Microbial Enhancement of Coal Bed Methane (CBM)

Climate change is driving a global shift towards cleaner and more efficient energy systems. Coal bed methane (CBM) has emerged as a significant energy resource in India and globally, with strong potential to contribute to the future energy mix.

TERI initiated the research work in 2010 and launched the same in 2015. TERI has developed microbial technologies to enhance CBM production, offering a dual environmental benefit: increased generation of cleaner fuel and efficient utilization of existing resources. Indigenous microbial communities present in CBM wells can be stimulated under optimized conditions to enhance methane generation. This biological enhancement is achieved through:

• Biostimulation: Nutrient amendment to activate native microbial populations
• Bioaugmentation: Introduction of laboratory-developed microbial consortia to boost methanogenesis

A key field demonstration of TERI’s microbial consortia was successfully conducted on 13 February 2015 in collaboration with ONGC Energy Centre (OEC-ONGC). Subsequently, TERI has advanced technologies for enhancing methane production in poor, marginal, and non-producing wells. Field validation in Bokaro assets demonstrated significant improvement in biomethane yields.

The technology has been tested across major CBM fields—Jharia, Bokaro, and Raniganj—in collaboration with ONGC and Essar Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Ltd. A patent titled ‘Methane production from underground coal bed methane wells’ was filed in 2016 and granted on 26 December 2023.

These innovations enable sustainable and near-renewable methane production from coal, contributing to cleaner energy generation from underutilized resources. TERI’s continued efforts in CBM enhancement reflect its commitment to advancing scalable, environmentally responsible energy solutions.