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Greenfield Energies from Underground Coal Gasification and Liquefaction of Solid Fossil Fuels—Basics and Future Potentiality in India

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Macromolecular Characterization of Hydrocarbons for Sustainable Future

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Potential global warming threats caused by emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is the crux of the environmental issues, and it is accepted that physical manifestations of increasing anthropogenic and developmental activities are the major contributor. To keep the delicate balance between these obvious activities and climatic change, endeavour is going on in all respect to unlock the greener and cleaner energy, reducing the carbon footprint from the environment. As still the major share of energy mix of our country is feeded by solid fossil fuel and expected to be continued in the coming couple of decades, utilization of them towards greenfield energies like gas and oil through unconventional and upgraded technological knowhow must be warranted. In this direction, underground coal gasification (UCG) and coal to oil (CTL) are two major processes, which have tremendous potentiality in India. For a better use and result through available technology, basic knowledge of the physical, chemical, mechanical and petrological aspects of coal is pivotal. In this respect, a huge database has been generated by Geological Survey of India (GSI), through its exploratory drilling for coal and lignite in all the Gondwana and Tertiary coal and lignite fields. Macromolecular study of Indian coal through spectroscopic studies helps to understand the polyaromatic components released during heating of coal which would help to design customized systems for coal gasification/liquefaction as well as residual materials which could be used as carbon feedstock. Comprehensive effort through multipronged approach for exploring the solid fossil fuel for UGC or CTL though still in nascent stage, interrelation of the related parameters, has already proved their potentiality in some selected coal seams of different coalfields, which must be tested thoroughly for others also.

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Acknowledgements

SB thankfully acknowledges Director General, GSI, for giving opportunity to represent GSI in the ‘one-day conference’ on ‘Macromolecular characterization of coal and hydrocarbon components for future’ jointly organized by School of Petroleum Technology, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gujarat, with S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, on 125th Birth Anniversary of Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose held on 19th November, 2018, in PDPU Campus, Gandhinagar. The present paper is an outcome of the deliberation of SB in this conference. He also thankfully acknowledges the support of Petroleum Engineering Laboratory of PDPU for the spectroscopic analysis and characterization of data. Data generated by GSI, which have been used in this paper are taken from the different unpublished technical reports of investigations carried out as approved FSP of GSI.

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  1. Natural Energy Resources, Mission-IIB, Geological Survey of India, Bhu-Bijnan Bhawan, DK-6, Sector-II, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, 700 091, India

    Sudip Bhattacharyya

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  1. School of Petroleum Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU, Formerly Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University-PDPU), Gandhinagar, India

    Uttam Kumar Bhui

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Bhattacharyya, S. (2021). Greenfield Energies from Underground Coal Gasification and Liquefaction of Solid Fossil Fuels—Basics and Future Potentiality in India. In: Bhui, U.K. (eds) Macromolecular Characterization of Hydrocarbons for Sustainable Future. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6133-1_13

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