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Coal-Eating Microbes Might Create Vast Amounts of Natural Gas

Technology Review -- Fracking technology has already made it practical to exploit previously inaccessible natural gas and oil in the United States (see "Natural Gas Changes the Energy Map"). Now several companies are demonstrating a way to use microörganisms that eat coal and excrete methane—the main ingredient in natural gas—as a possible means of extracting fuel from coal resources that had been too expensive to mine.

Many coal beds contain large amounts of methane that can be harvested by drilling wells. In recent decades, researchers have demonstrated that a large fraction of the natural gas found in the coal beds is produced by naturally occurring microörganisms that feed on coal, and they have found ways to stimulate the microbes to produce more methane.

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Submitted Oct 23, 2012 By: NOTSOGRN

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mrpc90 Champion Author Illinois Posts:8,132 Points:1,925,040 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:22:09 AM Ignore mrpc90 Report Abuse Let's get Obama to invest billions of OUR money in it, like Solyndra... so it can fail like everything else.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,542 Points:1,916,730 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 3:58:47 AM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse Are these the same microbes that "cleaned up" the BP oil spill?
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,743 Points:588,820 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 1:15:49 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then
jmaustin80 Sophomore Author Alaska Posts:159 Points:189,875 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 12:03:59 AM Ignore jmaustin80 Report Abuse Interesting
jjfisher All-Star Author Toledo Posts:546 Points:746,190 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 10:08:28 PM Ignore jjfisher Report Abuse I know of some people that can contribute, personally.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:553,980 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:56:29 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Interesting
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,183 Points:1,222,875 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:54:32 PM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse Beans produce more methane also.
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,888 Points:1,541,385 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:53:42 PM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse R & D it.
Kawibiker Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,165 Points:203,400 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:51:44 PM Ignore Kawibiker Report Abuse ok
Matt G Champion Author Boston Posts:4,518 Points:2,770,115 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:50:21 PM Ignore Matt G Report Abuse Like cows!
gaspricemachine Veteran Author Tampa Posts:273 Points:1,190,420 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:47:08 PM Ignore gaspricemachine Report Abuse Natural Gas is better than Coal..
Rooster922 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:3,773 Points:653,145 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:45:39 PM Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse No wonder I keep on farting. Regular unl = $3.37 here.
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,703 Points:385,050 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:40:24 PM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse This should be interesting.
badharley Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,015 Points:738,360 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:38:17 PM Ignore badharley Report Abuse If it works go for it.
Tsunamiron Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,414 Points:554,800 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:37:04 PM Ignore Tsunamiron Report Abuse Save the natural gas for heating our childrens' homes.
jcdakota Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,347 Points:361,345 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:36:07 PM Ignore jcdakota Report Abuse Now we need microbes to build cng stations and cars!
shores4now Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,391 Points:520,875 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:33:59 PM Ignore shores4now Report Abuse Ok
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,466 Points:2,099,840 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:33:27 PM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse Coal eating microbes and the relation to NG was in the news 6 months ago.
rattlewagon Rookie Author Arizona Posts:99 Points:71,590 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:32:39 PM Ignore rattlewagon Report Abuse So fracking technology is going to be rendered obsolete by microbial farting technology?
beale055 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:1,292 Points:423,975 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:30:12 PM Ignore beale055 Report Abuse Wait whattt?
beale055 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:1,292 Points:423,975 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:29:49 PM Ignore beale055 Report Abuse Yes!!
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,161 Points:1,928,430 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:29:31 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Good if it really works.
Hunter724 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,106 Points:1,643,150 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:27:44 PM Ignore Hunter724 Report Abuse Very interesting...
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,226 Points:2,251,095 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:27:09 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse first cousin to those microbes that supposedly cleaned the gulf ??..
teamsimons Champion Author South Carolina Posts:2,458 Points:499,095 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:26:54 PM Ignore teamsimons Report Abuse We commented on this a day or two ago...
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,738 Points:2,462,685 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:26:11 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Amazing!
pastorpaulcg Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,615 Points:775,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:26:10 PM Ignore pastorpaulcg Report Abuse Ok
fredtheturd Sophomore Author Kansas Posts:201 Points:427,825 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:26:09 PM Ignore fredtheturd Report Abuse Reminds me of the lady at the party shop who said helium was in short supply because the Earth didn't have much left. I asked where it was going and she said in to space because it was lighter than air... Seriously?!
Jmac2008 Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,256 Points:878,005 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:24:37 PM Ignore Jmac2008 Report Abuse ok
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:24:03 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse interesting bugs
Dsin44 Champion Author Abbotsford Posts:1,270 Points:271,670 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:23:32 PM Ignore Dsin44 Report Abuse bugs that eat coal??
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,805 Points:1,427,825 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:23:24 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Microbes? Seriously??
souly Champion Author Montreal Posts:1,750 Points:429,445 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:22:07 PM Ignore souly Report Abuse thanks for the post
Badjef Champion Author Florida Posts:4,030 Points:814,915 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:21:43 PM Ignore Badjef Report Abuse If I eat coal, maybe I can create more natural gas, too. ...probably, not.
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,451 Points:2,077,835 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:20:44 PM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse But I don't eat Microbes...OK maybe I do!!!
gaspumpin Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,655 Points:385,555 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:20:31 PM Ignore gaspumpin Report Abuse Must have boned up on their biology.
BobD2009 Champion Author Long Island Posts:6,974 Points:1,236,860 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:20:16 PM Ignore BobD2009 Report Abuse Okay.
madison8359 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:8,995 Points:1,590,370 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:17:43 PM Ignore madison8359 Report Abuse Do it.
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,970 Points:2,523,410 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:17:04 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse what else?
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,284 Points:1,639,880 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:15:58 PM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse Ok....go for it.
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,677 Points:535,120 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:14:29 PM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse If it works!
Glock26 Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,514 Points:630,435 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:13:39 PM Ignore Glock26 Report Abuse Interesting!!!
WVUtailgater Champion Author Cleveland Posts:8,421 Points:1,695,760 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:13:27 PM Ignore WVUtailgater Report Abuse at what cost though
jrschl Champion Author Louisville Posts:2,952 Points:678,140 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:12:43 PM Ignore jrschl Report Abuse You think?
DABEE1073 Champion Author San Diego Posts:8,195 Points:1,570,385 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:12:22 PM Ignore DABEE1073 Report Abuse I ALWAYS GET GAS WHEN I EAT COAL.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,193 Points:514,850 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:12:14 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Interesting technology.
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,505 Points:1,666,660 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:11:28 PM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse Might be worthwhile in the future, but not now.
defiancegasman Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,075 Points:1,322,185 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:11:07 PM Ignore defiancegasman Report Abuse The TRUE CLEAN COAL energy.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,931 Points:1,180,060 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:10:51 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse interesting...
a14morfun Champion Author Ontario Posts:11,775 Points:2,073,315 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 9:10:24 PM Ignore a14morfun Report Abuse Belch. Fart! Methane galore!