Coal Bed Methane - Environment Notes

Coal bed methane (CBM) is a natural gas that may be extracted from coal beds. It is a significant unconventional gas that occurs naturally in coal beds and is increasingly being employed in industrial and utility applications. India’s coal and CBM deposits are spread throughout 12 Indian states, with the Gondwana sediments of eastern India holding the majority. The Damodar Koel and Son valleys are potential CBM development regions. This article explains about Coal Bed Methane which is important for UPSC IAS exam preparation.

Coal bed methane (CBM)

• Coalbed methane, also known by other names such as coal seam gas, coal-mine methane, and coalbed gas, is a kind of natural gas derived from coal beds. It has gained popularity in recent years as a Renewable energy source.
• CBM is collected from unconventional gas reservoirs, where gas is taken straight from the source rock.
• Methane is stored underground inside coal and is collected by drilling into the coal seam and extracting groundwater. As a result of the pressure reduction, methane is released from the coal.
• CBM has been considered a clean alternative fuel with promising future possibilities.
• CBM may be used to generate electricity, as Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fuel, as fertiliser feedstock, and in industrial applications such as cement manufacture, rolling mills, steel plants, and methanol production.

Coal bed methane (CBM) - Uses

• It is used in the manufacturing of cement, methanol, and other products.
• It is used in both steel factories and rolling mills.
• It can be used as a fertiliser feedstock.
• CBM is an environmentally friendly energy source that is utilised in power generating.

Coal bed methane (CBM) - Benefits

• It is an environmentally safe and pure fuel that produces just carbon dioxide and water when burned.
• Methane (CH4) dominates, with modest quantities of nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and heavier hydrocarbons such as ethane. (C2H6).
• It is a renewable energy source.
• It is not only an efficient fuel, but it also cuts greenhouse gas emissions from coal mining.
• Its extraction before coal mining activities improves mining safety by degassing coal seams.

Coal bed methane (CBM) - In India

• According to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, India has the fifth-largest known coal reserves in the world, providing substantial opportunities for CBM exploration and production.
• CBM resources in India are expected to be approximately 92 trillion cubic feet (TCF), or 2,600 billion cubic metres. (BCM).
• India's coal and CBM deposits are spread throughout 12 states.
• The majority of coal and CBM reserves are found in the Gondwana strata of eastern India.

Concerns and Challenges of CBM

• The disturbance of drilled fields (for coal bed methane) and its impact on wildlife habitats causes environmental degradation.
• Water discharges from CBM development harm the water sources downstream.
• A substantial volume of salinized water is dumped into freshwater habitats during the CBM extraction process. This might have a negative influence. The disposal of salinized water is a problem.
• CBM was previously responsible for a huge number of explosions in underground mines.
• However, the gas is currently being evacuated to the surface from subterranean mines.
• During the extraction of CBM, methane is released. Methane is a greenhouse gas, which causes worry.
• Production behaviour in the early phases of recovery is complicated and difficult to anticipate.

Conclusion

Coal bed methane (CBM) is a natural gas derived from coal beds. It is an important unconventional gas that naturally originates in coal beds and is increasingly used in industrial and utility applications. CBM methane is an ecologically safe and pure gas. It would aid in increasing domestic gas output while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. However, procedures such as environmental impact assessment and cost benefit analysis should be thoroughly considered and executed before considering CBM as an alternative fuel in the long run.

FAQs

MCQs

Question: Consider the following: (UPSC 2019)

1. Carbon monoxide
2. Methane
3. Ozone
4. Sulphur dioxide

Which of the above are released into the atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Question: Which of the following statements is/are correct about Coal Bed Methane?

1. It is a renewable source of energy.
2. It is an environmentally safe and clean fuel that when burned emits just carbon dioxide and water.
3. The majority of CBM deposits in India are located in Eastern India.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3