Cristina Fernanda Alves Rodrigues

The measurement of coal porosity with different gases

Abstract Sorption processes can be used to study different characteristics of coal properties, such as gas content (coalbed methane potential of a deposit), gas diffusion, porosity, internal surface area, etc. Coal microstructure (porosity system) is relevant for gas flow behaviour in coal and, consequently, directly influences gas recovery from the coalbed. This paper addresses the determination of coal porosity (namely micro- and macroporosity) in relation to the molecular size of different gases. Experiments entailed a sorption process, which includes the direct method of determining the “void volume” of samples using different gases (helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane). Because gas behaviour depends on pressure and temperature conditions, it is critical, in each case, to know the gas characteristics, especially the compressibility factor. The experimental conditions of the sorption process were as follows: temperature in the bath 35 °C; sample with moisture equal to or greater than the moisture-holding capacity (MHC), particle size of sample less than 212 μm, and mass ca. 100 g. The present investigation was designed to confirm that when performing measurements of the coal void volume with helium and nitrogen, there are only small and insignificant changes in the volume determinations. Inducing great shrinkage and swelling effects in the coal molecular structure, carbon dioxide leads to “abnormal” negative values in coal void volume calculations, since the rate of sorbed and free gas is very high. In fact, when in contact with the coal structure, carbon dioxide is so strongly retained that the sorbed gas volume is much higher than the free gas volume. However, shrinkage and swelling effects in coal structure induced by carbon dioxide are fully reversible. Methane also induces shrinkage and swelling when in contact with coal molecular structure, but these effects, although smaller than those induced by carbon dioxide, are irreversible and increase the coal volume.

Review of European energy policies regarding the recent “carbon capture, utilization and storage” technologies scenario and the role of coal seams

Abstract European energy policy has made an effort in the last years in developing a coherent strategy towards the definition of a set of goals, involving the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, increasing renewable energy use. This paper presents the different options of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies regarding the legislative initiatives implemented in the new European energy policy. This new European energy strategy was established taking into consideration not only energy demand but also social and environmental requirements. Taking that into account, the different strategies adopted by the European energy council are discussed and an overview of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies—a mitigation strategy able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—and the CO2 potential utilization were also addressed. Conventional and unconventional CO2 geological storage/sequestration reservoirs are analysed, taking into consideration the different properties of both types of reservoirs. Finally, it is possible to conclude that coal seams must play a major role in CCS/CCUS technologies, since coal is considered as an efficient technological solution to CO2 geological storage/sequestration.

Unconventional coal reservoir for CO2 safe geological sequestration

The energy dependency is one of the major problems the international community faces nowadays and governments are being encouraged to develop strategies in different fields in order to reduce their external dependency. Additionally, the European Commission sustainable energy plan is engaged into reducing greenhouse gases effect to promote sustainable environment. It is not yet possible to displace fossil fuels from the energy scenario and it is essential to apply new technologies, such as CCS (carbon, capture and storage) technologies, specifically CO2 geological storage/sequestration. The paper studies different coal samples (considered one of the solutions of CO2 geological storage/sequestration) concerning their storage and gas circulation capacities since they are highly dependent on coal physical/chemical properties which are intimately related to its genetic conditions and incarbonisation processes. Petrographic parameters are also studied, since they will induce different porous structures and inte...

Gas content derivative data versus diffusion coefficient

The study of the gas diffusion process has a main role in both coalbed methane (CBM) production and CO2 injection in geological sequestration projects. The accurate determination of gas diffusion coefficients in unconventional reservoirs such as coal seams requires a consistent mathematical approach. The study of the gas diffusion process in coal seams was carried out using sorption isotherms. The Langmuir model for individual gases and the extended Langmuir model for multicomponent gas mixtures were applied to fit sorption isotherm data. “Gas content derivative data” and “gas content changes” emerged as crucial mathematical parameters to accurately study the gas diffusion process. The main goal of this paper is to define the degree of interaction between the gas content derivative data and the gas diffusion process. Experiments were performed on three samples selected from two different coals, which were submitted to three different gas compositions, viz 99.999% CH4; 99.999% CO2; and a gas mixture containing 74.99% CH4 + 19.99% CO2 + 5.02% N2, at 35℃, and at pressures ranging from 0 up to 50 bar. Experimental results obtained from the three samples indicate that during adsorption/desorption processes, the diffusion coefficients increase and the gas content changes decrease when the pressure decreases, due to the sample saturation degrees and to the kinetic mechanisms increase. Additionally, the “gas content derivative data” scattering is slightly lower during the desorption process than during the adsorption process. These behaviours are clearly identified when using methane, but are even more evident when using CO2 and the gas mixture, due to the CO2 interaction with coal porous structure, which induces a considerable resistance to CO2 release. The results show that sample B (CH4 + CO2 + N2) displays higher diffusion coefficient values (this behaviour is mainly related to the presence of N2) than sample C (CH4) and than sample A (CO2).

Coal gas adsorption/desorption isotherms versus diffusion process

In the present work, the authors studied two meta-anthracite samples from Douro coalfield (NW of Portugal) in which classical sorption isotherms were carried out, using CO2 only. Results have demonstrated that whenever the CO2 is adsorbed in the coal pores/matrix it will be enduringly fixed up to, approximately, pressures of 32 bar in sample A and 34 bar in sample B. Since the gas release process is intensely related to diffusion coefficients, it is crucial to define their evolution on the two analyses reported in this paper. So, during adsorption, diffusion coefficients decrease in sample A from 4.66736E-08 to 1.23490E-09 cm2/sec (6.72 and 48.13 bar) and during desorption they increase from 7.61829E-09 to 1.09908E-08 cm2/sec (45.68 and 11.48 bar). In sample B, diffusion coefficients decrease from 2.47409E-08 to 2.11813E-09 cm2/sec (7.53 and 47.17 bar) in adsorption and increase in desorption from 1.48767E-09 to 2.83736E-08 cm2/sec (42.22 and 7.71 bar).

Gas diffusion coefficient in coal: calculation of tangent slope accuracy through the inflection point determination

This investigation aims to develop an accurate method to calculate the tangent slope (b) - a fundamental parameter to calculate gas diffusion coefficients under different pressures - using inflection point determinations. The authors also studied the different tangent slope behaviours depending on the experimental gas sorption used. The single Langmuir model for individual gases and the extended Langmuir model, for multicomponent gas mixtures were applied to fit experimental gas sorption isotherm data. Two coals were selected in order to minimize and/or avoid the maceral composition and vitrinite mean random reflectance effects. Samples were submitted to three different gas compositions, viz. 99.999% CH4; 99.999% CO2; and a gas mixture containing 74.99% CH4 + 19.99% CO2 + 5.02% N2. Results showed that the first and the second derivatives calculated to define the first inflection points represent exactly the final limit of tangent slopes.

Increasing Sorption Isotherms Accuracy: Weibull Modelling and Linear Regression

Relying on an adequate mathematical approach, two different mathematical procedures can be applied to the huge database produced during gas sorption isotherm experiments in order to obtain accurate data to be used in the industrial practice. To treat data determined from gas sorption isotherms without a careful mathematical support will produce inaccurate results, because all the determinations will be dependent on human decision. The minimum error reported since the first stage of a sorption isotherm determination, which corresponds to volume calibrations of reference and sample cells performed through the use of helium, will produce enormous inaccuracies on sorption isotherm behavior. These inaccurate behaviors may sometimes invalidate any Coalbed Methane recovery and CO2 injection programs. The study consisted on investigating gas sorption isotherm accuracies determined during the first part of the sorption process, which is mainly conducted by monitoring the pressure decline with time, in the reference and the sample cells (when both cells are not in contact), until the stabilization stage is achieved. Three samples from two different coals were selected in order to study their gas sorption behavior, in terms of a clear mathematical approach, when submitted to three different gas compositions, viz. 99.999% methane (CH4); 99.999% carbon dioxide (CO2); and a gas mixture containing 74.99% CH4 + 19.99% CO2 + 5.02% nitrogen (N2). Sorption experiments allow to conclude that the three samples present the same mathematical response during the first part of the sorption process. However, all gas sorption data (adsorption and desorption) collected from reference cell have a better fitting to a Modified Weibull Model, and all gas sorption data (adsorption and desorption) collected from sample cell respond in a trustworthy way to a Linear Regression Model. Confidence bands and prediction intervals (or bands) were also computed.