Coal Bed Methane

Coalbed Methane (CBM) is an unconventional form of natural gas found in coal deposits or coal seams.

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What is Coal Bed Methane?

Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is an unconventional form of natural gas found in coal deposits or coal seams. CMB is formed during the process of coalification, the transformation of plant material into coal1. It is considered a valuable energy resource with reserves and production having grown nearly every year since 1989. Varied methods of recovery make CBM a stable source of energy.

CBM can be recovered from underground coal before, during, or after mining operations. It can also be extracted from “unminable” coal seams that are relatively deep, thin or of poor or inconsistent quality. Vertical and horizontal wells are used to develop CBM resources2. Extraction requires drilling wells into the coal seams and removing water contained in the seam to reduce hydrostatic pressure and release absorbed (and free) gas out of the coal3.

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CBM extraction continues to undergo research and development. Concerns include assessing the resource, identifying favourable geologic production areas, establishing efficient recovery schemes, demonstrating advanced drilling technologies and supporting capture and use of diluted gas streams2.

The environmental impacts of CBM also continue to be assessed. Methane is a greenhouse gas emitted through CBM extraction. Global methane emissions from coal mines are projected to account for approximately 8 percent of total global methane emissions. Disturbance of lands drilled and its effect on wildlife habitats results in ecosystem damage. CBM production behaviour is complex and difficult to predict in the early stages of recovery. Reservoir engineers and simulators must be employed to assess gas content, sportion time, thickness and reservoir pressure, among other factors. Though this is considered the optimum development strategy that could lead to economic recovery of CBM, any single factor can be affected by unpredictable nuances in a land’s profile4. An increasing concern is the effect water discharges from CBM development could potentially have on downstream water sources. Disposal of the highly salinized water that must be removed in order to release the methane creates a challenge, as its introduction into freshwater ecosystems could have adverse effects 5. Land disputes have emerged regarding claimed effects of waters as well as the water damage that might arise in the future1.

CBM development is a rapidly emerging industry and is considered an important source of energy. Communication links and information sharing between industry, government, non-governmental organizations, private developers and individual landowners will remain critical if this energy source is to be developed responsibly6.

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External resources

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

World Coal Association

India CMM/CBM Clearing House

UNECE

Guizoh CMM Recovery and Utilization Initiative

INTERNATIONAL OR PROMINENT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Coal Bed Methane Association of Alabama

World Coal Association

RESEARCH INSTITUTION

U.S. Geological Survey

Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research

CMPDI

ACADEMIC JOURNAL

U.S. Geological Survey

Science Direct

HISTORY
POLITICS
ECONOMICS

Petrowiki

U.S. Department of Energy

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The Pembina Institute

Pace Environmental Law Institute

BUSINESS ANALYSIS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

HEALTH IMPACT

Medibank Health Solutions

SUSTAINABILITY

University of Alberta

SDSG

OTHER INTERESTING ESSAYS/ARTICLES

Economic Times

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  1. Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.) Coalbed methane outreach program. Retrieved 23 March, 2015. http://www.epa.gov/coalbed/faq.html#one 
  2. United States Department of Energy (2012). Coalbed methane.  http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/coalbed_methane_factcard.pdf 
  3. United States Energy Information Administration (n.d.) US crude oil and natural gas proved reserves. http://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/crudeoilreserves/index.cfm 
  4. Thakur, P., Schatzel, S., & Aminian, K. (2014). Coalbed methane: From prospect to pipeline. https://books.google.com/books?id=hAd0AwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
  5. Environmental Literacy Council (2008). Coalbed methane. http://enviroliteracy.org/article.php/615.html
  6. National Park Services (2003). Coalbed methane development overview. http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/adjacent_minerals/EnergySummit/Methane/Coalbed%20Methane%20Factsheet.pdf