Microbial methane from carbon dioxide in coal beds

Microbial CH4 chemistry and its formation in coal are summarised. The results of recent research on microbial CH4 formation are reviewed from Australia, China, Germany, Japan, and the USA. Two fields of interest are considered in this report. Enhanced microbial CH4 production is under investigation to improve the yield of CBM. A further development is to inject CO2 in coal seams, using microbes to convert it to CH4 for recovery. There is reliable evidence for the production of CH4 through recent microbial activity in coal beds. Microbial CH4 may be enhanced artificially and there is an incentive to turn CBM, where appropriate, to a continuously renewing system. The introduction of large quantities of CO2 from carbon capture systems could have a favourable effect on microbial CH4 formation. However, there are uncertainties about the supply of H2 which is essential to form CH4. Field and laboratory studies are in progress to address gaps of knowledge in the geology, microbiology and engineering. BGR Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany BMBF Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany CBM coal bed methane DMF dimethylformamide IEA International Energy Agency PRB Powder River Basin UQ University of Queensland, Australia 2 IEA CLEAN COAL CENTRE Acronyms and abbreviations