Results of coalbed-methane drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia
<p>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded drilling of a borehole (39.33889°N., 80.26542°W.) to evaluate the potential of enhanced…
Public-domain full text preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library. Original source: pubs.usgs.gov.
Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia By Leslie F. Ruppert, Michael H. Trippi, Nick Fedorko, William C. Grady, Cortland F. Eble, and William A. Schuller Chapter G.4 of Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin: Distribution, Geologic Framework, and Geochemical Character Edited by Leslie F. Ruppert and Robert T. Ryder Professional Paper 1708 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
Suggested citation: Ruppert, L.F., Trippi, M.H., Fedorko, Nick, Grady, W.C., Eble, C.F., and Schuller, W.A., 2014, Results of coalbed-methane drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia, chap. G.4 of Ruppert, L.F., and Ryder, R.T., eds., Coal and petroleum resources in the Appalachian basin; Distribution, geologic framework, and geochemical character: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1708, 23 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/pp1708G.4.
Contents Abstract 1 Introduction 1 Methods 2 Desorption Methods 2 Gas Analyses 6 Desorption Results and Gas Chemistry by Coal Bed and Coal Zone 6 Harlem Coal Bed 6 Brush Creek Coal Bed 7 Upper Freeport Coal Bed 7 Upper Kittanning Upper Split Coal Bed 12 Upper Kittanning Coal Bed 14 Clarion Coal Zone 15 Discussion 18 Conclusions 22 References Cited 22 Appendix A. Desorption Data for Coal Samples Retrieved From a Borehole at Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, W. Va 23 Figures
1. Generalized location map of the Meadowfill Landfill study area in Harrison County, W. Va 2
2. Generalized stratigraphic column showing Pennsylvanian coal beds and coal zones from which samples were desorbed for coalbed-methane content in the Meadowfill Landfill study area, Harrison County, W. Va 3 3.-14. Graphs showing—
3. Cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Harlem coal bed plotted against the square root of time 10
4. Cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Harlem coal bed plotted against the square root of time 11
5. Cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal sample from the Brush Creek coal bed plotted against the square root of time 11
6. Cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal sample from the Brush Creek coal bed plotted against the square root of time 11
7. Cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal sample from the Upper Freeport coal bed plotted against the square root of time 12
8. Cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal sample from the Upper Freeport coal bed plotted against the square root of time 12
9. Cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed plotted against the square root of time 13
10. Cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed plotted against the square root of time 13
11. Cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning coal bed plotted against the square root of time 14
12. Cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning coal bed plotted against the square root of time 15
13. Cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Clarion coal zone plotted against the square root of time 16
14. Cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes of the coal samples from the Clarion coal zone plotted against the square root of time 17
15. Bernard diagram for Meadowfill Landfill coal-bed-gas samples 20
16. Graph showing the isotopic value of hydrogen (deuterium) in methane plotted against the isotopic value of carbon in methane 21 Tables
1. Coal bed or coal zone name, depth of sample, and canister number for desorbed coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 3
2. Desorbed and residual gas volumes, on a measured raw-total-gas basis, by coal bed or zone and canister number, for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 4
3. Desorbed and residual gas volumes, on a dry, ash-free basis, by coal bed or zone and canister number, for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 4
4. Selected proximate analyses for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 6
5. Raw gas geochemistry analyses for coal samples from core retrieved from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 8
6. Gas geochemistry analyses corrected for air contamination for coal samples from core retrieved from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 8
7. Isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen (deuterium) in methane in gas samples from coal beds from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 10
8. Calculated coal-bed gas in place for coal beds underlying the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va 18
Conversion Factors Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) centimeter (cm) inch (in.) millimeter (mm) millimeter (mm) inch (in.) Volume cubic inch (in3) cubic centimeter (cm3 or cc) cubic inch (in3) milliliter (mL) cubic foot (ft3) cubic meter (m3) milliliter (mL) cubic inch (in3) cubic centimeter (cm3 or cc) cubic inch (in3) Mass gram (g) ounce, avoirdupois (oz) Pressure inch of mercury at 60°F (in Hg) kilopascal (kPa) pound per square inch (lb/in2 or PSIA) cubic foot per pound avoirdupois (ft3/lb) Calorific value British thermal unit (Btu) 1,055.056 joule (J) Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows: °C=(°F-32)/1.8 Gas desorption volumes are provided in cubic centimeters, which is abbreviated using the standard industry abbreviation, cc, instead of cm3. Gas content measurements are provided in both standard cubic feet per ton (SCF/ton) and cubic centimeters per gram (cc/g). The abbreviations are those used by the oil and gas industry. Hydrostatic pressure for coal is measured in pounds per square inch of area (PSIA, an industry abbreviation). The Langmuir volume is the maximum gas capacity of the coal and is measured in standard cubic feet per ton (SCF/ton) or cubic centimers per gram (cc/g). The Langmuir pressure is the pressure at which the coal absorbs half of its maximum gas capacity; it is measured in pounds per square inch of area (PSIA). The isotopic composition of carbon (carbon 13, 13C) in methane is reported as the deviation (expressed as δ13C) in units of parts per thousand (per mil) relative to the Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB) standard. The isotopic composition of hydrogen (deuterium, 2H) in methane is reported as the deviation (expressed as δ2H) in per mil relative to the Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW).
Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia By Leslie F. Ruppert,1 Michael H. Trippi,1 Nick Fedorko,2 William C. Grady,3 Cortland F. Eble,4 and William A. Schuller5 Abstract The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded drilling of a borehole (39.33889°N., 80.26542°W.) to evalu ate the potential of enhanced coalbed-methane production from unminable Pennsylvanian coal beds at the Meadowfill Landfill near Bridgeport, Harrison County, W. Va. The drilling commenced on June 17, 2004, and was completed on July 1, 2004. The total depth of the borehole was 1,081 feet (ft) and contained 1,053.95 ft of Pennsylvanian coal-bearing strata, and 27.05 ft of Mississippian strata. A total of 37.02 ft of high-volatile A and B bituminous Pennsylvanian coal was cored and desorbed from the Harlem, Brush Creek, Upper Freeport, Upper Kittanning upper split, and Upper Kittanning coal beds and the Clarion coal zone. Intact coal intervals were desorbed for a maximum period of 92 days before they were crushed to approximately 10-mesh to determine residual gas amounts. Crushed coal was desorbed for a period of 36 days. Measured gas content, on a dry, ash-free basis, ranged from 79.69 standard cubic feet per ton (SCF/ton), or 2.49 cubic centimeters per gram (cc/g), for the Harlem coal bed to 223.21 SCF/ton, or 6.98 cc/g, for the Clarion coal zone. Methane contents of desorbed gas from coal samples in the Meadowfill Landfill study area ranged from 14.87 to 98.73 percent (corrected for air contamination) for the Harlem coal bed and Clarion coal zone, respectively. Proportions of methane to the sum of the higher molecular weight hydrocar bons ranged from about 40 to 340 as the desorbed gas con tained only a small percentage of higher weight hydrocarbons. Coalbed methane from the Upper Kittanning upper split and the Upper Kittanning coal beds is thermogenic in origin with isotopic composition of carbon (carbon 13, 13C) in methane (expressed as δ13C in units of parts per thousand (per mil) rela tive to the Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB) standard) ranging from -46.6 to -48.7 per mil. Coalbed methane from the Brush Creek and Upper Freeport coal beds and the Clarion coal zone contains some biogenic methane with δ13C values ranging from -51.05 to -51.56 per mil. Introduction In 2002, U.S. landfills emitted about 200 million tons of methane, accounting for about 3 percent of the total U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions (Panehal and Guzzone, 2004). The Meadowfill Landfill near Bridgeport, Harrison County, W. Va. (fig. 1), which is developed above the Pittsburgh coal bed, is one of the largest landfills in the State. The landfill is expected to produce nearly 426,000 tons of methane and 1 million tons of carbon dioxide over the next 40 years (The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, unpub. data, 2003). Concerned with the direct venting of these gases in the atmosphere, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded a demonstration project to evaluate the feasibility of separating the landfill gas (LFG) into methane and carbon dioxide streams and then using the methane for power genera tion and sequestering the carbon dioxide in unmined coal beds beneath the landfill. A test borehole was drilled adjacent to the landfill to verify (1) the presence of coal beds that could potentially be used to sequester the carbon dioxide, and (2) to obtain coal samples to evaluate the coalbed-methane (CBM) resource within those coal beds. Drilling started on June 17, 2004, and was completed on July 1, 2004, running 5-day, 12-hour shifts per week with some downtime. The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES), in cooperation with EG&G Technical Services, Inc., Morgantown, W. Va., and the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, Fairmont, W. Va., coordinated the drilling, electric logging, and coalbed-methane desorption. The borehole was drilled by L.J. Hughes & Sons, Summersville, W. Va., and the geologist's log can be obtained 1U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va. 2Consultant, Moatsville, W. Va. 3West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Morgantown, W. Va. 4Kentucky Geological Survey, Lexington, Ky. 5EG&G Technical Services, Inc., Morgantown, W. Va.
2 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin through the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (2007). After desorption was completed, the coal was ana lyzed in the WVGES laboratory. The 1,081 feet (ft) of core contained 1,053.95 ft of Pennsylvanian coal-bearing strata and 27.05 ft of Mississippian strata. Six coal beds or zones were present and cored at the landfill site: the Harlem, Brush Creek, Upper Freeport, Upper Kittanning upper split, and Upper Kit tanning coal beds, and the Clarion coal zone (fig. 2). Methods Desorption Methods Procedures modified from Gas Research Institute (1995), Stricker and other (2000), and Barker and others (2002) were followed throughout the coring and desorption to measure gas contents of the coals. During coring, both the time that the coal was retrieved off the bottom (base of the borehole) and the temperature of the water circulating in the borehole were recorded in order to estimate the amount of lost gas (the vol ume of gas desorbed between the time the core was retrieved from the bottom and the time that the coal was sealed in a desorption canister) and the reservoir temperature, respec tively. As soon as the core barrel was recovered at the surface, the core was extracted onto a wooden core holder, quickly described (coal versus rock), and measured. The coal was removed from the wooden core holder in a graduated curved polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) scoop to keep it intact, weighed, and placed in a thin (approximately 4-mm-thick) sheet-plastic sleeve with holes to maintain the stratigraphic integrity of the coal during desorption. Within 10 to 16 minutes of reaching the surface, the coal was placed in a thin (1-mm-thick), semi rigid polyethylene tube and capped with a vinyl lid to maintain the stratigraphic integrity of the coal. Thickness and interval measurements were written on the tube, and then it was placed in either a 2-ft-long aluminum or a 1-ft-long PVC canister (table 1), depending on the coal interval thickness. Each canis ter was filled with distilled water in order to eliminate head space (the volume of air left in the canister) and treated with a biocide (a benzalkonium chloride 1:750 aqueous solution) to prevent bacterial contamination (Faraj and Hatch, 2004). The canister was sealed and placed in a water bath kept at reservoir temperature (68°F-70°F) as estimated from the circulating borehole water. This temperature was roughly equivalent to measured reservoir temperatures in cores within northern West Virginia. Figure 1. Generalized location map of the Meadowfill Landfill study area in Harrison County, W. Va. Figure 1 - R efer to Capti on
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 3 On October 26, 2004, 126 days after the first coal was cored and recovered from the borehole, the canisters were moved from the USGS laboratory to a WVGES core facility in Morgantown, W. Va. The canisters were opened and the intact, polyethylene-sleeved coal interval was removed and sawed in half lengthwise. Both halves of the coal core were weighed, and one of the halves was resealed in its canister within a period of 5 minutes. The other half was transported to WVGES laboratories at West Virginia University for ultimate, proximate (table 4), and petrographic analyses. The sealed canisters were immediately transported to a Kentucky Geological Survey laboratory in Lexington, Ky. The gas content of each canister was measured. Each canister was then opened, the coal was extracted and crushed in a hammer mill to approximately 10-mesh size. The coal was collected at the base of the hammer mill and resealed within its canister within 5 minutes. Residual-gas measurements were taken over a period of about 10 hours (appendix A) before the canisters were transported back to the USGS laboratories for additional residual-gas desorption measurements. Residual-gas measure ments were halted after 34 days because initial results from the drilling program were due to funding organizations. Table 1. Coal bed or coal zone name, depth of sample, and canister number for desorbed coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. Coal bed or zone Depth of sample (feet) Canister number Harlem coal bed 231.75-232.65 Canister 1: B3-1 232.65-233.73 Canister 2: B3-3 Brush Creek coal bed 441.97-443.55 Canister 1: US4-5 Upper Freeport coal bed1 530.75-532.22 Canister 1: US4-6 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed 632.40-634.25 Canister 1: US4-14 634.25-635.16 Canister 2: B3-4 Upper Kittanning coal bed2 642.40-644.00 Canister 1: US4-8 644.00-644.40 Canister 2: B3-5 644.80-645.48 645.48-647.20 Canister 3: US4-30 Clarion coal zone 776.00-776.90 Canister 1: B3-6 776.90-777.80 Canister 2: B3-7 777.80-778.50 Canister 3: B3-8 778.50-779.30 Canister 4: B3-9 1The depth interval for the Upper Freeport coal bed does not include 0.20 feet of canneloid coal from the overlying carbonaceous shale that was placed in canister US4-6 for desorption. 2For canister 2 (canister B3-5), the sample depth is broken into two sec tions with a 0.40-foot split: 644.00 to 644.40 feet and 644.80 to 645.48 feet. Desorbed gas volumes (tables 2 and 3) were initially measured after 10 to 30 minutes from the time that the canisters were sealed. To obtain volumes, the canister valves were opened and the volumetric displacement of water in a graduated manometer was recorded. In addition, the ambient air and water-bath temperatures and the atmospheric pressure were recorded during each desorption measurement to correct desorbed gas volumes according to standard temperature and pressure (STP). Each canister was measured approximately every 10 minutes for the first half hour to hour, and then every 20 to 30 minutes for the first day. Canisters were not moni tored overnight but were measured upon reaching the drill site in the morning. After a week, the canisters were moved to a laboratory at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) where they were measured once a day for 4 weeks. Over the course of the desorption, the canisters were measured less frequently because less gas was desorbed from the coals. Toward the end of the desorption tests, the canisters were measured bimonthly. See appendix A for desorption data for all of the coal samples. Lost gas was estimated using the graphical methods found in Barker and others (2002). Diffusion rates of coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill study area were rela tively low; thus, lost gas volumes also were very low, ranging from approximately 25 cubic centimeters (cc, an abbrevia tion commonly used in oil and gas geochemical reports) in an interval from the Harlem coal bed (B3-1, canister 1) to a high of 200 cc in an interval from the Upper Kittanning coal bed (US4-30, canister 3). See appendix A for lost gas amounts for all canisters. Figure 2. Generalized stratigraphic column showing Pennsylvanian coal beds and coal zones from which samples were desorbed for coalbed-methane content in the Meadowfill Landfill study area, Harrison County, W. Va. (Based on Rice and others, 1994.) Figure 2 - Refer t o Caption
4 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin Table 2. Desorbed and residual gas volumes, on a measured raw-total-gas basis, by coal bed or zone and canister number, for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. [Where there is more than one canister per coal bed or zone, a weighted average was calculated. Canister numbers beginning with US4 indicate 2-foot-long aluminum canisters; canister numbers beginning with B3 indicate 1-foot-long polyvinyl chloride canisters. Abbreviations are as follows: SCF/ton, standard cubic feet per ton; cc/g, cubic centimeter per gram] Coal bed or zone Canister number Total thickness (feet) Depth of sample (feet) Harlem coal bed B3-1 231.75-232.65 B3-3 232.65-233.73 weighted average Brush Creek coal bed US4-5 441.97-443.55 Upper Freeport coal bed US4-6 530.75-532.22 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed US4-14 632.40-634.25 B3-4 634.25-635.16 weighted average Upper Kittanning coal bed US4-8 642.40-644.00 B3-5 644.00-644.40 644.80-645.48 US4-30 645.48-647.20 weighted average Clarion coal zone B3-6 776.00-776.90 B3-7 776.90-777.80 B3-8 777.80-778.50 B3-9 778.50-779.30 weighted average Table 3. Desorbed and residual gas volumes, on a dry, ash-free basis, by coal bed or zone and canister number, for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. [Where there is more than one canister per coal bed or zone, a weighted average was calculated. Canister numbers beginning with US4 indicate 2-foot-long aluminum canisters; canister numbers beginning with B3 indicate 1-foot-long polyvinyl chloride canisters. Abbreviations are as follows: SCF/ton, standard cubic feet per ton; cc/g, cubic centimeter per gram] Coal bed or zone Canister number Total thickness (feet) Depth of sample (feet) Harlem coal bed B3-1 231.75-232.65 B3-3 232.65-233.73 weighted average Brush Creek coal bed US4-5 441.97-443.55 Upper Freeport coal bed US4-6 530.75-532.22 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed US4-14 632.40-634.25 B3-4 634.25-635.16 weighted average Upper Kittanning coal bed US4-8 642.40-644.00 B3-5 644.00-644.40 644.80-645.48 US4-30 645.48-647.20 weighted average Clarion coal zone B3-6 776.00-776.90 B3-7 776.90-777.80 B3-8 777.80-778.50 B3-9 778.50-779.30 weighted average
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 5 Table 2. Desorbed and residual gas volumes, on a measured raw-total-gas basis, by coal bed or zone and canister number, for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va.—Continued Desorbed gas (intact core) (SCF/ton) Residual gas (SCF/ton) Total gas (SCF/ton) Desorbed gas (intact core) (cc/g) Residual gas (cc/g) Total gas (cc/g) Residual gas (percent) Table 3. Desorbed and residual gas volumes, on a dry, ash-free basis, by coal bed or zone and canister number, for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va.—Continued Desorbed gas (intact core) (SCF/ton) Residual gas (SCF/ton) Total gas (SCF/ton) Desorbed gas (intact core) (cc/g) Residual gas (cc/g) Total gas (cc/g) Residual gas (percent)
6 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin Table 4. Selected proximate analyses for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. Coal bed or zone Depth of sample (feet) Moisture (percent) Volatile matter, dry basis (percent) Volatile matter, as-received basis (percent) Volatile matter, mineralmatter-free basis (percent) Harlem coal bed 231.75-233.73 Brush Creek coal bed 441.97-443.55 Upper Freeport coal bed 530.75-532.22 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed 632.40-635.16 Upper Kittanning coal bed 642.40-647.20 Clarion coal zone 776.00-779.30 Gas Analyses Gas was sampled on August 5, 2004, which was 44 days after the first canister was sealed. Gas volumes were measured in the manometer and samples were collected directly from the manometer with a short (approximately 5-inch-long) piece of plastic tubing and bled into Tedlar bags. The bags were shipped to a commercial laboratory (Isotech Laboratories, Inc.) and analyzed for the following gas constituents (tables 5 and 6): He, H2, Ar, O2, CO2, N2, CO, methane (CH4, also denoted as C1), ethane (C2H6, also denoted as C2), ethylene (C2H4), propane (C3H8, also denoted as C3), iso-butene (iC4H10, also denoted as iC4), n-butane (nC4H10, also denoted as nC4), iso-pentane (iC5H12, also denoted as iC5), n-pentane (nC5H12, also denoted as nC5), and hexanes (denoted as C6+). Results for hydrocarbon species were reported in parts per million (ppm) and converted to weight percent for this report. In addition, the isotopic composition of carbon (carbon 13, 13C) in methane (reported as the deviation (expressed as δ13C) in units of parts per thousand (per mil) relative to the Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB) standard) and the isotopic composition of hydrogen (deuterium, 2H) in methane (reported as the deviation (expressed as δ2H) in per mil relative to the Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW)) were analyzed to determine gas origin (biogenic versus thermogenic) fol lowing the method in Bernard and others (1978). Gas samples from coal in the Brush Creek coal bed, Upper Freeport coal bed, and Clarion coal zone, and mixed intervals of the Upper Kittanning upper split and Upper Kittanning coal beds were analyzed (table 7). The use of a short tube to collect gases from the manor eter and evacuate it into gas collection bags did not preclude air contamination in the samples. To remove the air, we normalized all of the gas analyses (table 5) to an air-free basis (table 6). Desorption Results and Gas Chemistry by Coal Bed and Coal Zone Harlem Coal Bed A 1.98-ft-long sample of coal from the Harlem coal bed was cored and retrieved to the surface from a depth of 231.75 to 233.73 ft at 17:50 hours6 on June 22, 2004, and placed in two 1-ft-long PVC canisters for desorption. The overall mois ture content of the coal was 1.20 percent and the ash yield was 12.02 weight percent on a dry basis (db) (table 4). The total gas content (using a weighted average) was 69.75 SCF/ton (2.17 cc/g), of which 42.69 SCF/ton (1.33 cc/g) was desorbed before crushing and 27.06 SCF/ton (0.84 cc/g) was residual, or desorbed from the crushed coal (table 2). A total of 39 percent of the measured total raw-gas-content was in the crushed, or residual, fraction. See tables A1, A2, A3, and A4 in appendix A for raw data. Canister 1 (B3-1; 231.75-232.65 ft)—A total of 96 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 126 days (fig. 3) before it was crushed. The measured raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 38.87 SCF/ton (1.21 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 4) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 28.79 SCF/ton (0.90 cc/g) (table 2). The measured raw-total-gas for the coal in the canister was 67.66 SCF/ton (2.11 cc/g), of which 43 percent was residual (table 2). 6For this study, a 24-hour clock was used for reporting time.
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 7 Table 4. Selected proximate analyses for the coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va.— Continued Ash, dry basis (percent) Ash, asreceived basis (percent) Fixed carbon, dry basis (percent) Fixed carbon, as-received basis (percent) Fixed carbon, moist, mineralmatter free basis (percent) Coal rank Calorific value (British thermal units) High-volatile B bituminous 13,112 High-volatile B bituminous 12,555 High-volatile C bituminous 7,776 High-volatile B bituminous 10,363 High-volatile A bituminous 10,648 High-volatile A bituminous 11,963 Canister 2 (B3-3; 232.65-233.73 ft)—A total of 96 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 126 days (fig. 3) before it was crushed. The measured raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 45.82 SCF/ton (1.43 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 4) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 25.68 SCF/ton (0.80 cc/g) (table 2). The measured raw-total-gas for the coal in the canister was 71.50 SCF/ton (2.23 cc/g), of which 36 percent was residual (table 2). Gas chemistry of the Harlem coal bed.—A composite gas sample was analyzed from the Harlem coal bed (table 5). The sample contained approximately 15 percent methane, even after correcting for air contamination (table 6). The low gas content is likely attributed to a significant migration of gas out of the Harlem coal bed due to its shallow depth (231.75-233.73 ft, table 1). In contrast, the nitrogen content of the Harlem coal bed is very high (83.12 percent, table 6). The origin of high nitrogen contents observed in this coal may be due to oxidation of the coal in the canisters (Morse and others, 2005). The proportion of methane to the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons (ethane, ethylene, propane, iso-butane, n-butane, iso-pentane, n-pentane, and hexanes) in the Harlem coal-bed gas is 39.70 (table 6). There was not enough of a sample for isotopic analysis. Brush Creek Coal Bed A 1.58-ft-long sample of coal from the Brush Creek coal bed was cored and retrieved to the surface from a depth of 441.97 to 443.55 ft at 8:10 hours on June 24, 2004, placed in a 2-ft-long aluminum canister (canister US4-5) for desorption for 124 days (fig. 5) before it was crushed. After crushing, the desorbed residual gas was measured for 35 days (fig. 6). The overall moisture content of the coal was 0.91 percent and the ash yield was 16.15 weight percent (db) (table 4). The total gas content was 119.24 SCF/ton (3.78 cc/g), of which 69.68 SCF/ ton (2.18 cc/g) was desorbed before crushing and 49.56 SCF/ ton (1.55 cc/g) was residual, or desorbed from the crushed coal (table 2). A total of 42 percent of the measured total raw-gascontent was in the crushed, or residual, fraction. See tables A5 and A6 in appendix A for raw data. Gas chemistry of the Brush Creek coal bed.—A gas sample was analyzed from the Brush Creek coal bed. The sample contained 98 percent methane, 1.9 percent ethane, and small amounts of iso-butane (0.007 percent), and carbon dioxide (0.2 percent) (air-free basis). The ratio of methane to the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons was 52.29 (table 6). The value for δ13C was -51.05 per mil and the value for δ2H was -204.5 per mil (table 7). Upper Freeport Coal Bed A 1.27-ft-long sample of coal from the Upper Freeport coal bed was cored and retrieved to the surface from a depth of 530.95 to 532.22 ft at 16:22 hours on June 24, 2004, placed in a 2-ft-long aluminum canister (canister US4-6). In addi tion to the 1.27-ft-long coal sample, a 0.20-ft-long sample of canneloid coal from the overlying carbonaceous shale from 530.75 to 530.95 ft depth was inserted into the canister for desorption, bringing the total sampled thickness to 1.47 ft. The Upper Freeport coal and the canneloid coal were desorbed for 124 days (fig. 7) before they were crushed. After crushing, the desorbed residual gas was measured for 35 days (fig. 8). The overall moisture content of the coal was 1.11 percent and the ash yield was 47.32 weight percent (db) (table 4). The total gas content was 77.62 SCF/ton (2.43 cc/g), of which
8 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin Table 5. Raw gas geochemistry analyses for coal samples from core retrieved from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. [These analyses are raw and uncorrected for air contamination. Abbreviations are as follows: SCF/ton, standard cubic feet per ton; He, helium; H2, hydrogen; Ar, argon; O2 oxygen; CO2, carbon dioxide; N2, nitrogen; CO, carbon monoxide; C1, methane; C2, ethane + ethylene; C2H4, ethylene; C3, propane; iC4, isobutane; nC4, n-butane; iC5, iso-pentane; nC5, n-pentane; C6+, hexanes] Coal bed or zone Depth (feet) Cumulative gas volume (SCF/ton) He (percent) H2 (percent) Ar (percent) O2 (percent) CO2 (percent) Harlem coal bed 231.75-233.73 Brush Creek coal bed 441.97-443.55 Upper Freeport coal bed 530.75-532.22 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed and Upper Kittanning coal bed (part) 632.40-635.16 Upper Kittanning coal bed (part) 642.40-647.20 Clarion coal zone 776.00-779.30 Table 6. Gas geochemistry analyses corrected for air contamination for coal samples from core retrieved from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. [These analyses are corrected for air contamination and presented to two decimal points. Abbreviations are as follows: He, helium; H2, hydrogen; Ar, argon; O2, oxygen; CO2, carbon dioxide; N2, nitrogen; CO, carbon monoxide; C1, methane; C2, ethane + ethylene; C2H4, ethylene; C3, propane; iC4, iso-butane; nC4, n-butane; iC5, iso-pentane; nC5, n-pentane; C6+, hexanes; C2+, methane + ethane + ethylene + propane + iso-butane + n-butane + iso-pentane + n-pentane + hexanes] Coal bed or zone Depth (feet) Cumulative gas volume (SCF/ton) He (percent) H2 (percent) Ar (percent) O2 (percent) CO2 (percent) N2 (percent) Harlem coal bed 231.75-233.73 Brush Creek coal bed 441.97-443.55 Upper Freeport coal bed 530.75-532.22 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed and Upper Kittanning coal bed (part) 632.40-635.16 Upper Kittanning coal bed (part) 642.40-647.20 Clarion coal zone 776.00-779.30
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 9 Table 5. Raw gas geochemistry analyses for coal samples from core retrieved from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va.—Continued N2 (percent) CO (percent) (percent) (percent) C2H4 (percent) (percent) (percent) nC4 (percent) (percent) nC5 (percent) C6+ (percent) Table 6. Gas geochemistry analyses corrected for air contamination for coal samples from core retrieved from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va.—Continued CO (percent) (percent) (percent) C2H4 (percent) (percent) (percent) nC4 (percent) (percent) nC5 (percent) C6+ (percent) C2+ (percent) C1/C2+ (ratio)
10 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin Table 7. Isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen (deuterium) in methane in gas samples from coal beds from the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. [By convention, isotope compositions are reported as the deviation (δ) of values in units of parts per thousand (per mil) relative to a known reference standard. The ref erence standard for isotopes of carbon (carbon 13, 13C) is the Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB) and the reference standard for hydrogen (deuterium, 2H) is the Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW). See Kendall and Caldwell (1998) for fundamental information on isotope analyses. Coal-bed gas in the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed and the top interval of the Upper Kittanning coal bed (from canister US4-8 only) were combined due to a labeling error that occured in the field. This error resulted in (1) a composite sample of the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed (canisters US4-14 and B3-4 and the Upper Kittanning coal bed (top interval, canister US4-8 and (2) a partial Upper Kittanning coal-bed-gas sample. n.d., no data] Coal bed or zone Canister δ13C1 (per mil) δ2H (per mil) Harlem coal bed B3-1, B3-3 n.d. n.d. Brush Creek coal bed US4-5 Upper Freeport coal bed US4-6 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed and Upper Kittanning coal bed (part) US4-14, B-3, US4-8 Upper Kittanning coal bed (part) B3-5, US4-30 Clarion coal zone B3-6, B3-7, B3-8, B3-9 F ig ur e 3A R efer
to Cap tio n F ig ur e 3B R efer
to Cap tio n Figure 3. Graphs showing cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Harlem coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A1 and A2 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived.
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 11 Figure 6. Graph showing cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal sample from the Brush Creek coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister number and coal sample depth are shown. See table A6 in appendix A for the desorption data from which this graph was derived. F gu re R efer
to Cap tio n F gu re A Refe r to Ca pti on F gu re B Refe r to Ca pti on Figure 4. Graphs showing cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Harlem coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A3 and A4 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived. Figure 5. Graph showing cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal sample from the Brush Creek coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister number and coal sample depth are shown. See table A5 in appendix A for the desorption data from which this graph was derived. F ig ur e Re fer t o C apt ion
12 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin F gu re R efer
to Cap tio n Figure 8. Graph showing cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal sample from the Upper Freeport coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister number and coal sample depth are shown. See table A8 in appendix A for the desorption data from which this graph was derived. 61.12 SCF/ton (1.91cc/g) was desorbed before crushing and 16.50 SCF/ton (0.52 cc/g) was residual, or desorbed from the crushed coal (table 2). A total of 21 percent of the total mea sured raw-gas-content was in the crushed, or residual, fraction. See tables A7 and A8 in appendix A for raw data. Gas chemistry of the Upper Freeport coal bed.—A gas sample was analyzed from the Upper Freeport coal bed. The sample contained 97 percent methane, 2.4 percent ethane and ethylene, and small amounts of carbon dioxide (0.17 percent), propane (0.02 percent), iso-butane (0.009 percent), and n-butane (0.005 percent), on an air-free basis. The ratio of methane to the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons was 40.26 (table 6). The value for δ13C was -51.25 per mil and the value for δ2H was -205.1 per mil (table 7). Upper Kittanning Upper Split Coal Bed A 2.76-ft-long sample of coal from the Upper Kittanning upper split was cored and retrieved to the surface from a depth of 632.40 to 635.16 ft at 9:45 hours on June 25, 2004, and placed in one 2-ft-long aluminum canister and one 1-ft-long PVC canister. The overall moisture content of the coal was 1.24 percent and the ash yield was 30.40 weight percent (db) (table 4). The total gas content using a weighted average was 133.12 SCF/ton (4.16 cc/g), of which 88.61 SCF/ton (2.77 cc/g) was desorbed before crushing and 44.51 SCF/ton (1.39 cc/g) was residual, or desorbed from the crushed coal (table 2). Overall, 33 percent of the measured total raw-gas-content was in the crushed or residual fraction. See tables A9, A10, A11, and A12 in appendix A for raw data. Figure 7. Graph showing cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal sample from the Upper Freeport coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister number and coal sample depth are shown. See table A7 in appendix A for the desorption data from which this graph was derived. F ig ur e Re fer t o C apt ion Canister 1 (US4-14; 632.40-634.25 ft)—A total of 66 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 123 days (fig. 9) before it was crushed. The measured raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 89.18 SCF/ton (2.79 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 10) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 56.49 SCF/ton (1.77 cc/g). The total gas content was 145.67 SCF/ton (4.56 cc/g), of which 39 percent was residual (table 2). Canister 2 (B3-4; 634.25-635.16 ft)—A total of 66 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 123 days (fig. 9) before it was crushed. The measured raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 87.62 SCF/ton (2.74 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 10) and the measured residual raw-total-gas con tent was 24.73 SCF/ton (0.77 cc/g) (table 2). The total gas content was 112.35 SCF/ton (3.51 cc/g), of which 22 percent was residual (table 2). Gas chemistry of the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed.—Coal-bed-gas samples in the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed and the top interval of the Upper Kittanning coal bed (canister US4-8) were combined due to a labeling error that occurred in the field, resulting in a composite Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed (canisters US4-14 and B3-4) and Upper Kittanning coal bed (top interval, canister US4-8) gas sample (see section on gas analyses, above). The mixedgas sample contained approximately 97 percent methane, 1.5
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 13 F ig ur e 9A Re fer t o C aptio n F ig ur e 9B R efer
to Capti on Figure 9. Graphs showing cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A9 and A10 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived. F gu re A - Re f er to Cap tio n Figure 10. Graphs showing cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A11 and A12 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived. F g u r e B Ref e r t o C apt ion
14 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin F ig ur e A Ref e r t o Cap tion F ig ur e B Ref e r t o Cap tion F ig ur e Ref e r t o Cap tion Figure 11. Graphs showing cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A13, A14, and A15 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived. percent ethane and ethylene, and small amounts of carbon dioxide (1.2 percent), propane (0.003 percent), and iso-butane (0.005 percent), on an air-free basis. The ratio of methane to the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons was 66.09 (table 6). The value for δ13C was -48.70 per mil and the value for δ2H was -204.9 per mil (table 7). Upper Kittanning Coal Bed A 4.80-ft-long sample of coal and shale from the Upper Kittanning coal bed was cored and retrieved to the surface from a depth of 642.40 to 647.20 ft on June 25, 2004, and placed in two 2-ft-long aluminum canisters and one 1-ft-long PVC canister. Unlike the other coals that were cored in the Meadowfill Landfill, coal from the Upper Kittanning coal bed was retrieved in two separate runs, one at 9:45 and the other at 11:27. Core from the top 1.60 ft of Upper Kittanning coal bed was retrieved at 9:45 and placed in a 2-ft-long aluminum canister (canister 1, US4-8). At 11:27, 2.47 ft of coal and 0.40 ft of shale was retrieved and placed in two canisters (canisters 2 and 3; B3-5 and US4-30, respectively). The 0.40-ft-thick shale parting at 644.40 to 644.80 ft was removed and not desorbed; thus the total thickness of the material analyzed was 4.40 ft. The overall moisture content of the coal was 1.18 per cent and the ash yield was 29.30 weight percent (db) (table 4). The total gas content (using a weighted average) was 117.42 SCF/ton (3.67 cc/g), of which 90.74 SCF/ton (2.84 cc/g) was desorbed before crushing and 26.68 SCF/ton (0.84 cc/g) was residual, or desorbed from the crushed coal (table 2). Overall, 23 percent of the measured total-raw-gas content was in the crushed, or residual, fraction. See tables A13, A14, A15, A16, A17, and A18 in appendix A for raw data. Canister 1 (US4-8; 642.40-644.00 ft)—A total of 66 measurements was taken on the intact coal sample (fig. 11) over 123 days. The measured raw-totalgas content of the intact coal was 96.77 SCF/ton (3.02 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measure ments were taken over 35 days (fig. 12) and the mea sured residual raw-total-gas content was 30.30 SCF/ton (0.95 cc/g). The total gas content was 127.07 SCF/ton (3.97 cc/g), of which 24 percent was residual (table 2). Canister 2 (B3-5; 644.00-644.40 and 644.80-645.48 ft)—A total of 66 measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 12 days (fig. 11). The measured
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 15 Figure 12. Graphs showing cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Upper Kittanning coal bed plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A16, A17, and A18 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived. F gu re A - Re f er to Cap tio n F g u r e B Ref e r t o C apt ion F gu re - R e fer to Ca pti on raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 80.80 SCF/ton (2.53 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 12) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 35.92 SCF/ton (1.12 cc/g) (table 2). The total gas content was 116.72 SCF/ton (3.65 cc/g), of which 31 percent was residual (table 2). Canister 3 (US4-30; 645.48-647.20 ft)—A total of 66 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 123 days (fig. 11). The measured raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 90.77 SCF/ton (2.84 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 12) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 16.19 SCF/ton (0.51 cc/g) (table 2). The total gas content was 106.96 SCF/ton (3.35 cc/g), of which 15 percent was residual (table 2). Gas chemistry of the Upper Kittanning coal bed.—As noted, the top interval of the Upper Kittanning coal bed (canister 1, US4-8) was analyzed with the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed. The gas from canisters 2 and 3 (B3-5 and US4-30) was composed of approximately 97 percent methane, 1.5 percent ethane and ethylene, and small amounts of carbon dioxide (0.8 percent), propane (0.04 percent), iso-butane (0.01 percent), and n-butane (0.006 percent) on an air-free basis, and the ratio of methane to the higher molecular weight hydrocar bons was 62.25 (table 6). The value for δ13C was -46.6 per mil and the value for δ2H was -204.6 per mil (table 7). Clarion Coal Zone A 3.30-ft-long sample of coal from the Clarion coal zone was cored and retrieved to the surface from a depth of 776.00 to 779.30 ft at 15:45 hours on June 28, 2004, and placed in four 1-ft-long PVC canisters. The overall moisture content of the coal was 1.36 percent and the ash yield was 21.50 weight percent (db) (table 4). The total gas content (using a weighted average) was 177.69 SCF/ton (5.55 cc/g), of which 137.06 SCF/ton (4.28 cc/g) was desorbed before crushing and 40.63 SCF/ton (1.27 cc/g) was residual, or desorbed from the crushed coal (table 2). Overall, 23 percent of the measured total raw-gas content was in the crushed or residual fraction. See tables A19, A20, A21, A22, A23, A24, A25, and A26 in appendix A for raw data.
16 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 137.83 SCF/ton (4.31 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 14) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 43.82 SCF/ton (1.37 cc/g) (table 2). The total gas content was 181.65 SCF/ton (5.68 cc/g), of which 24 percent was residual (table 2). Canister 3 (B3-8; 777.80-778.50 ft)—A total of 91 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 120 days (fig. 13). The measured raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 150.00 SCF/ton (4.69 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas Canister 1 (B3-6; 776.00-776.90 ft)—A total of 91 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 120 days (fig. 13). The measured rawtotal-gas content of the intact coal was 112.71 SCF/ton (3.52 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measure ments were taken over 35 days (fig. 14) and the mea sured residual raw-total-gas content was 46.32 SCF/ton (1.45 cc/g). The total gas content was 159.03 SCF/ton (4.97 cc/g), of which 29 percent was residual (table 2). Canister 2 (B3-7; 776.90-777.80 ft)—A total of 91 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 120 days (fig. 13). The measured Figure 13. Graphs showing cumulative coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Clarion coal zone plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A19, A20, A21 and A22 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived. F ig ur e A Ref e r t o C aptio n F ig ur e
B - Re f er to Capti o n F ig ur e Ref e r t o C aptio n F ig ur e D Ref e r t o C aptio n
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 17 SCF/ton (1.07 cc/g) (table 2). The total gas content was 152.80 SCF/ton (5.85 cc/g), of which 18 percent was residual (table 2). Gas chemistry of the Clarion coal zone.—Coal-bed gas in the Clarion coal zone was composed of approximately 99 percent methane, 0.3 percent ethane and ethylene, and small amounts of carbon dioxide (1.0 percent), propane (0.01 per cent), and iso-butane (0.004 percent), on an air-free basis. The ratio of methane to the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons was 340.14 (table 6). The value for δ13C was -51.56 per mil and the value for δ2H was -207.0 per mil (table 7). measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 14) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 36.77 SCF/ton (1.15 cc/g) (table 2). The total gas content was 186.77 SCF/ton (5.84 cc/g), of which 20 percent was residual (table 2). Canister 4 (B3-9; 778.50-779.30 ft)—A total of 91 desorption measurements was taken on the intact coal sample over 120 days (fig. 13). The measured raw-total-gas content of the intact coal was 152.80 SCF/ton (4.78 cc/g) (table 2). Desorbed residual-gas measurements were taken over 35 days (fig. 14) and the measured residual raw-total-gas content was 34.15 F gu re A - Re f er to Cap tio n F gu re B - Re f er to Cap tio n F gu re D - Re f er to Cap tio n Figure 14. Graphs showing cumulative residual coal-bed-gas desorption volumes (in cubic centimeters, cc) of the coal samples from the Clarion coal zone plotted against the square root of time (in hours). Canister numbers and coal sample depths are shown. See tables A23, A24, A25, and A26 in appendix A for the desorption data from which these graphs were derived. F gu re - Re f er to Cap tio n
18 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin to the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons range from 39.70 in the Harlem coal bed to 340.14 in the Clarion coal zone (table 6). A plot of the isotopic composition of carbon in methane against the ratio of methane to the sum of higher molecular weight gases (fig. 15) provides information on the origin of methane in coal beds (Whiticar, 1994) at the Meadowfill Landfill. The coal-bed-gas samples from the mixed Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed and Upper Kittanning coal bed and from the Upper Kittanning coal bed alone plot in the thermogenic field (fig. 15). However, the Brush Creek and the Upper Freeport coal-bed-gas samples appear to have been minimally oxidized by microbial activity, as they plot just outside of the boundary of pure thermogenic gas (fig. 15). The Clarion coal zone gas appears to have a bacterial component and is more clearly a mixed gas, containing a mixture of gases that are thermogenic and bacterial in origin. However, a plot of the isotopic composition of hydrogen (deuterium) in methane against the isotopic compositions of carbon in methane (modified from Whiticar, 1994) shows that all of the methane from coal beds at the Meadowfill Landfill (fig. 16) fall within the thermogenic field. Methane from the Clarion coal zone and the Brush Creek and Upper Freeport Discussion A total of 37.02 ft of coal was drilled and desorbed for coal-bed gas at Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, W. Va. Measured coal-bed-gas content (using a weighted average, raw basis) was 69.75 SCF/ton (2.17 cc/g) for the Harlem coal bed, 119.24 SCF/ton (3.73 cc/g) for the Brush Creek coal bed, 77.62 SCF/ton (2.43 cc/g) for the Upper Freeport coal bed, 133.12 SCF/ton (4.16 cc/g) for the Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed, 117.42 SCF/ton (3.67 cc/g) for the Upper Kit tanning coal bed, and 177.69 SCF/ton (5.55 cc/g) for the Clar ion coal zone (table 2). The majority of the coal-bed gas was methane (table 6), and methane contents ranged from about 15 percent in the shallow (231.75-233.73 ft) Harlem coal bed to 99 percent in the deepest (776.00 0-779.30 ft) Clarion coal zone (table 6). Migration of methane out of the Harlem coal bed is probably due to its shallow depth. The values for δ13C of methane from the five coal beds sampled at the Meadowfill Landfill study area range from -46.60 per mil for the Upper Kittanning coal bed (part) to -51.56 per mil for the Clarion coal zone. The values for δ2H range from -204.5 per mil for the Harlem coal bed to -207.0 per mil for the Clarion coal zone (table 7). Ratios of methane Table 8. Calculated coal-bed gas in place for coal beds underlying the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va. Coal bed or zone Canister number or weighted average Total thickness (feet) Top depth (feet) Bottom depth (feet) Total gas (SCF/ton) Harlem coal bed Weighted average Brush Creek coal bed US4-5 Upper Freeport coal bed US4-6 Upper Kittanning upper split coal bed Weighted average Upper Kittanning coal bed Weighted average Clarion coal zone Weighted average Total gas in-place
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 19 coal beds plots close to the transition area, which may suggest minimal mixing with biogenic gas. The values for δ13C range -46.60 per mil to -51.56 per mil and the values for δ2H range from -204.5 per mil to -207.0 per mil. A gross estimate (G) for gas in place for coal beds directly underlying the Meadowfill Landfill is about 1.2 bil lion cubic feet (ft3) (36.7 million cc/g), as estimated by the equation
E qu ati on
where
A is the Meadowfill Landfill area (300 acres);
h is the thickness, in feet, using a weighted average;
Equation is the average density of coal (g/cm3); and Equation is the average gas content of the coal, using a weighted average (Gas Research Institute, 1995). Coal density was estimated from measured ash content (Smith, 1991) and ranged from approximately 1.39 g/cm3 for the Harlem coal bed to 1.72 g/cm3 for the Upper Freeport coal bed (table 8). Total gas-in-place estimates do not represent amounts of coal-bed gas that might actually be produced because coalbed methane plays only account for about 10 to 15 percent of the calculated gas-in-place resource estimates. This is particularly true for coals at the Meadowfill Landfill, which have very high percentages of residual gas (a mean of about 30 percent for the Harlem, Upper Freeport, Brush Creek, Upper Kittanning upper split, and Upper Kittanning coal beds, and the Clarion coal zone combined (table 2). The percentages of residual gas ranged from 21 percent for the Upper Freeport coal bed to about 42 percent in the Brush Creek coal bed (table 2). These values, and the relatively slow release of gas over the desorp tion experiment (appendix A), suggest that gas production rates probably will be low but continuous for a relatively long time interval. However, if it becomes economically feasible to separate the landfill gas into methane and carbon-dioxide streams, the carbon dioxide could be used to enhance methane desorption and presumably more quickly displace some of the tightly held residual gas in the coal beds underlying the Meadowfill Landfill. Table 8. Calculated coal-bed gas in place for coal beds underlying the Meadowfill Landfill borehole, Harrison County, W. Va.— Continued Total gas (cc/g) Meadowfill Landfill (acres) Estimated density (g/cm3) Ash content (percent) Coal rank Estimated gas in-place (SCF) Estimated gas in-place (cc) High-volatile B bituminous 78,304,831 2,436,150 High-volatile B bituminous 111,432,381 3,485,766 High-volatile C bituminous 80,054,136 2,506,204 High-volatile B bituminous 230,800,882 7,212,528 High-volatile A bituminous 324,548,664 10,143,873 High-volatile A bituminous 349,216,001 10,907,473 1,174,356,894 36,691,994
20 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin Figure 15. Bernard diagram for Meadowfill Landfill coal-bed-gas samples (modified from Bernard and others, 1978; Faber and Stahl, 1984; and Whiticar, 1994). This diagram plots the isotopic composition of carbon (carbon 13, 13C) in methane reported as the deviation in units (δ13C) of parts per thousand (per mil) relative to the Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB) standard against the ratio of methane (C1) to the sum of the higher molecular gases (C2+, which includes ethane, propane, iso-butane, n-butane, iso-pentane, 2-methylbutane, n-pentane, and hexane). Note that the sample from the Clarion coal zone falls in the mixing zone, suggesting a mixed thermal and biogenic origin of the Clarion coal-bed gas. All of the other samples are primarily thermogenic in origin. Abbreviations are as follows: %Ro, percent vitrinite reflectance. Figu re - R efe r t o C apt ion
Chapter G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia 21 Figure 16. Graph showing the isotopic composition of hydrogen (deuterium, 2H) in methane (reported as the deviation in units (δ2H) of parts per thousand (per mil) relative to the Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW) plotted against the isotopic composition of carbon in methane (reported as the deviation in units (δ13C) of parts per thousand (per mil) relative to the Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB) standard). Methane from the Harlem, Brush Creek, Upper Freeport, Upper Kittanning upper split, and Upper Kittanning coal beds at the Meadowfill Landfill study area is predominately thermogenic in origin, but methane from the Clarion coal zone falls in the transition zone. Figu re 1 Refe r to Cap tion
22 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin Gas Research Institute, 1995, A guide to determining coal bed gas content: Chicago, Ill., Gas Research Institute, p. 8.1-8.22. Kendall, Carol, and Caldwell, E.A., 1998, Fundamentals of isotope geochemistry, in Kendall, Carol, and McDonnell, J.J., eds., Isotope tracers in catchment hydrology: Amster dam, The Netherlands, Elsevier, p. 51-86. Morse, D.G., Demir, Ilham, Moore, T.R., and Elrick, S.D., 2005, Coalbed methane research drilling in Illinois—New data [abs.], in Program and abstracts, 2005 Eastern Section American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 34th annual meeting, September 18-25, 2005, Morgantown, W. Va.: Morgantown, W. Va., Appalachian Oil and Gas Research Consortium, p. 27, available at http://www.karl.nrcce.wvu. edu/esaapg/abstracts/2005abs.pdf. (Accessed May 3, 2013.) Panehal, Alexi, and Guzzone, Brian, 2004, U.S. perspectives on global opportunities and challenges for landfill methane use, in Methane to Markets Ministerial Meeting, Washing ton, D.C., November 15, 2004: Washington, D.C., Methane to Markets Partnership, available at www.globalmethane. org/documents/events_land_20041115_guzzone.pdf. (Accessed May 3, 2013.) Rice, C.L., Hiett, J.K., and Koozmin, E.D., 1994, Glossary of Pennsylvanian stratigraphic names, central Appalachian basin, in Rice, C.L., ed., Elements of Pennsylvanian stra tigraphy, central Appalachian basin: Geological Society of America Special Paper 294, p. 115-155. Smith, G.G., 1991, Theoretical estimation of in situ bulk density of coal: Canadian Institute of Mining Bulletin, v. 84, no. 949, p. 49-52. Stricker, G.D., Flores, R.M., Ochs, A.M., and Stanton, R.W., 2000, Powder River coal-bed methane—The USGS role in investigating this ultimate clean coal by-product, in Pro ceedings, 27th International Technical Conference on Coal Utilization and Fuel Systems, Clearwater, Fla., March 2000: Gaithersburg, Md., Coal Technology Association, 12 p. The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, 2003, Meadowfill methane recoverability and utilization proj ect, Meadowfill Landfill, Bridgeport, West Virginia, submit ted to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 30, 2003, Proposal WVHTCF-03-0011: Fairmont, W. Va., The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, 26 p. West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 2007, Unpublished well log in field book 308-036: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey [on file at West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 1 Mont Chateau Road, Morgantown, WV 26508-8079]. Whiticar, M.J., 1994, Correlation of natural gases with their sources, in Magoon, L.B., and Dow, W.G., eds., The petro leum system—From source to trap: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 60, p. 261-283. Conclusions The measured raw-total-gas contents for coal samples from the Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, W. Va., study area range from 69.75 SCF/ton (2.17 cc/g) for the Harlem coal bed to 177.69 SCF/ton (5.55 cc/g) for the Clarion coal zone. Residual gas from the coal samples was significant, rang ing from 21 percent in the Upper Freeport coal bed to about 42 percent in the Brush Creek coal bed. Coal-bed-gas contents of the coal-bed samples from the Meadowfill Landfill increase systematically with depth when compared on a dry, ash-free basis. Gas contents of the coal-bed samples had to be normal ized to an air-free basis, despite efforts to prevent air contamination during gas sampling. The mean methane content of all of the samples from the Meadowfill Landfill study area was 83.98 percent (air-free basis) (table 6). Carbon isotopic analyses of methane indicated that the coal-bed gas is primarily thermogenic in origin, but some degree of mixing with gas of a biogenic origin may have occurred within the Clarion coal zone. Samples from the coal beds at the Meadowfill Landfill study area desorbed gas slowly, which may result in slow production rates. However, if carbon dioxide is suc cessfully separated from other landfill gases, it could be injected into the coal beds underlying the landfill and could potentially result in enhanced coalbed-methane recovery. References Cited Barker, C.E., Dallegge, T.A., and Clark, A.C., 2002, USGS coal desorption equipment and a spreadsheet for analysis of lost and total gas from canister desorption measurements: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-496, available only online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr-02-496/. Bernard, B.B., Brooks, J.M., and Sackett, W.M., 1978, Light hydrocarbons in Recent Texas continental shelf and slope sediments: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 83, no. C8, p. 4053-4061. Faber, E., and Stahl, W., 1984, Geochemical surface explora tion for hydrocarbons in North Sea: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 68, no. 3, p. 363-386. Faraj, Basim, Hatch, Anna, Krivak, Derek, and Smolarchuk, Paul, 2004, Mechanism of hydrogen generation in coalbed methane desorption canisters; causes and remedies: Gas Tips, v. 10, no. 2, p. 15-19.
Appendix A. Desorption Data for Coal Samples Retrieved From a Borehole at Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, W. Va. The original data for each canister in this study may be accessed by clicking the link below. The tables follow the terminology, abbreviations, and format of the data spreadsheets found in Barker and others (2002), which also contains a detailed discussion of their use; therefore, the terminology may not be identical to that found in the text of this report. See table headnotes for an explanation of abbreviations. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS APPENDIX A DATA