Coal news and updates

While the price of oil may be beginning to climb up a bit these days, we hope it has at least seen the bottom. The devastating effect of oil prices on cities, companies and workers cannot be overstated. The energy industry needs some good news. And they may found it. Coal bed methane (CBM) is a clean and renewable energy source that most people have never heard of. But CBM is making many energy industry officials hopeful again, at least the ones who know about the relatively new technology.

Since inception of the niche industry in early 1990s, CBM production has steadily grown as a clean alternative to traditional coal and oil exploration and production. Coal bed methane, named because methane is literally absorbed into the veins of coal blocks without the presence of hydrogen sulfide, is a natural gas game-changer that has largely gone unnoticed. North America and Australia’s demand for sustainable energy, however, has propelled CBM’s expansion. But the fastest growing region for this new form of cleaner energy is in Asia. CBM’s growth is estimated to be nearly $17 billion worldwide by 2020.

According to ResearchGate, conventional natural gas production has almost been depleted. And in 2014, North American coal production slightly reversed a trend from 2013 where coal production had been on a decline. China, however, has increased its coal production to half of the world’s total, despite having had a 3 percent decrease in production last year. But with the legislative and political attacks on coal growing in the United States and other western countries, alternative forms of energy production that are cleaner than coal are still needed.

In the midst of the world’s energy instability, Coal bed methane production provides an easy solution to the demand by some for clean energy solutions and is therefore growing rapidly around the world. CBM can be extracted without the need for fracking and using any harmful chemicals during the drilling and production phased. When produced in this manner, it is environmentally accretive and provides for clean water to be produced, which is an increasing scarce commodity, followed by sustainable methane without any by-products that need to be disposed. It may be the cleanest source of energy.

SOurce: Washington TImes