Y. Gensterblum

• PhD
• PostDoc Position at Stanford University

The influence of moisture, temperature, coal rank, and differential enthalpy on the methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) sorption capacity of coals of different rank has been investigated by using high-pressure sorption isotherms at 303, 318, and 333 K (CH4) and 318, 333, and 348 K (CO2), respectively. The variation of sorption capacity was studi...

Gas permeability coefficients measured on low-permeable rocks are affected over a large pore pressure range by both, fluid-dynamic (slip flow) and poro-elastic effects (stress-dependent pore compressibility). In this contribution we demonstrate an apparent permeability model, which accounts for both effects. The procedure was applied to permeabilit...

The permeability of low-permeable gas shales is affected by both, fluid-dynamic (slip flow) and poro-elastic effects over a large pore pressure range. To analyse and separate the influence of these superposed effects, an apparent permeability model has been set up. The model’s poro-elastic and fluid-dynamic parameters were adjusted simultaneously t...

For decades, scientists and engineers have been investigating and describing storage and transport mechanisms in geological porous media such as reservoir rocks. This effort has resulted in the development of concepts such as single-phase and multi-phase flow, which describe the storage and transport of fluids in conventional reservoir rock types s...

Competitive sorption of CH4 and CO2 from a two-component gas mixture has been studied on three coals of different rank (subbituminous coal, high-volatile bituminous coal and anthracite). On each coal, binary excess sorption isotherms were measured in the dry state and after moisture-equilibration at 53% and 97% relative humidity (RH), to investigat...

In exploration for shale gas, experimental methane-sorption measurements represent a valuable source of information for resource estimates and for reservoir-modeling studies. Here, the main difficulty is the relatively low adsorption capacity of shales (typically 10% of the sorption capacity of coals), as well as the fact that the measurements need...

Information on porosity and permeability at realistic sub-surface (in situ) stress conditions is a prerequisite for successful exploration and production of shale gas. In order to study the effects of elastic pore compressibility on these parameters, porosity and permeability coefficients of three Upper Jurassic Bossier Shale samples were determine...

While risk assessment for CO2-storage often has been conducted by using a lot of simplifications and conservatisms, our approach developed in the CO2RINA-research project is based on the integration of all models, existing at a moment in time. These models will be coupled by the so called transfer function approach which has been proven to be very...

This article deals with the geological evolution of the Münsterland Basin, western Germany with special emphasis on the Carboniferous petroleum systems including their unconventional shale gas resources. The Carboniferous contains several black shales and many bituminous coal seams which are targets for shale gas and CBM (coalbed methane) explorati...

This contribution presents results from a laboratory study investigating the fluid (gas/water) transport properties in the matrix system of the Scandinavian Alum Shale. The maturity of the organic matter of the shale samples ranged between 0.5 and 2.4% vitrinite reflectance (VRr). Gas (He, Ar, CH4) and water flow properties were determined at effec...

This manuscript discusses the influence of lithological factors on matrix permeability of organic-rich shales, differing in porosity (3.0-16.6%), mineralogy, TOC content (1.8-14.2%) and maturity (0.5-2.4% VRr). The lowest porosity and permeability coefficients were measured at intermediate maturity levels (0.88-1.01% VRr). Gas (He) permeability coe...

Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) sorption isotherms have been measured on an Australian subbituminous, a German high-volatile bituminous and a German anthracite coal in the dry and moisture-equilibrated state. The purpose was to study the variation of CH4 and CO2 sorption capacities of the dry coals as a function of rank and the influence of...

A simple and effective experimental approach has been developed and tested to study the temperature dependence of high-pressure methane sorption in moist organic-rich shales. This method, denoted as "multi-temperature" (short "multi-T") method, enables measuring multiple isotherms at varying temperatures in a single run. The measurement of individu...

A laboratory study has been conducted to investigate the transport of gases (He, Ar, CH4) and water in the matrix of Lower Toarcian Posidonia Shale samples from three shallow boreholes in northern Germany. The maturity of the organic matter of the shale samples ranged between 0.53 and 1.45% vitrinite reflectance (VRr). The measurements were perform...

Improved estimations of Gas-In-Place (GIP) for shale gas reservoirs require reliable experimental sorption data for high pressures and high temperatures. In the framework of European Shale Gas Research project (GASH, www.gas-shales.org) a manometric method was used to measure methane sorption isotherms on various shales from Europe and the USA. Est...

Unconventional gas, such as shale gas or coalbed methane offers an attractive low-carbon solution and furthermore provides possibilities for CO2-storage and coevally for enhanced gas recovery. In order to better understand gas and water interaction with organic matter (coal) of different maturity we developed a molecular concept with experimental a...

Large-scale CO2 storage in porous rock formations at 1-3 km depth is seen as a global warming mitigation strategy. In this process, CO2 is separated from the flue gas of coal or gas power plants, compressed, and pumped into porous subsurface reservoirs with overlying caprocks (seals). Good seals are mechanically and chemically stable caprocks with...

The competitive sorption of CH4 and CO2 from a two-component gas mixture on coals of different rank and moisture content has been studied at pressures up to 10 MPa. The aim of this study was to assess, the maximum sorption capacity as well as the selectivity of dry and moisturised coals of different rank with respect to sorption of CH4and CO2. The...

For the assessment of CO2 storage in coal seams or enhanced coalbed methane production (ECBM), the sorption properties of natural coals are important parameters. Since more and more laboratories worldwide are concerned with measurements of gas sorption on coal it is indispensable to establish quality standards for such experiments. The first two in...

High-pressure methane sorption isotherms were measured on one Paleozoic and five Mesozoic shales, considered as targets for shale gas exploration in The Netherlands. The samples varied in mineralogy, organic richness, and thermal maturity. Four of the samples were clay-rich (total clay content 60–71 wt %), one contained equal amounts of clays and q...

To predict a CBM production profile either during primary or secondary production, aspects like coal permeability and porosity, density, ash and moisture content, initial gas-in-place (GIP) (from canister desorption tests), gas sorption capacity from laboratory isotherms (to obtain gas saturations and desorption pressure), gas diffusivities, coal v...

The interrelation of cleat transport processes and mechanical properties was investigated by permeability tests at different stress levels (60% to 130% of in-situ stress) with sorbing (CH4, CO2) and inert gases (N2, Ar, He) on a sub bituminous A coal from the Surat Basin, Queensland Australia. From the flow tests under controlled triaxial stress co...

This article reviews the state of research on sorption of gases (CO2, CH4) and water on coal for primary recovery of coalbed methane (CBM), secondary recovery by an enhancement with carbon dioxide injection (CO2-ECBM), and for permanent storage of CO2 in coal seams.Especially in the last decade a large amount of data has been published characterizi...

In order to assess and improve the quality of high-pressure sorption isotherms of carbon dioxide (CO2) on coals, an inter-laboratory study (Round Robin) has been conducted among three European research laboratories. Excess sorption isotherms, determined in a first round of measurements, on Filtrasorb 400 (F400) activated carbon showed excellent agr...

Using a manometric experimental setup, high-pressure sorption measurements with CH4 and CO2 were performed on three Chinese coal samples of different rank (VRr = 0.53%, 1.20%, and 3.86%). The experiments were conducted at 35, 45, and 55 °C with pressures up to 25 MPa on the 0.354–1 mm particle fraction in the dry state. The objective of this study...

In order to assess and improve the quality of high-pressure sorption isotherms of carbon dioxide (CO2) on coals, an inter-laboratory study (“Round Robin”) has been conducted among four European research laboratories. In a first round of measurements, excess sorption isotherms were determined on Filtrasorb 400 (F400) activated carbon at 318 K using...

In order to assess and improve the quality of high-pressure sorption isotherms of carbon dioxide (CO 2) on coals, an inter-laboratory study (Round Robin) has been conducted among three European research laboratories. Excess sorption isotherms, determined in a first round of measurements, on Filtrasorb 400 (F400) activated carbon showed excellent ag...

Options for the geologic storage of carbon dioxide vary from saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs to unminable coal seams and abandoned coal mines. Important aspects include the sealing integrity of the cap rock and potential changes in this integrity, owing to the interaction with CO2.In this study, diffusive transport and gas sorpt...

Sorption isotherms, which describe the coal's gas storage capacity, are important for estimating the carbon sequestration potential of coal seams. This study investigated the inter-laboratory reproducibility of carbon dioxide isotherm measurements on moisture-equilibrated Argonne premium coal samples (Pocahontas No. 3, Illinois No. 6, and Beulah Za...

Gas sorption isotherms have been measured for carbon dioxide and nitrogen and their binary mixture (N2/CO2 80/20) on three different moisture-equilibrated coals from the Argonne Premium Coal Sample Program by the U.S. Department of Energy, varying in rank from 0.25 to 1.68% vitrinite reflectance (VRr). The measurements were conducted at 55 °C and a...

While an increasing amount of data is becoming available on the sorption capacity of natural coals for pure CH4 and CO2 at different temperatures and pressure ranges, only few measurements have been reported for mixtures of two or more gas components under the conditions of competitive sorption. High-pressure adsorption/desorption experiments with...

Summary Apart from thermodynamic data on equilibrium sorption capacity and selective sorption, numerical modeling of CBM processes requires information on the kinetics (rates, characteristic times) of sorption processes. In order to cover this issue which is of relevance in different EU-projects (ICBM, RECOPOL), the kinetics of CO2 and CH4 sorption...

Open-system non-isothermal pyrolysis up to 1,200°C in combination with elemental analysis was used to study the thermal liberation of molecular nitrogen (N2) from sedimentary rocks and kerogen concentrates of Palaeozoic age from the Central European Basin system and an Eocene shale (Liaohe Basin, China) with a high content (36%) of ammonium feldspa...

Numerical modelling of the processes of CO2 storage in coal and enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) production requires information on the kinetics of adsorption and desorption processes. In order to address this issue, the sorption kinetics of CO2 and CH4 were studied on a high volatile bituminous Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous) coal (VRr=0.68%) f...

Adsorption isotherms, which describe the coal's gas storage capacity, are important for estimating the carbon sequestration potential of coal seams. This study investigated the inter-laboratory reproducibility of carbon dioxide isotherm measurements on dry Argonne Premium Coal Samples (Pocahontas No. 3, Upper Freeport, Illinois No. 6, Wyodak-Anders...

The numerical simulation pf coalbed seam processes (obtaining gas from and storing gas within) requires thermodynamic data on equilibrium sorption capacity and selective sorption, and information on the kinetics of the sorption and desorption processes (sorption rates, characteristic times). To make this information available for the in-situ condit...

Storage of carbon dioxide in geological formations is for many countries the only option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus to satisfy the Kyoto agreements. The CO2 storage in unminable coal seams has the advantage that it can sequestrate CO2 emissions from industrial processes and be used to enhance coal bed methane recovery (CO2-ECBM). F...

Sorption and desorption behaviour of methane, carbon dioxide, and mixtures of the two gases has been studied on a set of well-characterised coals from the Argonne Premium Coal Programme. The coal samples cover a maturity range from 0.25% to 1.68% vitrinite reflectance. The maceral compositions were dominated by vitrinite (85% to 91%). Inertinite co...

During recent years, extensive studies have been undertaken at RWTH Aachen to assess the gas adsorption capacities of coals of different rank with respect to CH4, CO2 and their mixtures [e.g. Int. J. Coal Geol. 51 (2002) 69; Proceedings JCOAL Workshop: Present Status and Perspective of CO2 Sequestration in Coal Seams, Tokyo, Japan, (5 September 200...

In the context of research on the reduction of CO2 emissions and the production of coalbed methane (CBM), high pressure adsorption measurements of CH4 and CO2 have been performed on dry and moisture-equilibrated Pennsylvanian coals of different rank (0.72, 1.19 and 1.56% VRr). Adsorption isotherms of the two gases were measured up to pressures of 2...