Thermogravimetric analysis of coalbed methane: A novel approach towards quantifying coalbed methane reserves

Author

Siddhartha Nahar

Abstract

"Coalbed methane has rapidly gained popularity as an alternate, economically viable energy resource. In order to effectively exploit this resource, an urgent need exists to develop analytical techniques that provide a quick and reliable method to determine gas content of various coals. Although a USBM method is generally used with varying degrees of precision to determine gas yields, the lack of an absolute industry standard for this application leads to inconsistent and inconclusive results. The analytical tools available today include experimental methods that involve monitoring of desorbed gases from coal samples over a period of time. Empirical gas content relationships are also used to determine the volume of gas contained in coalbeds. The problem with these methods is that they are either too time consuming (desorption experiments) or unreliable (empirical methods).

The following work is to serve as a first step to exploring a novel approach for estimating the methane content of coal formations by using thermal analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows some promise in overcoming the limitations of current techniques. This technique involves heating a coal sample and recording the evolution of gas as a function of temperature; a mass spectrometer (MS) coupled to the TGA apparatus can be used to determine compositions of the gases released at different temperatures, thus providing a potentially more reliable method of determining gas volumetrics in a fraction of the time used by desorption experiments. Advantages and shortcomings of the above method are discussed along with recommendations for further refining the technique"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Gupta, Anuj

Committee Member(s)

Numbere, Daopu Thompson, 1951-
Ludlow, Douglas K.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Petroleum Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Fall 2003

Pagination

x, 51 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 48-50).

Rights

© 2003 Siddhartha Nahar, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Coalbed methaneCoal -- AnalysisThermogravimetry

Thesis Number

T 8400

Print OCLC #

55127184

Recommended Citation

Nahar, Siddhartha, "Thermogravimetric analysis of coalbed methane: A novel approach towards quantifying coalbed methane reserves" (2003). Masters Theses. 2422.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/2422