Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide in Coal with Enhanced Coalbed Methane RecoveryA Review

Abstract

This article reviews the storage of captured CO2 in coal seams. Other geologic formations, such as depleted petroleum reservoirs, deep saline aquifers and others have received considerable attention as sites for sequestering CO2. This review focuses on geologic sequestration of CO2 in unmineable coalbeds as the geologic host. Key issues for geologic sequestration include potential storage capacity, the storage integrity of the geologic host, and the chemical and physical processes initiated by the deep underground injection of CO2. The review topics include (i) the estimated CO2 storage capacity of coal, along with the estimated amount and composition of coalbed gas; (ii) an evaluation of the coal seam properties relevant to CO2 sequestration, such as density, surface area, porosity, diffusion, permeability, transport, rank, adsorption/desorption, shrinkage/swelling, and thermochemical reactions; and (iii) a treatment of how coalbed methane (CBM) recovery and CO2-enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) recovery are performed (in addition, the use of adsorption/desorption isotherms, injection well characterization, and gas injection are described, as well as reservoir screening criteria and field tests operating in the United States and abroad); (iv) leak detection using direct measurements, chemical tracers, and seismic monitoring; (v) economic considerations using CO2 injection, flue gas injection, and predictive tools for CO2 capture/sequestration decisions; (vi) environmental safety and health (ES&H) aspects of CO2-enhanced coalbed methane/sequestration, hydrodynamic flow through the coal seam, accurate gas inventory, ES&H aspects of produced water and practices relative to ECBM recovery/sequestration; (vii) an initial set of working hypotheses concerning the chemical, physical, and thermodynamic events initiated when CO2 is injected into a coalbed; and (viii) a discussion of gaps in our knowledge base that will require further research and development. Further development is clearly required to improve the technology and economics while decreasing the risks and hazards of sequestration technology. These concerns include leakage to the surface, induced seismic activity, and long-term monitoring to verify the storage integrity. However, these concerns should not overshadow the major advances of an emerging greenhouse gas control technology that are reviewed in this paper.