UTILIZING METHANE FROM COALBEDS.

There are on the order of 300 trillion cubic feet of methane gas trapped in coal seams which could be recovered and utilized to help alleviate the country's natural gas shortage. This methane, the major constituent of natural gas, is presently being vented to the atmosphere during coal mining operations at the rate of approximately 250 million cubic feet per day. Approximately 300 trillion cubic feet of methane is equal to a ten year supply of natural gas at today's consumption rates. A plan for recovering and utilizing this resource is outlined.