Method and apparatus for sequestering co2 gas and releasing natural gas from coal and gas shale formations

Abstract

A system for sequestering CO 2 gas and releasing natural gas from underground coal and/or gas shale formations using CO 2 gas captured from the flue gas of a coal burning power plant, and processing it to produce cold liquid pressurized CO 2 , and injecting the cold liquid CO 2 under pressure to create fractures within the formation and causing the CO 2 to be adsorbed into the coal or gas shale and CH 4 to be desorbed, released and recovered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 capturing or producing carbon dioxide gas from coal or from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   injecting liquid nitrogen into an injection pipe to reduce the temperature thereof to minus 60 degree F. or less;   pressurizing and cooling the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through an underground transfer line connected to said injection pipe and extending said injection pipe into said reservoir or formation, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations and into said coal or shale and creating fractures therein;   allowing the liquid carbon dioxide to adsorb onto the coal or shale and allowing natural gas to be desorbed and released from the coal or shale; and   allowing the natural gas released from the coal or shale to pass through the fractures and toward said injection pipe or an additional recovery pipe, and allowing the natural gas to rise to the surface through said pipe or pipes.   
     
     
         2 . A method of sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 capturing or producing carbon dioxide gas from coal or from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   using a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth;   pressurizing and cooling the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through an underground transfer line connected to said injection pipe and extending said injection pipe into said reservoir or formation, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations and into said coal or shale and creating fractures therein;   allowing the liquid carbon dioxide to adsorb onto the coal or shale and allowing natural gas to be desorbed and released from the coal or shale; and   allowing the natural gas released from the coal or shale to pass through the fractures and toward said injection pipe or an additional recovery pipe, and allowing the natural gas to rise to the surface through said pipe or pipes.   
     
     
         3 . A method of sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 capturing or producing carbon dioxide gas from coal or from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   injecting liquid nitrogen into an injection pipe to reduce the temperature thereof and using a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth;   pressurizing and cooling the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   extending said injection pipe into said reservoir or formation and injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations and into said coal or shale and creating fractures therein;   allowing the liquid carbon dioxide to adsorb onto the coal or shale and allowing natural gas to be desorbed and released from the coal or shale; and   allowing the natural gas released from the coal or shale to pass through the fractures and toward said injection pipe or an additional recovery pipe, and allowing the natural gas to rise to the surface through said pipe or pipes.   
     
     
         4 . A method of sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 capturing or producing carbon dioxide gas from coal or from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   constructing an injection pipe using multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer;   injecting liquid nitrogen into said injection pipe to reduce the temperature thereof to minus 60 degree F. or less;   pressurizing and cooling the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   extending said injection pipe into said reservoir or formation and injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations and into said coal or shale and creating fractures therein;   allowing the liquid carbon dioxide to adsorb onto the coal or shale and allowing natural gas to be desorbed and released from the coal or shale; and   allowing the natural gas released from the coal or shale to pass through the fractures and toward said injection pipe or an additional recovery pipe, and allowing the natural gas to rise to the surface through said pipe or pipes.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein within said reservoir or formation the temperature of the cold liquid carbon dioxide is allowed to warm up, or the pressure is allowed to drop, such that a sudden phase change from a liquid to a gas occurs within said reservoir or formation, wherein additional fractures are created within said reservoir or formation as the cold liquid carbon dioxide changes phase to a gas. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein within said reservoir or formation the temperature of the cold liquid carbon dioxide is allowed to warm up, or the pressure is allowed to drop, such that a sudden phase change from a liquid to a gas occurs within said reservoir or formation, wherein additional fractures are created within said reservoir or formation as the cold liquid carbon dioxide changes phase to a gas. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein within said reservoir or formation the temperature of the cold liquid carbon dioxide is allowed to warm up, or the pressure is allowed to drop, such that a sudden phase change from a liquid to a gas occurs within said reservoir or formation, wherein additional fractures are created within said reservoir or formation as the cold liquid carbon dioxide changes phase to a gas. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein within said reservoir or formation the temperature of the cold liquid carbon dioxide is allowed to warm up, or the pressure is allowed to drop, such that a sudden phase change from a liquid to a gas occurs within said reservoir or formation, wherein additional fractures are created within said reservoir or formation as the cold liquid carbon dioxide changes phase to a gas. 
     
     
         9 . A system for sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 a device that produces carbon dioxide gas or captures and separates carbon dioxide gas from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   a mechanism that pressurizes and cools the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   at least a first injection pipe extended into said reservoir or formation wherein said injection pipe comprises multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with perforations that allow the liquid carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth and an underground transfer line to transfer the cold liquid carbon dioxide from said mechanism to said injection pipe;   fractures within said reservoir or formation created by injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe and allowing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to be released under pressure through said perforations into said reservoir or formation;   a sudden phase change of the cold liquid carbon dioxide from a liquid to a gas, wherein the transition of the liquid carbon dioxide to a gas causes the liquid to expand and create additional fractures within said reservoir or formation;   natural gas within said reservoir or formation desorbed and released from the coal or shale as the carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the coal or shale; and   at least one recovery pipe extended upward from said reservoir or formation through which the natural gas released from the coal or shale can be recovered at the surface.   
     
     
         10 . A system for sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 a device that produces carbon dioxide gas or captures and separates carbon dioxide gas from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   a mechanism that pressurizes and cools the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   at least a first injection pipe extended into said reservoir or formation wherein said injection pipe comprises multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with perforations that allow the liquid carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   liquid nitrogen injected within said first injection pipe to reduce the temperature of said injection pipe to minus 60 degree F. or less;   an underground transfer line to transfer the cold liquid carbon dioxide from said mechanism to said injection pipe;   fractures within said reservoir or formation created by injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe and allowing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to be released under pressure through said perforations into said reservoir or formation;   a sudden phase change of the cold liquid carbon dioxide from a liquid to a gas, wherein the transition of the liquid carbon dioxide to a gas causes the liquid to expand and create additional fractures within said reservoir or formation;   natural gas within said reservoir or formation desorbed and released from the coal or shale as the carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the coal or shale; and   at least one recovery pipe extended upward from said reservoir or formation through which the natural gas released from the coal or shale can be recovered at the surface.   
     
     
         11 . A system for sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 a device that produces carbon dioxide gas or captures and separates carbon dioxide gas from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   a mechanism that pressurizes and cools the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   at least a first injection pipe extended into said reservoir or formation wherein said injection pipe comprises multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with perforations that allow the liquid carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   liquid nitrogen injected within said first injection pipe to reduce the temperature of said injection pipe to minus 60 degree F. or less;   a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth;   fractures within said reservoir or formation created by injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe and allowing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to be released under pressure through said perforations into said reservoir or formation;   a sudden phase change of the cold liquid carbon dioxide from a liquid to a gas, wherein the transition of the liquid carbon dioxide to a gas causes the liquid to expand and create additional fractures within said reservoir or formation;   natural gas within said reservoir or formation desorbed and released from the coal or shale as the carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the coal or shale; and   at least one recovery pipe extended upward from said reservoir or formation through which the natural gas released from the coal or shale can be recovered at the surface.   
     
     
         12 . A system for sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 a device that produces carbon dioxide gas or captures and separates carbon dioxide gas from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   a mechanism that pressurizes and cools the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   at least a first injection pipe extended into said reservoir or formation wherein said injection pipe comprises multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with perforations that allow the liquid carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   liquid nitrogen injected within said first injection pipe to reduce the temperature of said injection pipe to minus 60 degree F. or less;   fractures within said reservoir or formation created by injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe and allowing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to be released under pressure through said perforations into said reservoir or formation;   a sudden phase change of the cold liquid carbon dioxide from a liquid to a gas, wherein the transition of the liquid carbon dioxide to a gas causes the liquid to expand and create additional fractures within said reservoir or formation;   natural gas within said reservoir or formation desorbed and released from the coal or shale as the carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the coal or shale; and   at least one recovery pipe extended upward from said reservoir or formation through which the natural gas released from the coal or shale can be recovered at the surface.   
     
     
         13 . A system for sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 a device that produces carbon dioxide gas or captures and separates carbon dioxide gas from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   a mechanism that pressurizes and cools the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   at least a first injection pipe extended into said reservoir or formation wherein said injection pipe comprises multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with perforations that allow the liquid carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth;   fractures within said reservoir or formation created by injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe and allowing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to be released under pressure through said perforations into said reservoir or formation;   a sudden phase change of the cold liquid carbon dioxide from a liquid to a gas, wherein the transition of the liquid carbon dioxide to a gas causes the liquid to expand and create additional fractures within said reservoir or formation;   natural gas within said reservoir or formation desorbed and released from the coal or shale as the carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the coal or shale; and   at least one recovery pipe extended upward from said reservoir or formation through which the natural gas released from the coal or shale can be recovered at the surface.   
     
     
         14 . A system for sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 a device that produces carbon dioxide gas or captures and separates carbon dioxide gas from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   a mechanism that pressurizes and cools the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   at least a first injection pipe extended into said reservoir or formation wherein said injection pipe comprises multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with perforations that allow the liquid carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   an underground transfer line to transfer the cold liquid carbon dioxide from said mechanism to said injection pipe;   fractures within said reservoir or formation created by injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe and allowing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to be released under pressure through said perforations into said reservoir or formation;   a sudden phase change of the cold liquid carbon dioxide from a liquid to a gas, wherein the transition of the liquid carbon dioxide to a gas causes the liquid to expand and create additional fractures within said reservoir or formation;   natural gas within said reservoir or formation desorbed and released from the coal or shale as the carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the coal or shale; and   at least one recovery pipe extended upward from said reservoir or formation through which the natural gas released from the coal or shale can be recovered at the surface.   
     
     
         15 . A system for sequestering carbon dioxide and recovering natural gas from a coal or gas shale reservoir or formation, comprising:
 a device that produces carbon dioxide gas or captures and separates carbon dioxide gas from flue gases of a power plant, incinerator or chemical processing plant;   a mechanism that pressurizes and cools the carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   at least a first injection pipe extended into said reservoir or formation wherein said injection pipe comprises multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with perforations that allow the liquid carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir or formation;   fractures within said reservoir or formation created by injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe and allowing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to be released under pressure through said perforations into said reservoir or formation;   a sudden phase change of the cold liquid carbon dioxide from a liquid to a gas, wherein the transition of the liquid carbon dioxide to a gas causes the liquid to expand and create additional fractures within said reservoir or formation;   natural gas within said reservoir or formation desorbed and released from the coal or shale as the carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the coal or shale; and   at least one recovery pipe extended upward from said reservoir or formation through which the natural gas released from the coal or shale can be recovered at the surface.   
     
     
         16 . A method of recovering natural gas from a reservoir having coal or shale therein, comprising:
 providing a first injection pipe that extends into said reservoir;   using a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth within said injection pipe;   pressurizing and cooling carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   providing at least one recovery pipe extended into said reservoir and closing a valve on said recovery pipe;   injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir;   releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations into said reservoir and creating fractures within said reservoir;   causing the pressure within said reservoir to build up and allowing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide to be adsorbed onto the coal or shale found in said reservoir and the natural gas in the coal or shale to be desorbed therefrom;   turning off the injection of the cold liquid carbon dioxide and closing a valve on said injection pipe;   allowing the temperature of the cold liquid carbon dioxide within said reservoir to be increased or the pressure within said reservoir to be reduced, thereby causing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to change phase from a liquid to a gas, thereby creating expansion and more fractures within said reservoir; and   gradually opening said injection pipe, and said at least one recovery pipe, to allow the natural gas formed within said reservoir to rise to the surface through said pipes without substantially releasing the pressure within said reservoir too quickly.   
     
     
         17 . A method of recovering natural gas from a reservoir having coal or shale therein, comprising:
 providing a first injection pipe that extends into said reservoir;   injecting liquid nitrogen into said first injection pipe and reducing the temperature of said injection pipe to minus 60 degree F. or less;   pressurizing and cooling carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   providing at least one recovery pipe extended into said reservoir and closing a valve on said recovery pipe;   injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir;   releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations into said reservoir and creating fractures within said reservoir;   causing the pressure within said reservoir to build up and allowing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide to be adsorbed onto the coal or shale found in said reservoir and the natural gas in the coal or shale to be desorbed therefrom;   turning off the injection of the cold liquid carbon dioxide and closing a valve on said injection pipe;   allowing the temperature of the cold liquid carbon dioxide within said reservoir to be increased or the pressure within said reservoir to be reduced, thereby causing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to change phase from a liquid to a gas, thereby creating expansion and more fractures within said reservoir; and   gradually opening said injection pipe, and said at least one recovery pipe, to allow the natural gas formed within said reservoir to rise to the surface through said pipes without substantially releasing the pressure within said reservoir too quickly.   
     
     
         18 . A method of recovering natural gas from a reservoir having coal or shale therein, comprising:
 providing a first injection pipe that extends into said reservoir;   injecting liquid nitrogen into said first injection pipe and reducing the temperature of said injection pipe to minus 60 degree F. or less;   using a thermocouple to measure the temperature of said injection pipe at a predetermined depth within said injection pipe;   pressurizing and cooling carbon dioxide gas to create pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide;   providing at least one recovery pipe extended into said reservoir;   injecting the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide into said injection pipe, wherein said injection pipe has perforations that allow the carbon dioxide to be released into said reservoir;   releasing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide through said perforations into said reservoir and creating fractures within said reservoir;   causing the pressure within said reservoir to build up and allowing the pressurized cold liquid carbon dioxide to be adsorbed onto the coal or shale found in said reservoir and the natural gas in the coal or shale to be desorbed therefrom;   turning off the injection of the cold liquid carbon dioxide and closing a valve on said injection pipe;   allowing the temperature of the cold liquid carbon dioxide within said reservoir to be increased or the pressure within said reservoir to be reduced, thereby causing the cold liquid carbon dioxide to change phase from a liquid to a gas, thereby creating expansion and more fractures within said reservoir; and   opening said injection pipe, and said at least one recovery pipe, to allow the natural gas formed within said reservoir to rise to the surface through said pipes without substantially releasing the pressure within said reservoir too quickly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises constructing said injection pipe using multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with the perforations located at or near the bottom thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises constructing said injection pipe using multiple layers of casings with concrete in between each layer with the perforations located at or near the bottom thereof.