Method and apparatus for sequestering CO2 gas and releasing natural gas from coal and gas shale formations

摘要

A system for sequestering CO2 gas and releasing natural gas from underground coal and/or gas shale formations using CO2 gas captured from the flue gas of a coal burning power plant, and processing it to produce cold liquid pressurized CO2, and injecting the cold liquid CO2 under pressure to create fractures within the formation and causing the CO2 to be adsorbed into the coal or gas shale and CH4 to be desorbed, released and recovered. No high volume of water, no toxic additives to the water and no sand proppants are used for hydro-fracture of the gas shale or coal bed.

主权项

1. A method of sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
capturing or producing carbon dioxide gas from coal or from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant; injecting liquid nitrogen into an injection pipe to reduce the temperature thereof to minus 60 degree F. or less and using a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth; pressurizing and cooling the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide with no proppants or toxic additives added therein; injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through an underground transfer line connected to said injection pipe and extending said injection pipe into said reservoir or formation, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation; releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations and into said coal or shale and creating fractures therein; allowing the liquid carbon dioxide to adsorb onto the coal or shale and allowing natural gas to be desorbed and released from the coal or shale; and allowing the natural gas released from the coal or shale to pass through the fractures and toward said injection pipe or an additional recovery pipe, and allowing the natural gas to rise to the surface through said pipe or pipes.