GIS ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL COAL BED METHANE AND CO2 SEQUESTRATION IN THE MIDDLE KITTANNING (NO. 6) COAL BED IN OHIO

Evaluation of CO₂ sequestration in coal beds in Ohio is part of a U.S. DOE-funded project, the Midcontinent Interactive Digital Carbon Atlas and Relational dataBase (MIDCARB).  This project will look at the feasibility and economics of CO₂ sequestration in Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, and Ohio.  CO₂ will likely be used to enhance coal-bed methane recovery in deep (greater than 500 ft) coal deposits that are uneconomical to mine or are unsuitable for mining due to high sulfur content.  Initial studies focused on the extent and thickness of the Middle Kittanning (No. 6) and Upper Freeport (No. 7) coal beds.

 

To further delineate coal-bed methane and CO₂ sequestration potential in the Middle Kittanning coal bed, additional parameters, such as coal ash content and roof-rock composition, must be considered.  Using coal-quality data from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Ohio Division of Geological Survey, an ash content map of the Middle Kittanning coal bed has been created.  Maps of roof-rock lithology and roof-rock thickness also have been generated using data from the National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS).  These data layers are being analyzed in a GIS to determine and illustrate the areas most favorable to CO₂ sequestration and coal-bed methane recovery in the Middle Kittanning coal bed of Ohio.