Economics of enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) productionusing different CO_2 injection sources: Pure CO_2 versus coal combustion flue gas versus acid gas streams

摘要

The performances of ECBM processes in central Alberta Canada with the injection of three CO_2 gas streams are numerically simulated in this paper. The gas adsorptions, injectivities and the productivities of these ECBM processes are discussed based on the simulation results. Also a preliminary economic assessment of these ECBM processes is conducted. The economic assessment results favor flue gas injection over pure CO_2 injection. However, use of flue gas is less attractive than acid gas for ECBM due to additional capture, compression and downstream separation costs. Acid gas has the advantage that the capture and compression costs are already paid for and there are no downstream separation costs.