Chemically induced stimulation of cleat formation in a subterranean coal formation
AssigneeVastar Resources, Inc.
InventorsWalter C. Riese, Stephen V. Bross
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Abstract
A method for increasing the production of methane from a subterranean coal formation by chemically stimulating the formation of cleats in the formation to increase the rate of methane production from the formation by injecting an aqueous oxidant solution into the formation to stimulate the formation of cleats in the formation; and thereafter producing methane from the formation at an increased rate. Suitable oxidants include chlorine dioxide, metallic salts of perchlorate, chlorate, persulfate, perborate, percarbonate, permanganate, nitrate and combinations thereof.
Claims20
A method of increasing the rate of production of methane from a subterranean coal formation penetrated by at least one well, the method comprising:
- a) injecting an aqueous oxidant solution containing at least one oxidant selected from the group consisting of chlorine dioxide, water soluble metallic salts of perchlorate, perborate, chlorate, persulfate, percarbonate and permanganate, nitrate and combinations thereof into the formation;
- b) maintaining the aqueous oxidant solution in the formation for a selected time to stimulate the formation of cleats in the formation;
- and
- c) producing methane from the formation at an increased rate.
A method for increasing the production of methane from a subterranean coal formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, the method comprising:
- a) Injecting an aqueous oxidant solution containing at least one oxidant selected from the group consisting of chlorine dioxide, water soluble metallic salts of perchlorate, chlorate, persulfate, perborate, percarbonate, permanganate, nitrate and combinations thereof into the formation through the injection well;
- and
- b) Producing methane from the formation through the production well at an increased rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.