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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1986; v. 23; p. 113-120;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1986.023.01.08
© 1986 Geological Society of London

Methods and Applications

Laboratory Studies into the Generation of Natural Gas from Coals

M. D. Higgs

Koninklijke/Shell Exploratie en Produktie Laboratorium, Rijswijk, The Netherlands (Shell Research B. V.)

The thermal histories of a Palaeozoic and a Tertiary coal have been investigated by laboratory simulation experiments in which a suite of samples, with natural maturities ranging from 0.4–3.0% vitrinite reflectance (VR), were heated under identical conditions of time and temperature. The cumulative hydrocarbon yield (measured as methane equivalents) was found to be 170 ml/g organic carbon (Org. C) for the Paleoazoic coal and 225 ml/g org. C for the Tertiary coal. Peak hydrocarbon generation was estimated to occur at approximately 1% reflectance for both coals. Carbon dioxide generation for both coals is rapid and can be considered to have ended by 1% reflectance. Nitrogen generation is negligible for both coals over the maturity range investigated.