Methane stored in coalbeds has emerged as an energy source that offers a viable, cleaner-burning and abundant alternative to fossil fuels. The recovery of coalbed methane requires a combination of oilfield and coalmining as well as new processes. This reference work discusses the principles of methane storage in coal and the practices of producing the methane economically on a commerical scale, and provides an overall analysis of the coalbed methane process. It also documents the formation, structure and properties of coal from the standpoint of importance to methane production and details the oilfield engineering operations as modified for the production of methane from coal.
