Coalbed Methane Moves from Unconventional to Mainstream Energy Resource

New natual gas reserves are vital to guaranteeing a steady supply of affordable fuel to power our cars, heat and cool our homes, generate electricity and preserve Americans' quality of life. Large amounts of methane, or natural gas, are stored inside of coal. In the past, coalbed methane was primarily a hazard to coal miners and was vented to the atmosphere during mining. Now, new technology allows this natural gas to be produced for use in our homes, electrical generation plants and factories. The result, coalbed methane is now a significant part of our Nation's natural gas supply and less methane, an important greenhouse gas, is released to the atmosphere.

Natural gas is adsorbed on tiny fractures, know as cleats, in coal seams. Water pressure holds the natural gas in place. If the water pressure is released, the natural gas is released.

To produce natural gas from coal seams, wells are drilled into a coal seam and the water is pumped out of the coal. With the water pressure reduced, gas can migrated through tiny fractures to the well, where it is produced. The recovered water is used for agricultural purposes, or if too salty, reinjected back into deep saline aquifers. Improved characterization of coal seams and custom well designs have reduced operating costs and greatly improved recovery of natural gas. The result is this once uneconomical and unconventional source of natural gas is now helping meet the Nation's growing energy needs.