Coal Bed Methane
Introduction to Coal Bed Methane
The presence of methane in seams of coal is a regular occurrence in the mining industry - and the serious safety risks posed by disturbing this natural gas are well documented. Yet new technologies are emerging that allow the extraction of this gas in an economically viable way - and with it, a valuable new energy source.
Known as Coal Bed Methane, the extraction of methane from unworked coal is now pre-occupying a number of countries around the world. The rapid depletion of conventional energy sources has led to growing interest in how gas can be extracted from coal in the long term.
The process of extraction of Coal Bed Methane targets methane in the coal itself, which is created by the decay of organic matter over time. As the heat and pressure underground builds - and the coal begins to form - the methane is gradually adsorbed into the surface coal. By releasing the pressure in the coal seams, it is possible to capture the methane and pump it directly into the local gas network.
In USA 10% of the domestic gas supply is derived from extracting gas in this way. In turn, Coal Bed Methane has also become an important source of energy in Canada and Australia and is now being pursued in a number of other countries.