Process for in situ coal gasification
AssigneeRamcor, Inc.
InventorHarish R. Anada
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In situ coal gasification to form a methane rich gas is carried out by injecting a lower aliphatic alcohol such as methanol into a coal seam, raising the temperature to cause dissociation of the alcohol and injecting water into the same. Nascent hydrogen is produced which reacts with the coal to form methane. The product gas may also contain hydrogen and carbon monoxide which can be separated and reacted to form methanol.
Claims10
A process for in situ gasification of coal to produce a combustible methane rich product gas which comprises injecting a lower aliphatic alcohol into an underground coal seam, raising the temperature of the seam sufficiently to cause vaporization and dissociation of the alcohol into carbon monoxide and nascent hydrogen and initiate a hydrogasification reaction, within the coal seam, and injecting water into the seam to react with the coal to form additional carbon monoxide and hydrogen which participate in said hydrogasification reaction to produce said product gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.