In situ biological beneficiation of peat in the production of hydrocarbon fuels

A process for in situ conversion of organic carbonaceous material in a peat deposit to hydrolysis products, liquid fermentation products, and leached organic carbonaceous materials which are amenable to biological or chemical action to produce gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuels and hydraulic harvesting said hydrolysis products, liquid fermentation products and leached organic carbonaceous material from said peat deposit comprising:

• introducing an aqueous solution comprising hydrolysis promotion agent to a first zone of a natural peat deposit in situ at or near the surface of the earth and passing said aqueous solution through said first zone thereby contacting said peat in said deposit and forming in situ an active hydrolysis zone and hydrolyzing organic carbonaceous components of said peat to produce hydrolysis products;
• passing said hydrolysis products and organic carbonaceous materials leached from said peat by said aqueous solution from said hydrolysis zone to a second zone adjacent said hydrolysis zone of said natural peat deposit and forming in situ an active fermentation zone and fermenting a portion of said hydrolysis products to produce liquid fermentation products;
• and
• passing said liquid fermentation products, remaining hydrolysis products and organic carbonaceous materials leached from said peat by said aqueous solution out of said fermentation zone and out of said natural peat deposit by hydraulic means to an ex situ active methanogenic anaerobic digester to produce a hydrocarbon gaseous fuel.

A process for in situ conversion of organic carbonaceous material in a peat deposit to hydrolysis products, liquid fermentation products, and leached organic carbonaceous materials which are amenable to biological or chemical action to produce gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuels and hydraulic harvesting said hydrolysis products, liquid fermentation products and leached organic carbonaceous material from said peat deposit comprising:

• introducing an aqueous solution comprising hydrolysis promotion agent to a first zone of a natural peat deposit in situ at or near the surface of the earth and passing said aqueous solution through said first zone and contacting said peat in said deposit thereby forming in situ an active hydrolysis zone and hydrolyzing organic carbonaceous components of said peat to produce hydrolysis products;
• passing said hydrolysis products and organic carbonaceous materials leached from said peat by said aqueous solution from said hydrolysis zone to a second zone adjacent said hydrolysis zone of said natural peat deposit and forming in situ an active fermentation zone and fermenting a portion of said hydrolysis products contained therein to produce liquid fermentation products;
• and
• passing said liquid fermentation products remaining hydrolysis products and organic carbonaceous materials leached from said peat by said aqueous solution out of said fermentation zone and out of said natural in situ peat deposit by hydraulic means.