Coal-bed methane
Also called: CBM · Topic: Energy Resources of India: Conventional and Non-conventional · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Coal-bed methane (CBM) is natural gas, mostly methane, trapped inside underground coal seams. Wells are drilled into the seam and water is pumped out. This lowers the pressure, so the gas is released and flows up. CBM gives extra clean-burning gas from coalfields. It also cuts the risk of methane blasts in coal mines.
Example
India's first commercial coal-bed methane production began at the Raniganj coalfield in West Bengal in 2007.
Don't confuse with
- Coal gasification: This makes a new gas called syngas by reacting the coal itself with steam and oxygen. CBM simply draws out gas that is already present in the seam.
- Gas hydrates: These are ice-like solids holding methane in seabed sediments, such as in the KG basin. They are not found in coal seams.
Related concepts
- Coal reserves distribution
- Jharia coalfield
- Raniganj coalfield
- Singrauli coalfield
- Hasdeo Arand coalfield
- Coal gasification