Accelerated Biomethanation of Sequestered Carbon Dioxide and Paraffin in Coal Beds

78000 One way to reduce greenhouse gases is to sequester carbon dioxide. Once sequestered, a bioconversion process can convert carbon dioxide into methane, an environmentally friendly energy source. The process requires an abundance of hydrogen, which is present in the hydrogen-rich coal macerals and paraffin. This project will develop techniques to accelerate the in situ biomethanation of sequestered carbon dioxide, while simultaneously removing pore-plugging paraffin and increasing gas production rates and ultimate recovery. The accelerated biomethanation technology also will have application to sandstone and carbonate natural gas reservoirs. Phase I will develop cultures of paraffin-degrading anaerobic microorganisms. Inocula collected from whole core samples, as well as paraffin-contaminated soil and equipment, will be used to evaluate the application of such cultures in accelerating the in situ biomethantion of carbon dioxide. A preliminary model for the accelerated bioconversion of carbon dioxide into methane will be developed. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Accelerating the in situ bioconversion of sequestered carbon dioxide will reduce the risk of global warming and provide a reliable source of environmentally clean energy, thereby reducing the dependency on foreign energy supplies. The process also would be applicable to coalbed methane, sandstone, and carbonate reservoirs, resulting in higher production rates that prolong the life of some gas fields and increase the ultimate recovery.