Coalbed methane, widely known as CBM, is natural gas extracted from coal seams. The gas consists mainly of methane and is sometimes referred to as coal seam gas or coal-mine methane. This resource is an important alternative energy source in many countries, but its reserves are not always understood.
Coalbed methane is formed in coal when it exposed to geological processes over geological time. In coal beds, the heat and pressure of the earth’s crust compress hydrocarbons into pockets of natural gas. This type of natural gas is the main ingredient in what some people refer to as “Cowboy Gas”. Cowboy Gas is a mixture of carbon dioxide, ethane, and methane that is produced from coal beds or coal mines.
In recent years, the development of coalbed methane has grown steadily throughout the world. This is due in part to the increasing demand for natural gas resources, as well as advances in technology that have made the extraction of coalbed methane more feasible. In addition, the production of coalbed methane has improved in terms of environmental impact. This is because the extraction process is much cleaner than other fossil fuel extraction processes, meaning it produces fewer greenhouses gases.
The reserves of coalbed methane are currently estimated to range between five and 25 trillion cubic feet worldwide. This is significant because it constitutes a large potential source of energy, with the potential to provide energy to millions of people.
The extraction of natural gas from coal beds is typically done using either hydraulic fracturing or horizontal drilling. Hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) is a process by which a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is injected into a coal seam at high pressure, which fractures the coal and releases methane trapped inside. Horizontal drilling allows for the drilling of longer, deeper wells that can access coal seams previously inaccessible. This allows for much more efficient extraction of coalbed methane than was possible before.
While coalbed methane extraction does have some environmental concerns, such as the release of methane into the atmosphere and the potential for contamination of water supplies, it has been established that the benefits of extracting these resources can outweigh the potential risks.
Coalbed methane is an important part of a larger global effort to produce reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable energy. As technology and techniques continue to improve, and costs continue to come down, the potential for this resource to provide energy to the world is only increasing.
Indeed, the global reserves of coalbed methane are projected to increase to as high as 66 trillion cubic feet by 2040, which could help meet the world’s growing energy needs without relying as heavily on other, more polluting forms of energy. With continued research and development, coalbed methane could be a viable energy source for generations to come.