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Coal and Coalbed Gas

Fueling the Future

Bridging the gap in expertise between coal and coalbed gas, subfields in which opportunities for cross training have been nonexistent, Coal and Coalbed Gas sets the standard… Read more

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Description

Bridging the gap in expertise between coal and coalbed gas, subfields in which opportunities for cross training have been nonexistent, Coal and Coalbed Gas sets the standard for publishing in these areas. This book treats coal and coalbed gas as mutually inclusive commodities in terms of their interrelated origin, accumulation, composition, distribution, generation, and development, providing a balanced understanding of this energy mix.

Currently considered a non-renewable energy resource, coalbed gas, or coalbed methane, is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds. In recent years, countries have begun to seek and exploit coal for its clean gas energy in an effort to alleviate environmental issues that come with coal use, making a book on this topic particularly timely. This volume takes into account processes of coalification, gasification, and storage and reservoir characterization and evaluation and looks at water management and environmental impacts as well.

Key features

  • Covers environmental issues in the development of coalbed gas
  • Includes case studies, field guides and data, examples, and analytical procedures from previous studies and investigations
  • Accessible by a large multidisciplinary market by one of the world's foremost experts on the topic

Readership

Geologists, exploration geologists, geophysicists, reservoir engineers, petroleum engineers, biogeochemists, environmental scientists, microbiologists, resource economists, water management specialists, hydrologists, land managers, ecologists, and policy makers and government manager in natural gas/petroleum and mining

Table of contents

Author’s Biography

Romeo M. Flores

Foreword

Preface

SI/Metric Units

Chapter 1. Introduction and Principles

Abstract

Key Items

Introduction

Philosophical Overview and Scope

Learning Metaphors

Definitions and Terminologies

Basic Principles

Global Coal Endowment

From Past to Future Coal Production

Coal Use in a Carbon-Constrained World

Summary

Chapter 2. Coal as Multiple Sources of Energy

Abstract

Key Items

Overview of Resources

Coal as Resource of Coalbed Gas

Coal Resources vs Gas Production Potential

Coal Mining Development and Gas Outbursts

Gas Outbursts vs Coal Development

Global Exploitation and Utilization of CMM and AMM

Petroleum Derived from Coal

Coal Hydrocarbons as Petroleum Systems

Summary

Chapter 3. Origin of Coal as Gas Source and Reservoir Rocks

Abstract

Key Items

Coal as Source and Reservoir of Coalbed Gas

Genesis of Peat to Coal: Concepts

Peat-Forming Environments

Types of Peatlands

Controls on Development of Peatlands

Evolution of Peatlands

Marsh to Bog Progression

Metaphors for Peatlands

Peat Types: Fibric, Hemic, and Sapric

Processes of Peatification, Gasification, and Diagenesis

Origin of Peat Gas: A Biogenic Generation

Depositional Systems of Peat (Coal)

Transformation of Peat to Coal: Differences in Concept and Time

Analogs of Economic Coal and Coalbed Gas Reservoir

Attributes of Peat Bog Relevant to Coal

Rates of Vertical Peat (Coal) Accumulation

Transformation of Peat Bogs to Coalbed Gas Reservoirs

Scaling Peat Facies to Reservoir Level

Summary

Chapter 4. Coalification, Gasification, and Gas Storage

Abstract

Key Items

Transformation of Peat to Coal

Bituminization, Debituminization, and Graphitization of Organic Matter (Metamorphism)

Influence of Coalification on Gas Reservoir Properties

Coal Rank Classification System

Effects of Maturation on Coal Properties

Role of Vitrinite Reflectance

Types of Gas Generation during and Post Coalification (Maturation)

Gas Sorption, Storage, and Diffusion

Role of Hydrostatic Pressure in Gas Desorption

Summary

Chapter 5. Coal Composition and Reservoir Characterization

Abstract

Key Items

Introduction

Coal Composition

Variations and Values of Microlithotypes in Coalbed Gas Reservoirs

Relationship of Permeability and Porosity in Coal

Reservoir Characterization

Insights of Reservoir Characterization of Gas Plays in the Powder River Basin

Summary

Chapter 6. Resource Evaluation Methodologies

Abstract

Key Points

The Methodology Conundrum

Coal Resources vs Gas Resources

Universal Guidelines to Coal Resources Assessment

Coal Resource Assessment Methodology

Data Collection

Coalbed Gas Resource and Reserve Assessments

Assessment of Coalbed Gas as a Petroleum System

Methodologies: Room for Improvement

Summary

Chapter 7. Coalbed Gas Production

Abstract

Key Items

Introduction

Drilling Technology

Well Completion

Role of Coal Geology in Completion Strategy

Reservoir Stimulation

Coal Reservoir Characterization vs Well Completion and Stimulation

Wireline Logging Tools

Basic Logging Tools

Virtues of Hi-Tech Logging Tools

Toward Coalbed Gas Development

Gas Gathering Systems

Fueling the Future with Coalbed Gas

Summary

Chapter 8. Co-Produced Water Management and Environmental Impacts

Abstract

Key Items

Introduction

Co-Produced Water

Origin of Co-Produced Water

Isotopic Signatures of Co-Produced Water

Volume and Composition of Co-Produced Water

Composition of Water

Environmental Impacts and Concerns on Co-Produced Water Disposal

Beneficial Uses of Co-Produced Water

Managing Australian Co-Produced Water

Summary

Chapter 9. Worldwide Coalbed Gas Development

Abstract

Key Items

Introduction

Global Gas Supply and Demand

Role of World's Coal to Coalbed Gas Exploitation

Global Coalbed Gas Regions: OECD vs NOCED

United States

Canada

Australia

United Kingdom

China

Russia

India

Indonesia

Other Potential Tertiary Coal Basins

Summary

Chapter 10. Coal and Coalbed Gas: Outlook

Abstract

Key Items

Introduction

Historical Perspectives on Natural Gas and Associated Biogenic Gas

Biogenic Natural Gas

Biogenic Coalbed Gas

Future Sustainability of Coalbed Gas

Future Challenges of Coal to Biogenic Gas

Coal Outlook

Coalmine Gas Outlook

Conclusions

Science of Coal and Coalbed Gas

Technology of Coal and Coalbed Gas

References

Index

Review quotes

"Flores presents this industrial guide to coal and coalbed gas, aiming to balance the availability of coal as a resource with associated environmental concerns. After introducing principles of coal discovery and usage, the multipotency of coal as an energy source is discussed. Several chapters address the production of gas from coal, including necessary conditions and the chemistry and geology of coal maturity."—ProtoView.com, February 2014

"It’s an amazingly broad book and covers the fundamentals of coal formation, its geology, utilization and, quite importantly, how coal acts as a reservoir for gas…For all the students and especially the engineers out there, I’d go further than saying it is an essential book to have, I’d have to insist that it is mandatory."—CipherCoal.com, November 21, 201

"It is rare for a book to be so comprehensive on such a diverse topic such as coal. I'd recommend this for both the seasoned coal professional as well as the newly initiated."—Dr. Tim A. Moore, Managing Director, Cipher Consulting Ltd, New Zealand

"[Coal and Coalbed Gas] is a very much anticipated book… in that it provides a complete, comprehensive review of coal from genesis to coalbed gas resource management, something that was lacking in single, publically available publications…."—Russell Stands-Over-Bull, PhD, Sr. Geologic Advisor, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, USA

"Romeo Flores is a world-leading expert on coal geology… [T]here has not been an authoritative book on coalbed methane, until now."—Dr. David B. Rutledge, California Institute of Technology, USA

"Dr. Romey Flores is a world-class expert in coal geology, coalbed methane, and a pioneer in biogenic CBM…. This is a must-read book for scientists, engineers, and managers involved in coal and CBM."—Dr. Song Jin, President and CTO, Next Fuel Inc., USA

"[Flores] has clearly explained the widespread application of the fundamentals of coal geology in the exploration of coalbed methane…. A textbook of this kind that synthesizes various aspects of geology, geochemistry and reservoir properties of coal has been long overdue."—Dr. Mohinudeen Faiz, Principal Geologist, Origin Energy, Australia

"[This book] presents a well-balanced, up-to-date… discussion of both disciplines [coal geology and coalbed gas] in terms of the science and technology, including recent experiments to generate biogenic gas from microbial activity."—Dr. Frank G. Etheridge, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University, USA

Product details

About the author

RF

Romeo M. Flores

Dr. Flores served as a Research Scientist in the Energy Resources Center of the U.S. Geological Survey from 1975–2010; Professor and Chair of the Department of Geology at Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas 1966–1975; adjunct faculty at several U.S. universities and external PhD examiner for the Université de Liège, University of the Witwatersrand, and University of Natal from 1982–2010; and consulting geologist/advisor to Anadarko CBM Group in Denver, CO, USA, AECOM/BLM CBM hydrostratigraphy-groundwater modelling for Powder River Basin in Fort Collins, CO, USA, Shanxi Lanyan Coalbed Methane Group and Biogenic Gas Laboratory in Jincheng, China. Since 1995 Dr. Flores has served as an Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Coal Geology, edited international special publications, and organized U.S.-international conferences. Dr. Flores has authored/co-authored publications in coal geology, peat-coal depositional environments, sedimentology, stratigraphy, hydrostratigraphy, basin analysis, coal and coalbed gas resources assessment, coalmine methane, and biogenic coalbed gas of the U.S. and other countries. Dr. Flores is the principal author of the Coal and Coalbed Gas: Fueling the Future, 2014, First Edition and forthcoming Chinese (translation) version.

Dr. Flores is a recipient of several national and international awards: U.S. Department of Interior Distinguished Service Award, U.S. Geological Survey Meritorious Service Award, , Geological Society of America Gilbert H. Cady Award in Coal Geology, University of the Philippines Alumni Award in Geology, Philippines La Union Province Pammadayaw Award, and University of Canterbury Angus Erskine Fellow Award.

Affiliations and expertise
Expert, Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), Inc., New York, NY, USA; Principal consultant, Geo.Sci.Tech Energy Resources, Golden, CO, USA.

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