Overview: This project, which is a joint effort of the Illinois Basin Consortium, is designed to evaluate the potential for economic coalbed methane (CBM) in the Illinois Basin.
Illinois Basin Consortium
Funding: This project is being funded by the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy (DE-FC26-03NT41876) the Kentucky Consortium for Energy and the Environment, the Illinois Department of Commerce, and the three state surveys. Drilling assistance is being provided by Peabody Energy, Charolais Coal Company, Black Beauty Coal Company, and Royal Drilling and Producing.
Description: The goal of this project is to obtain fundamental information on methane content, permeability, and well-completion data and techniques for Illinois Basin coal beds and associated organic-rich shales. This study will provide essential baseline information necessary for the development and production of coalbed methane from areas believed to have the best potential for economically extractable coalbed methane in the Illinois Basin. The project will proceed in three phases.
Technology Transfer
Presented at the Strategic Research Institute 5th annual meeting on Coalbed Methane and Coal Mine Methane, Denver, Colorado, May 24-25: Resource Assessment and Production Testing for Coalbed Methane Development in the Illinois Basin [abstract] [PowerPoint presentation].
Reports: reports are available for viewing (provide links to files)
Semiannual report (.pdf file)
Most recent quarterly report (.pdf file)