Landfill Gas Sequestration in Kansas
Project # NT42209

Primary Performing Organization:
Kansas Geological Survey

This project evaluates the Johnson County, Kansas, Landfill to determine the geologic structure, stratigraphy, depth, and thickness of underlying coal seams through the collection and laboratory testing of coal-bearing cores. Emphasis will be placed on creating reservoir simulations from the data collected to explore the economic potential benefit for storing carbon dioxide emissions (sequestration) and enhancing coalbed methane recovery.

Specific project objectives include:

• Addressing the gas-producing cost issue by investigating the possibility of injecting landfill gas (LFG) into subsurface coalbeds, utilizing natural processes to produce larger quantities of higher quality gas by stripping and sequestering carbon dioxide (CO₂) and non-methane volatile organic compounds out of the LFG onto the surface of a coal seam.
• Collecting and laboratory testing coal-bearing cores from underneath a major urban landfill to evaluate subsurface interaction of LFG with coals to significantly decrease CO₂ and CH₄ emissions from landfills.
• Analyzing U.S. landfills with the aim to determine other areas for which this process may be applicable.

Projected results could be used as a prototype for many of the major U.S. landfills that cover coal-bearing strata. Cursory comparison of urban areas to coal basins in the U.S. indicates possible widespread application of this proposed process.

Contact:
Project Manager: Heino Beckert, heino.beckert@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• Landfill Gas Sequestration Fact Sheet (pdf)