tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251183560375528307.post445100268114165802..comments2024-03-28T21:34:42.328-05:00Comments on Bit Tooth Energy: Burning coal in place, or Underground Coal GasificationHeading Outhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790783659594652657noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251183560375528307.post-83444967081341126182011-02-21T18:49:03.372-06:002011-02-21T18:49:03.372-06:00Hey Dan… any chance I can speak to you about your ...Hey Dan… any chance I can speak to you about your experience working on one of these projects? drew.k.wilson@gmail.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04659740345265098447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251183560375528307.post-45166018209072360562010-02-03T09:04:57.713-06:002010-02-03T09:04:57.713-06:00One can only outline a process in posts such as th...One can only outline a process in posts such as this. There are a lot of issues that need considerable research, as you note, before this will become more of a reality at any scale.Heading Outhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01790783659594652657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251183560375528307.post-16666796518977049022010-01-29T23:21:32.602-06:002010-01-29T23:21:32.602-06:00You almost make it sound like any coal deposit can...You almost make it sound like any coal deposit can be simply drilled into and set on fire. One significant drawback to UCG: The combustion of coal creates all sorts of Sulphates and Phenols (nasty compounds). Even some of the original American research (eg Brinhall, 1988 - comes to mind but I'm sure the other WY related papers are all found in the SPE journal) recognised the possibility of hydrogeological contamination. The "successful" operation of the UCG field in Uzbekistan operates under less than strict environmental regulations. <br /><br />A successful UCG combustion chamber requires me than just a deposit of coal... it requires a sound enough cap rock that it will not collapse into the burned out chamber, and that the deposit itself is isolated from groundwater aquifers which may come in contact with the products of coal combustion.<br /><br />Having worked on one of the projects you mentioned I can honestly say that UCG is not a perfect situation by any means... but the fact it works so well with coal that is not traditionally economically viable to mine, means this technology is certainly worth more research.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071366556472836316noreply@blogger.com