GEOL 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 18: Coalbed Methane, Bituminous Coal, Orinoco
Document Summary
Newly developed or potentially important sources of hydrocarbons include: Coal-bed methane, gas hydrate, oil shale, and tar sands. Plant matter than turned into coal accumulated at different times in different places. Burial depth depends on regional differences in geologic history. Paleozoic coal of the appalachians was buried enough so it is mostly bituminous coal and anthracite. Younger coal in the western states and the gulf coast was buried less. Largest production of coal-bed methane comes from the colorado plateau and southern appalachians. Coal-bed methane is the simplest form of natural gas and is a relatively clean-burning fuel that provides 7%-8% of natural gas usage in the us. Gas hydrate: an ice-like solid mixture of water and natural gas (usually methane) Methane is derived from decaying organic material that is buried. Due to technical challenges, it is not currently used for energy. Could represent an important future resource as oil reserves become depleted.
