.7K | ✕ |
| 6 | Coalbed methane: A review | 2012 | International Journal ... | 1.6K | ✕ |
| 7 | Bioassay for monitoring biochemical methane potential and anae... | 1979 | Water Research | 1.5K | ✕ |
| 8 | Oxy-fuel combustion technology for coal-fired power generation | 2005 | Progress in Energy and... | 1.5K | ✕ |
| 9 | Characterization of gas shale pore systems by porosimetry, pyc... | 2012 | AAPG Bulletin | 1.4K | ✕ |
| 10 | Effect of organic-matter type and thermal maturity on methane ... | 2012 | Organic Geochemistry | 1.1K | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What pore types form the gas flow network in coal-related mudrocks?
Matrix-related pore networks in mudrocks consist of nanometer- to micrometer-size pores that, with natural fractures, create permeability for gas flow to induced fractures. "Spectrum of pore types and networks in mudrocks and a descriptive classification for matrix-related mudrock pores" (Loucks et al., 2012) provides a classification of these pores in shale-gas systems.
How does shale composition affect gas storage in coalbed reservoirs?
Shale composition and pore structure control the gas storage potential of shale gas reservoirs. "The importance of shale composition and pore structure upon gas storage potential of shale gas reservoirs" (Ross and Bustin, 2008) shows that organic matter and mineralogy influence methane adsorption capacity.
What methods characterize pore structures in North American coal shales?
Pore structures in North American shale gas reservoirs are characterized using USANS/SANS, gas adsorption, and mercury intrusion. "Pore structure characterization of North American shale gas reservoirs using USANS/SANS, gas adsorption, and mercury intrusion" (Clarkson et al., 2012) quantifies nano- to micro-scale pores critical for permeability.
What is oxy-fuel combustion in coal utilization?
Oxy-fuel combustion burns coal in oxygen and recycled flue gas to produce a CO2-rich stream for sequestration. "Oxy-fuel combustion technology for coal-fired power generation" (Buhre et al., 2005) reviews boiler designs and retrofits that achieve high CO2 capture rates.
How does thermal maturity affect methane adsorption in shales?
Organic-matter type and thermal maturity determine methane adsorption in shale-gas systems. "Effect of organic-matter type and thermal maturity on methane adsorption in shale-gas systems" (Zhang et al., 2012) demonstrates higher adsorption with increasing maturity up to a threshold.
What are key aspects of coalbed methane reviewed in literature?
Coalbed methane involves adsorption, desorption, and production from coal seams influenced by rank and geology. "Coalbed methane: A review" (Moore, 2012) covers exploration, recovery techniques, and environmental factors across global basins.
Open Research Questions
- ? How do variations in organic matter type and thermal maturity quantitatively predict methane adsorption limits in diverse coal ranks?
- ? What pore network geometries best model permeability enhancement under CO2 sequestration pressures in low-rank coals?
- ? Which geological controls most strongly influence microbial methane generation rates in coalbed reservoirs?
- ? How can spontaneous combustion risks be predicted from pore structure and coal composition data?
- ? What enhanced recovery techniques optimize simultaneous methane extraction and CO2 storage in heterogeneous coal seams?
Recent Trends
The field maintains 33,699 works with steady focus on coalbed methane pore structures and CO2 sequestration, as seen in highly cited papers like Loucks et al. with 2411 citations and Ross and Bustin (2008) with 2115 citations.
2012No new preprints or news in the last 12 months indicate consolidation around established techniques from Clarkson et al. and Buhre et al. (2005).
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