Method and apparatus for desorbing methane from coal formations via pressure waves or acoustic vibrations

Abstract

One embodiment of this method involves using an acoustic device (including devices that emit acoustic waves at subsonic, sonic, and ultrasonic frequencies) that induces pressure changes at high frequencies. Those pressure changes could be induced across a large area from a single device location. Thus, one acoustic device located in one wellbore can desorb gas from a large volume of coal.

1 . A method of desorbing methane or gas from an in-situ coal formation, comprising: 
 providing a sonic device,    positioning the sonic device into or adjacent a wellbore of the coal formation,    producing a sonic or mechanical vibration in a media located near the coal formation to thereby induce desorption of the methane or gas from the coal formation.    
   
   
       2 . A device for desorption of methane or gas from an in-situ coal formation, comprising; 
 a mechanical vibrating means for directly or indirectly producing a mechanical vibration in or adjacent a wellbore of the coal formation,    wherein the vibrating means produces the vibration to propagate into the coal formation and thereby desorb the methane or gas from the coal formation.