Subterranean Methane Mitigation in Organic Waste Wells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Methane production and leakage from subterranean formations and abandoned wells pose environmental risks due to methane's contribution to ground-level ozone and greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating methods to reduce methane occurrence and severity.
Innovation Solution
Application of biocides, methanotrophic bacteria, conversion of methane to complex carbon chemicals, and in situ combustion to mitigate methane production and leakage in subterranean formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If biocides are applied to eliminate methane-producing bacteria, then methane production is reduced, but the complexity of the treatment process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates methane-producing bacteria from the organic waste material by applying biocides before injection. This removes the source of methane generation, directly addressing the harmful factor while simplifying the overall system by preventing rather than treating methane production downstream.
Solution Approach 2:
The biocide treatment is applied in advance during the waste preparation phase, before the organic waste is injected into the subterranean formation. This preliminary action prevents methane production from occurring in the first place, avoiding the need for complex monitoring and remediation systems downstream.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If methanotrophic bacteria are injected to consume methane, then methane presence is reduced, but the device complexity and process control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Methanotrophic bacteria serve as a biological intermediary that consumes methane through metabolic processes. These bacteria are injected into the formation to biologically degrade methane, providing a natural remediation mechanism that converts the harmful gas into less harmful byproducts through biological activity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If in situ combustion is applied to convert methane to complex carbon chemicals, then methane leakage is reduced, but the energy consumption and temperature control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies controlled combustion to change the chemical parameters of methane, converting it into complex carbon chemicals through oxidation reactions. This parameter transformation converts the harmful methane gas into more stable carbon-containing compounds, reducing leakage potential while managing energy input through controlled injection rates and formation conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces methane presence and production in subterranean formations, minimizing atmospheric release and environmental impact by converting methane to less harmful substances or eliminating methane-producing bacteria.
Implementation Method 1
removing the methane producing bacteria from the pre-injectate organic waste material
Implementation Method 2
injection of a methanotrophic bacteria bearing fluid into the subterranean formation to reduce the methane present in the formation
Implementation Method 3
a method of potentially reducing the amount of methane or methane production in a subterranean formation includes injecting a reactant bearing fluid into the subterranean formation. In the formation, the reactant reacts with the methane to create a more complex carbon bearing chemical
Implementation Method 4
in situ combustion to mitigate methane production and leakage in subterranean formations
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for reducing methane or methane production from organic material decomposition in a subterranean formation, or from formations leaking methane, include injecting reactants, biocides, or methanotrophic bacteria into the formation.