Deep Coal Energy Jack Hamilton, Ph.D. Jack Adams, Ph.D. John McLennan, Ph.D. Mike Free, Ph.D. Mike Nelson, Ph.D.

The objective of this research is to achieve a methodology that can recover energy from carbon resources that are otherwise unrecoverable using conventional techniques, primarily by using microbe consortia to produce methane – the cleanest variety of fossil fuel. The first target for evaluation is existing coal-bed methane production that is in decline, because of accessibility and the existing infrastructure. Ultimately, a carbon-neutral power generation scenario may be feasible.

From: U.S. Energy Information Agency 2005 In billion short tons In Billion Short Tons

Fuel Type Approximate Energy ( K BTU/Kg) Approximate CO 2 Emissions (Kg/ M BTU) Wood (50% C) 1488 Coal (poor) (50 -80% C) Coal (premium)( % C - C 135 H 96 O 9 NS) 2692 Ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH) 28*51* Petroleum (C 5 H 12 to C 36 H 74 ) 4371 gasoline 73 diesel Methane (CH 4 ) 5152 Hydrogen133None (*) It takes ~44 K BTU of energy to produce a kilogram of EtOH from corn!

 Methane occurs in most coals, but water permeates coal beds, and its pressure traps methane within the coal. To produce methane from coal beds, water must be drawn off first, lowering the pressure so methane can flow out of the coal and to the well bore.  The coal acts as both the source of the gas and the storage reservoir  CO 2 is preferentially adsorbed on fracture surfaces and displaces methane from those surfaces

 CBM existing today was formed millions of years ago in an environment that does not exist in the CBM deposits today  If only 1/100 th of 1% of US coal reserves were converted into methane by microbes, and captured above ground, gas resources would increase by 23 Tcf, or approximately 16% of current US reserves (Scott, 1994)  An infrastructure of ~30,000 CBM wells currently exist to take advantage of this technology – some of these wells are nearing methane depletion  THE GOAL  To initiate or enhance methane production by introducing a mixture of nutrients, non-pathogenic bacteria and Archaea that work together to break down the organic carbon structure in coal and produce methane

Microbes Microorganisms are the earliest forms of life on earth; occupy almost every conceivable ecological niche -- even the harshest, most extreme, and toxic environments -- about 1 billion live in a single teaspoon of moist soil

 Strict anaerobes  They produce large quantities of methane as a byproduct of their metabolism  They are members of the domain Archaea  Form mutualistic relationships with other microbes allows them to exist in a wide variety of environments

Coal is a mixture of compounds, its chemical formula is approximated by C 135 H 96 O 9 NS. This means that by mass, carbon accounts for almost 85% of coal.

GEOPOLYMERS IN COAL, OIL SHALE, TAR SANDS, AND HEAVY OILS VARIOUS HUMIC ACIDS & OTHER COLLOIDAL POLYMERS Microbial Methane Production FATTY ACIDS, SUGARS, AMINO ACIDS, Hydrolytic Fermentative Bacteria Hydrolytic Fermentative Bacteria Syntrophic Fermentative Acetogenic Bacteria CH 4 + HCO 3 - Methanogenic Bacteria CH 4 + 2H 2 O SEQUESTRATION OF CO 2 NH 3, H 2 S, CO 2, H +, ACETATE + Methanogenic Bacteria H+H+

 Methane production depends on:  Site environment, microbes present, and nutrient components available MICROBES METHANE SUBSTRATES

 Correct ratios of C:N:P:S:Other minerals:Vitamins  Proper nutrient component composition  Optimized non-pathogenic microbial populations  Site chemistry adjustments

Overall Objective  Commercialize microbial enhanced coal bed methane production by increasing the understanding of the process, optimizing production, facilitating both above ground and in- situ application, and partnering with industry for large-scale implementations

Goals  Perform small (~1/2 ton) pilot-scale testing with different coal types to optimize microbes and nutrients-environment ▪ Understand factors affecting enhanced microbial CBM production ▪ Examine CO 2 addition  Establish a partnership with industry to conduct a commercial- scale pilot test of the enhanced microbial CBM technology ▪ Conduct on-site methane production testing to optimize process  Initiate a full-scale model production facility and market the proven technology within two years

Goals  Test established delivery methods - hydraulic fracturing and/or remote mining to achieve adequate reactive surface area  Examine potential environmental risks  Acquire data to assess potential for carbon-neutral power generation  Initiate a full-scale in situ model production facility and market the technology  Examine the potential for integrating on-site power generation

Why this Approach will be Successful?  The multidisciplinary team understands the complexities of this project based on prior success at a large scale in other related in-situ and industrial microbial systems  This approach addresses the important challenges that are likely to facilitate a transition from small-scale testing to large- scale commercialization  Demonstrated successful approach at bench scale and are ready to move to small-scale pilot tests  Success demonstrated in other full-scale bioreactor and in situ microbial transformations

CH 4 RECOVERY GEOPOLYMERS IN COAL, OIL SHALE, OIL SANDS, AND HEAVY OILS Hydrolytic Fermentative Bacteria/Archaea H 2 O - FATTY ACIDS, SUGARS, AMINO ACIDS, NH 3, H 2 S, CO 2, ACETATE, H + Methanogenic Bacteria/Archaea Fracture Solution / Microbe / Nutrient / CO 2 re-injection Conversion of Injected CO 2 to Methane CO 2 CH 4 Storage Biogenic Methane REDUCED CARBON EMISSION COAL ENERGY

CH 4 RECOVERY GEOPOLYMERS IN COAL, OIL SHALE, OIL SANDS, AND HEAVY OILS Hydrolytic Fermentative Bacteria/Archaea H 2 O - FATTY ACIDS, SUGARS, AMINO ACIDS, NH 3, H 2 S, CO 2, ACETATE, H + Methanogenic Bacteria/Archaea CO 2 /Flue Gas Recovery Fracture Solution / Microbe / Nutrient / CO 2 re-injection Conversion of Injected CO 2 to Methane CO 2 CH 4 Power Generation Biogenic Methane CARBON NEUTRAL COAL ENERGY

Multidisciplinary Project Team  Michael L. Free, Ph. D. (Metallurgical/Chemical Engineer)  Interfacial reactions, hydrometallurgy  D. Jack Adams, Ph. D. (Microbiologist/Biochemist)  Microbiology, waste water treatment, metal biosorption  John McLennan, Ph. D. (Civil Engineer)  Soil/rock mechanics, hydrofracturing, enhanced oil/gas recovery  Jack Hamilton, Ph.D (Geologist)  Commercialization specialist, oil/gas, mining  Michael Nelson, Ph. D. (Mining Engineer)  Coal mining, mineral processing, remote mining