Patent · US Expired

Method for recovering methane from a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation

US5566755A · kind A · utility

224Cited by
19References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 1995
Grant dateOct 22, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 13, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25J3/04569
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method is disclosed for recovering methane from a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation having a production well in fluid communication with the formation and an injection well in fluid communication with the formation. In the method an oxygen-depleted effluent, produced by a cryogenic separator is injected into the formation through the injection well. A first methane-containing gaseous mixture is recovered from the formation through the production well during at least a portion of the time the oxygen-depleted effluent is being injected into the formation. The first methane-containing gaseous mixture has a first methane-desorbing gas volume percent. The injection of oxygen-depleted effluent is ceased and thereafter a second methane-containing gaseous mixture is recovered from the formation which has a second methane-desorbing gas volume percent which is less than the first methane-desorbing gas volume percent.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.