Underground

Coal
Gasification

Hans Bruining & Karl-Heinz Wolf

07 February 2007 1

Delft University of Technology, Department of Geotechnology,

Mijnbouwstraat 120, 2628 RX, Delft - The Netherlands.
T: +31 (0) 1527 86029, F: +31 (0) 1527 81189
Introduction

El Tremedal,
Hannah, Wy, USA Spain

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Introduction

Difference between burning

thick seams and thin seams

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Introduction

Lateral extension
reactor

CRIP reactor

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

Boswinkel Concept

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour
Zone 2,3: Thermal Compaction and Permeability
Autoclave: Grain aggregate compaction during heating experiments

Rubble grain size represents

the lower end, which is
available in a coal fire. i.e.
2-5 mm

Maximum heating: up to 1200 C.

Maximum confining stress: 11 MPa

Measured are Pressures and

Expansion
Calculated are bulk/constrained
modulus, creep rates, porosity
and permeability
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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour
Overburden zone (1,2): Thermal Expansion, Shrinkage

Shrinkage and porosity (-)

and Permeability.

Porosity change

Shrinkage converted to porosity and permeability by using a power law relation for
porosity and permeability
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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour
Domain Temperature
Reconstruction Using
XRD

Seventy four temperature

specific minerals are
recognized in various
types of overburden
rocks, which in
combinations specify the
maximum domain
temperature under
various redox conditions

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour
Injection Results

Production
It is possible to understand underground coal fires and also possible to find ways to utilize them
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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour
FLAC:
FLAC compaction result for 40 m deep coal fire, 6 m rubble zone Maximum subsidence at
the slope: 0.85 m .

Creep with temperature

Slope
dependent creep rates.
Maximum subsidence of
0.63 m, 3 m from the
burning coal.

Most of the subsidence is

attributed to compaction of
the rubble zone

Volume reduction causes a

permeability reduction
from the initial 10-8 m2
The accumulated volumetric strain of a coal fire at 40 m down to 10-10 m2
depth. The •- symbols refer to the domains
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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

Temperature Results
Using the Convection
Model for a 2 m Coal
Seam at 40 m Depth
A: The applied domains
B: The flow distribution in
m3/(ms)
C: The temperature
distribution in K
D: Oxygen concentrations
in %
Results:
• Air flow mainly via the
rubble zone and minor
influx via the faults
• Maximum temperature
1620 K
• Coal consumption ca.
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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Utilization of Underground Coal Fires (1996)
: Exploration

: Utilization

Idealized situation, as presented in 1996 in Tayuen – China,

the first moment where this study came into view
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 QUESTIONS
Department of Geotechnology, Dietz Laboratory

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Department of Geotechnology
POB 5028, 2600 GA Delft - The Netherlands.
Tel. #31(0)1527.86029.
Contact: k.h.a.a.wolf@tudelft.nl
Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006

Convection model, cavity development and roof rock behaviour

90’s Under planning/development

• El Tremedal, Spain – 700 m • U.K.
• New Zealand - shallow UCG • China

• Krabi mine, Thailand – ca. 350 m

• Beijing, China – Shallow UCG
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EC-presentation Brussels, 29-11-2006