Changes

An $11.5 million research effort at Virginia Tech will examine coal bed methane formations as potential repositories for carbon capture, the university announced July 11, 2011.<ref>Lynn Nystrom[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-07/vt-vtc071111.php "Virginia Tech Coal and Energy Center selected for study of CO2 injection into storage reservoirs"]Virginia Tech News, July 11, 2011.</ref> Coal bed methane is another approach to CCS, along with enhanced oil recovery and to deep saline structures. Coal bed methane deposits are more typical in Appalachia, and are around 4,000 feet deep, compared with 9,000 feet for saline structures. The coal bed approach also has smaller storage capacity and water pollution issues, but more economic potential in that CO2 could bring methane gas to the surface. An additional issue is that coal bed methane fields are closer to the surface and have a wider footprint, which means more landowners would have to be involved in negotiating liability issues. <ref> Bill Kovarik [http://appvoices.org/thevoice/archives/ "High stakes gamble with carbon capture technologies,"]Appalachian Voice, March, 2010. </ref>