METHOD OF FORMING METHANE TECHNOGENIC RESERVOIR IN COAL SEAM Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: mining industry; applicable in reproduction of worked-out coal-gas deposits with subsequent recovery of methane from coal seam. SUBSTANCE: method includes drilling of boreholes, supply to coal seam, together with substances ensuring their activity of methane-producing bacteria, allowing standing for some time to produce methane and withdrawal of methane. Method is distinguished by the fact than bacteria are supplied after ceasing of methane recovery under conditions of self-emission. Then coal seam is worked by injection of working fluid into it under conditions of hydraulic disjoint, and leaving the working fluid in coal seam for some time with subsequent displacement of working fluid from filtering pores and fractures by injection of carbon dioxide gas, and recovery of methane. In this case, first supplied are bacteria removing free oxygen and forming compound CH₃COOH, then bacteria convert this compound into methane during time allowed for standing with no admission of oxygen up to producing of commercial concentration of methane. Methanosarcina and Methanothrix species are used as bacteria producing compound CH₃COOH. EFFECT: higher efficiency of methane production from coal seams due to microbiological reproduction of methane. 2 cl, 1 dwg are used