Stimulation and continuous recovery of biogenic gas from coal beds
OwnerMichael S. Perry, Gerald Lukeninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of enhanced biogenic methane production and recovery of biogenic gas without removal of formation water is disclosed through introduction of carbohydrates causing biostimulation of methanogenic microorganisms allowing recovery of methane without removal of formation waters.
Claims19
A method of separating methane from formation rock types and formation water in a gas producing well, the steps comprising:
- selecting a food grade carbohydrate as a nutrient amendment;
- diluting said food grade carbohydrate with formation water to form a dilute mixture;
- depositing via gravitational forces said dilute mixture into wellbore tubing;
- exposing assemblages of microorganisms within said well to said dilute mixture;
- incubating said dilute mixture and said microorganisms for a pre-determined period of time for increased biogenic methane production;
- introducing an isolation tool within said wellbore, said isolation tool having connected first and second separator sections each having internal cavities;
- directing reservoir fluid upwardly into said second separator section of the isolation tool and limiting flow of solids into said first separator section with spaced perforations on said second separator section;
- limiting the passage of formation fluid through a hydrophobic sleeve member;
- allowing passage of gas through said sleeve member, a mesh member and a perforated tool insert and into an annulus of the tool insert;
- gathering isolated gas into transport tubing for passage into surface gas gathering pipelines;
- and
- maintaining the formation fluid within the well.
A method of stimulating biogenic methane production and separating methane from a subsurface reservoir hosting assemblages of methanogenic bacteria including a wellbore extending from the Earth's surface to said subsurface reservoir and having tubing extending from the surface to a depth below the depth of the static fluid level in the wellbore, the method comprising:
- inserting a transport member within said subsurface reservoir;
- exposing said assemblages of methanogenic bacteria to a set amount of food grade carbohydrates through said transport member;
- incubating said methanogenic bacteria and said food grade carbohydrates for increased biogenic methane production;
- attaching at least one downhole separator to said tubing;
- positioning said at least one downhole separator below the static fluid level, said at least one downhole separator having connected first and second housing sections each having internal cavities and including a bypass gas transport;
- removing solids from methane gas/formation water within said subsurface reservoir with said at least one downhole separator, said second housing section having a lower chamber in which the methane gas/formation water enters through perforations;
- filtering of the methane gas/formation waters with a hydrophobic membrane, a mesh member and a perforated tool insert;
- transporting additional isolated methane gas through said bypass gas transport within said hydrophobic membrane;
- commingling said methane gas/formation waters with said isolated methane gas within said first housing section to form commingled methane gas and limiting flow of solids into said first housing section with spaced perforations on said first housing section;
- gathering said commingled methane gas into tubing for passage into a gas gathering member;
- and
- maintaining formation fluid within said wellbore.
An improved method of enhancing production of biogenic gas in a subsurface reservoir containing assemblages of microorganisms and separating said biogenic gas from said subsurface reservoir, the steps comprising:
- selecting a food grade carbohydrate from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose and fructose;
- amending said subsurface reservoir with said food grade carbohydrate;
- incubating said microorganisms and said food grade carbohydrate for increased biogenic methane production;
- introducing at least one isolation tool within a casing of said subsurface reservoir, said isolation tool having a protective member with upper and lower open ends and an internal cavity sized to accommodate a perforated cylindrical pipe having upper and lower open ends and a hydrophobic member;
- off-setting said protective member from a casing within said wellbore with at least one centralizer;
- filtering of said biogenic gas/formation waters with said cylindrical pipe and said hydrophobic membrane to separate said biogenic gas;
- creating a pressure sink within an annulus of said isolation tool;
- gathering said biogenic gas into tubing for passage into a gas gathering member;
- and
- maintaining formation waters within the well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.