Prepared by:

Satyam Anand
Somasree Jana
Tarannum Tarar
Soumil Uniyal
Adavit Vedant
Introduction
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is an in-situ gasification
process where underground coal seams are converted into
Synthesis Gas or syngas through the injection of oxidants
delivered via an injection well.
Recovers approximately 70-95% of the coals energy, is controlled
remotely and does not require human access or other costly
infrastructure in comparison with traditional mining methods.
It is a complex process involving:
Chemical reactions
Heat and mass transfer
Complex flow dynamics
Growing cavity dimensions
WHY UCG?
Energy market scenario.
High and ever increasing fuel prices.
Growing shortages of oil and natural gas.
Depletion of several major natural gas fields across the
world.
Energy market dynamics are changing due to increasing
concerns on global warming.
Site selection for UCG
Characteristics of the coal seam i.e. permeability, fault
structure of local strata, geology hydrogeology of area
which surrounds target coal seam should be known.
Drilling of pilot bore holes to coal seam depth for coring
and seam characterization.
Seismic/3D survey of whole area.
Modeling of hydrogeology to meet ground water
requirements.
Criteria for UCG
Underground coal gasification projects have specific
requirements regarding the coal seam:
The seam lies underground at a depth of 30 to 800
meters.
The seam thickness is more than 5 meters.
The ash content of coal is less than 60%.
The seam has minimal discontinuities.
There are no aquifers nearby.
Projects
Most UCG activity is occurring in Australia, China, and
South Africawith China having the largest UCG program
worldwide.
India plans to use UCG to access estimated 350 billion
tonnes of coal
South African companies Sasol and Eskom both have
UCG pilot facilities giving valuable information and data
In Australia, Linc Energy has the Chinchilla site, which first
started operating in 2000.
Linc Energy
Linc Energy is Australian company formed in 1996
successfully tested series of small UCG projects in
Australia
Produced synthetic jet fuel from UCG Syngas.
Key breakthrough in Linc Energys technology was
horizontal directional drilling
Linc also developed proprietory ignition, injection and
burner technology to tune the gasification process
 Challenges of UCG was that fire could get out of control
and burn unimpeded underground.
Linc Energy has addressed this issue by using water both
in the process and as a safety feature.
Linc Energys G6 well site in Wyoming is the companys
first in the USA
Concerns raised by landowners about potential effects on
ground water
Ground water will be montinored through water
monitoring wells.
UCG Process
Difference between UCG and
Coal Seam Gas
UCG
Energy Source Coal
Process description Gasification, in the presence
of pressure from
groundwater in the coal,
generates syngas that is
produced through wells
Product Processed gas of primarily
hydrogen, carbon monoxide
and methane
Energy recovery About 85% of energy in the
coal
Delivery Wells and pipelines
Coal Seam Gas (CSG)
Gas in Coal
Extraction of water in the
coal to relieve pressure
allows naturally occurring
methane gas to flow out of
the well
Methane
About 5% of energy in the
coal
Wells and pipelines
 UCG Coal Seam Gas (CSG)

Final product Liquid fuel, chemical Liquefied natural gas, liquid

feedstock, petrochemicals fuel, power generation.
and plastics, power
generation

Footprint For the same energy value, Variable

about half the area of an
open cut coal mine and 20
times less than CSG

Land disturbance Minimal Minimal, but over large land

area

Waste water Relatively small quantities of Large quantities of water

water containing organic containing inorganic
compounds (oils) compounds (salts)

Persistence of waste Readily recoverable as a Persistent in the environment

useable by-product and / or
degradable