EP0030430A1 - Gazéification souterraine de charbon - Google Patents

Gazéification souterraine de charbon Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0030430A1
EP0030430A1 EP19800304267 EP80304267A EP0030430A1 EP 0030430 A1 EP0030430 A1 EP 0030430A1 EP 19800304267 EP19800304267 EP 19800304267 EP 80304267 A EP80304267 A EP 80304267A EP 0030430 A1 EP0030430 A1 EP 0030430A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
boreholes
borehole
coal
water
combustion zone
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP19800304267
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Ian Mccoll Stewart
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
The University of Newcastle
Newcastle University of Upon Tyne
Newcastle Innovation Ltd
Original Assignee
The University of Newcastle
Newcastle University of Upon Tyne
Newcastle Innovation Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The University of Newcastle, Newcastle University of Upon Tyne, Newcastle Innovation Ltd filed Critical The University of Newcastle
Publication of EP0030430A1 publication Critical patent/EP0030430A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/295—Gasification of minerals, e.g. for producing mixtures of combustible gases
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
    • E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
    • E21B43/243—Combustion in situ
    • E21B43/247—Combustion in situ in association with fracturing processes or crevice forming processes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the underground gasification of coal and particularly to a method of gasifying coal which improves the efficiency and yield of the gasifying operation.
  • Gasification is a method of partially burning coal underground under conditions such as to generate combustible gas (usually a mixture of CO, H 2 , CH 4 CO 2 and N 2 ).
  • the raw coal behind the burning face is heated by conduction from the face; water vapour, tars and rich gas are discharged through the hot surfaces by which they may be partly cracked to hydrogen and carbon monoxide before mixing with the reacting gas stream.
  • the combustion and gasification zones move forward into the virgin coal, "mining" the coal.
  • boreholes have been drilled along the lower part of a seam, linked by various means at one end where air is introduced; gas is recovered from vertical boreholes intersecting the "in seam" holes.
  • a real problem with this method is that eventually the unsupported roof of the void thus created, will cave in, blocking the passage of air to the burning face. At depths greater than about 600 metres subsidence of the ground above the cavity may completely seal the cavity.
  • a method for the underground gasification of coal seams which comprises drilling two boreholes into and along the seam and linking the boreholes at one end, passing an oxidant blast of air or oxygen along one of the boreholes from the unlinked end and recovering gas from the other borehole at its unlinked end, and injecting water either continuously ⁇ or intermittently into said one borehole so as to minimise the combustion of coal within the borehole and to control the position of the combustion zone.
  • boreholes may be arranged in pairs, respectively carrying oxidant blast and produced gas; alternatively boreholes may be provided in trios, oxidant being passed along one and gas recovered from the remaining two boreholes.
  • Other arrangements may also be envisaged according to the size and character of the coal seam.
  • the ratio of oxidant to gas boreholes is from 1:1 to 1:5.
  • the role of the various boreholes may be reversed periodically, the oxidant blast channels being switched to conduct the gas produced and oxidant being forced down the previous gas-conducting channel.
  • the boreholes may be drilled from an underground heading or by deviation drilling frcm the surface.
  • the boreholes may be drilled from the surface along the base of the seam.
  • control water injection may be introduced continuously, preferably some is injected as an intermittent "slug" of water in an amount computer from the extent of combustion which has taken place in the system, the blast rate and the temperature and analysis of the gas produced, in order to reduce the "burning back" effect.
  • Waste water from the gas cleaning system used to clean the gas produced may be used as the control water.
  • the control water may contain surplus tar byproduct, if desired. Thus dirty water may be used since the control water passes to the combustion zone.
  • the water injection system eliminates the need for a large steam generator, which is very costly for high pressure operation.
  • the system also permits re-injection to the combustion zone of particulate material recovered from the product gas.
  • Carbon dioxide, water and/or additional oxidant may be introduced through vertical or other boreholes in the burned out zone in order to recover heat from the previously burned-out region and to purge that zone of combustible gases.
  • the number, size and location of the boreholes is a matter which is determined by the size and character of the coal seam being worked, and by the operating pressure.
  • the blast rate will depend upon the coal and seam properties and the pressure, but these are matters which can be readily and routinely optimised for any given coal seam by experiment.
  • the linking of the boreholes at the intended initial combustion zone can be achieved in a number of ways, the preferred method again depending to some extent upon the character of the coal.
  • linkage between boreholes may be achieved by air or oxygen injection, water injection, electrically or by drilling.
  • Figure 1 shows air A being passed from the ground surface down through an oxidant borehole 1 to a coal seam 5 having a combustion zone 6.
  • Combustible gas produced by partial combustion of coal passes along gasification bore 7 and is withdrawn along gas borehole 2.
  • Reference numeral 3 indicates an initial oxidant blast borehole which has now been superseded as the combustion zone moves forward, and a further blast borehole 4 which will come into use when the combustion zone reaches it. In this way, the coal seam is progressively burnt out, usually at the rate of a few meters a day.
  • the gasification bores 7 have been drilled horizontally from a heading 14 shown in dashed lines.
  • the heading formed the initial ignition and blast zone.
  • Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of the invention.
  • a series of parallel boreholes 8, 9, 10 are drilled in the base of the coal seam 5 by drilling from a heading as before, cr by deviation drilling from the ground surface.
  • the borehole 8 transmits blast air to the combustion zone 6 and boreholes 9 and 10 recover combustible gas from the combustion zone.
  • Auxiliary gas if required, is introduced via a vertical bore hole 12 into the burnt out region 13 behind the combustion zone.
  • coal there is a tendency for coal to burn backwards along the air blast borehole 8, rather than burning between the borehole 8 and the adjacent gas boreholes 9 and 10. This tendency is reduced by injecting water and/or steam into the borehole 8 along with air blast.
  • the water may be injected continuously or intermittently.
  • oxygen employed instead of air, water may be injected continuously with intermittent additions of slugs of water.
  • This embodiment is particularly suitable for coals which shrink on drying (lower-rank coals).
  • Figure 4 shows a similar arrangement to Figure 3 wherein the role of the parallel boreholes 8, 9 and 10 is cyclically varied according to arrangements 1, 2 and 3.
  • Each borehole is fitted at the surface with a valve (not shown) to permit the connection of the borehole to either air, product gas, control water or to a purge mains for purging.
  • the control water system may be combined with a conventional water quenching or washing system used to treat the gas exiting from the gas borehole.
  • a conventional water quenching or washing system used to treat the gas exiting from the gas borehole.
  • each borehole is used alternatively for air blast and for gas production.
  • This embodiment allows any burn back which may occur on the air blast borehole to be equalised by switching the air blast between the various boreholes.
  • Figure 5 shows a third embodiment wherein the linking of adjacent boreholes is achieved by drilling along the seam angled boreholes 11 which intersect. in the desired combustion zone 6. As before, air A is introduced along one borehole and gas G is recovered along the other borehole. This technique removes the need to create linking channels between the various bores before combustion is initiated, and may be particularly advantageous for deep seam operation.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Air Supply (AREA)
EP19800304267 1979-11-28 1980-11-27 Gazéification souterraine de charbon Ceased EP0030430A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPE150879 1979-11-28
AU1508/79 1979-11-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0030430A1 true EP0030430A1 (fr) 1981-06-17

Family

ID=3768364

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19800304267 Ceased EP0030430A1 (fr) 1979-11-28 1980-11-27 Gazéification souterraine de charbon

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0030430A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0073576A1 (fr) * 1981-08-18 1983-03-09 Miron Tuval Méthode de génération souterraine de chaleur
WO1996028638A1 (fr) * 1995-03-15 1996-09-19 Zhaoxi Chai Procede de gazeification in situ du charbon
WO1999063200A1 (fr) * 1998-05-29 1999-12-09 Zhaoxi Chai Mine de charbon produisant du gaz de houille a partir d'un gisement et procede de production de gaz de houille
RU2424429C1 (ru) * 2009-12-02 2011-07-20 Институт горного дела Севера им. Н.В. Черского Сибирского отделения Российской академии наук Способ подземной газификации угля
CN103758501A (zh) * 2014-01-28 2014-04-30 新奥气化采煤有限公司 煤炭地下气化方法
CN115247552A (zh) * 2021-04-27 2022-10-28 中国石油天然气集团有限公司 煤炭地下气化井筒的密封方法
WO2023208248A1 (fr) * 2022-10-17 2023-11-02 安徽理工大学 Système de test et procédé de mesure de l'efficacité de gazéification souterraine de charbon
CN117823112A (zh) * 2024-03-06 2024-04-05 太原理工大学 一种原位煤体超临界水气化制氢异层开采方法及装置

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3196945A (en) * 1962-10-08 1965-07-27 Pan American Petroleum Company Method of forward in situ combustion with water injection
US3221811A (en) * 1963-03-11 1965-12-07 Shell Oil Co Mobile in-situ heating of formations
US4026357A (en) * 1974-06-26 1977-05-31 Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd. In situ gasification of solid hydrocarbon materials in a subterranean formation
US4083402A (en) * 1975-04-02 1978-04-11 Roza Ivanovna Antonova Method of underground gasification of a coal bed
FR2396792A1 (fr) * 1977-07-06 1979-02-02 Wenzel Werner Procede et dispositif pour la gazeification souterraine de charbon
GB2004297A (en) * 1977-09-16 1979-03-28 Grupping Arnold Underground gasification of coal

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3196945A (en) * 1962-10-08 1965-07-27 Pan American Petroleum Company Method of forward in situ combustion with water injection
US3221811A (en) * 1963-03-11 1965-12-07 Shell Oil Co Mobile in-situ heating of formations
US4026357A (en) * 1974-06-26 1977-05-31 Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd. In situ gasification of solid hydrocarbon materials in a subterranean formation
US4083402A (en) * 1975-04-02 1978-04-11 Roza Ivanovna Antonova Method of underground gasification of a coal bed
FR2396792A1 (fr) * 1977-07-06 1979-02-02 Wenzel Werner Procede et dispositif pour la gazeification souterraine de charbon
GB2004297A (en) * 1977-09-16 1979-03-28 Grupping Arnold Underground gasification of coal

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0073576A1 (fr) * 1981-08-18 1983-03-09 Miron Tuval Méthode de génération souterraine de chaleur
WO1996028638A1 (fr) * 1995-03-15 1996-09-19 Zhaoxi Chai Procede de gazeification in situ du charbon
WO1999063200A1 (fr) * 1998-05-29 1999-12-09 Zhaoxi Chai Mine de charbon produisant du gaz de houille a partir d'un gisement et procede de production de gaz de houille
RU2424429C1 (ru) * 2009-12-02 2011-07-20 Институт горного дела Севера им. Н.В. Черского Сибирского отделения Российской академии наук Способ подземной газификации угля
CN103758501A (zh) * 2014-01-28 2014-04-30 新奥气化采煤有限公司 煤炭地下气化方法
CN103758501B (zh) * 2014-01-28 2017-01-11 新奥气化采煤有限公司 煤炭地下气化方法
CN115247552A (zh) * 2021-04-27 2022-10-28 中国石油天然气集团有限公司 煤炭地下气化井筒的密封方法
WO2023208248A1 (fr) * 2022-10-17 2023-11-02 安徽理工大学 Système de test et procédé de mesure de l'efficacité de gazéification souterraine de charbon
CN117823112A (zh) * 2024-03-06 2024-04-05 太原理工大学 一种原位煤体超临界水气化制氢异层开采方法及装置
CN117823112B (zh) * 2024-03-06 2024-04-30 太原理工大学 一种原位煤体超临界水气化制氢异层开采方法及装置

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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Effective date: 19811125

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Effective date: 19840605

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Inventor name: STEWART, IAN MCCOLL