http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/01/carbon_seq/5a1.pdf
We have several times documented that efforts have been underway to establish biological routes for the industrial-scale recycling of Carbon Dioxide, by using various organisms to transform CO2, recovered from whatever source, into various hydrocarbons.
An example would be: USDOE Biotechnology Converts CO2 to Diesel Fuel | Research & Development; which concerns: "CO2 Sources for Microalgae-based Liquid Fuel Production; Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO; Sponsor: USDOE; Abstract: Researchers in the Aquatic Species Program at the Solar Energy Research Institute are developing species of microalgae that have high percentages of lipids, or oils (which) can be extracted and converted to diesel fuel substitutes". And, wherein they confirm, again, that, for the purposes of Carbon Dioxide recycling directed toward the synthesis of various hydrocarbon fuels, it "is conceivable that CO2 could be recovered directly from the atmosphere"; presumably in places where environmental energy, i.e., sunlight or wind, could be harnessed to the collection and conversion tasks.
However, work has also been underway to develop processes where more "rugged", as opposed to algae, bacteria could be utilized toward the same end; bacteria that would as well be more versatile than algae, since some strains don't require light energy, or much of anything else, besides water and a few chemicals, to metabolize Carbon Dioxide into other substances, such as Methane.
We've previously reported the work of geneticist Craig Venter in that regard, noting he has been examining "archaeo" bacteria , which can live deep within the earth and, in that extreme environment, survive by metabolizing, among other things, Carbon Dioxide, with the products of their metabolism including Methane and petroleum-like "lipids".
Such potentials, for bacterial CO2 conversion, have been recognized by other scientists, as well, as seen, for one instance, in: Minnesota Bacteria Convert Exhaust Gas CO2 to Methane | Research & Development; which concerns: "US Patent Application 20070298478 - Bio-Recycling of Carbon Dioxide Emitted from Power Plants, 2007; Abstract: The invention provides a method to decrease emission of carbon dioxide from combustion of fossil fuels ... and to enhance the efficiency of methane production from anaerobic biodigesters. The invention involves feeding carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas of hydrocarbon fuel combustion to an anaerobic biodigester where biomass is anaerobically fermented to produce methane."
We have suggested that schemes for the mandated Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide, in leaky, old, nearly-depleted Oil wells, all at the expense of Coal-use industries and the consumers of Coal-based electrical power, are nothing more than scams designed to steal Carbon Dioxide, and, over the course of time, let it, through the action of bacteria, replenish Geologic hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Such potentials are again highlighted by an advance excerpt from the USDOE report we enclose, via the initial link, in this dispatch, as follows:
"In general, methane in the earth’s crust may be formed by both biogenic (that is, the conversion of organic matter) and abiogenic processes. The vast majority appears to be biogenic in origin, and results from a combination of microbial production and thermogenic processes. It is believed that 20% of the natural gas in the earth is from methanogens, of which 2/3 is by acetate fermentation and 1/3 by CO2 reduction."
In other words, fully one third of the "natural gas", which we use to boil water on the stove with today, is likely to have been made, by bacteria, from Carbon Dioxide.
Further:
"While the portion (of Methane/other hydrocarbons) generated by methanogen varies, there is strong evidence that it may be the predominant mechanism in some fields. For example, in the Terang-Sirusan Field in the East Java Sea, methane is generated exclusively by methanogens using the CO2-reduction pathway. Furthermore, recent study of oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico sheds light on the rate of methane evolution. It appears that there may be significant recharge of reservoir methane in a timeframe (decades) that is significant to commercial uses."
Wow. There you have it.
Summary comment, including a suggestion as to what good "commercial uses" such Methane, produced in such a timely fashion, by bacteria, from Carbon Dioxide, could be put, follows more detailed excerpts from the link to:
"Biogenic Methane: A Long-Term CO2 Recycle Concept
By: David J. Beecy; U.S. Department of Energy; Office of Fossil Energy; et. al.
Introduction: Carbon sequestration is one of three major pathways to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations. Compared to the other two pathways—improving the efficiency of energy use and reducing the carbon content of fuels—carbon sequestration is the newest approach and is less mature from a research and development perspective. In fact, it is a new field of science and technology, one in which there is a great opportunity for the identification and exploration of novel concepts. This paper explores some of these opportunities, identifies several current avenues for novel concepts, and focuses on one “value-added” concept.
Novel approaches to carbon sequestration can play an extremely important role in extending the boundaries of technology options for CO2 capture, storage, and reuse. Opportunities include conversion to benign, stable compounds for long-term storage or to value-added products for reuse.
(One) area is biogenic methane. (That) concept is the geologic storage of CO2 in depleting and depleted oil and gas reservoirs, with subsequent conversion of the CO2 to CH4 via designer microbes or biomimetic systems that operate either below or above ground. This could lead to “closed-loop” fossil systems, providing a sustainable methane economy with near-zero net CO2 emissions.
Under the surface of the earth, in the U.S. and many areas of the world, are structures that once were filled with oil and gas but now have space that could be used for storing CO2. Under the right geologic setting, a portion of this injected CO2 may be converted to fixed minerals or, in the presence of methanogens and other biologic agents, back to methane.
(And, there you have the gist of the Geologic Sequestration scam, perpetrated at the expense of both our vital Coal-use industries and the consumers of Coal-based electrical power, rather clearly stated.)
Biogenic methane is a term used to describe natural gas derived from the reduction of CO2 via
biogeochemical processes. The processes which contribute to the production are complex, poorly understood, but pervasive in nature. The operative processes vary from site to site where observations have been made, but generally have occurred over long periods of time. Biological processes include methanogenesis and hydrogenogenesis, but there are also geochemical processes that have been identified.
Methanogenic bacteria generate methane by several pathways, principally the fermentation of acetate and the reduction of CO2. (Included) diagrams (illustrate) the microbial chemistry that has been elucidated for the thermophile Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum in the reduction of CO2 to CH4 (i.e., Methane).
In one location, sampling of hydrocarbon gases from ocean-floor cold hydrocarbon seeps in Monterey Bay, California suggest that most of the methane produced is microbial in origin.
(And) recent study of oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico sheds light on the rate of methane evolution.
It appears that there may be significant recharge of reservoir methane in a timeframe (decades) that is significant to commercial uses."
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Do not miss that final statement. Do not discount its importance.
If we Coal miners, and we consumers of Coal-based power, are, though Cap & Trade taxation and through mandated Geologic Sequestration in depleted petroleum reservoirs, forced to, first, finance Big Oil's secondary petroleum recovery, through CO2 flooding of nearly-depleted natural petroleum reservoirs, we will also, secondarily, be providing Big Oil with a better-than-free raw material, Carbon Dioxide, that will, in the same "timeframe (decades)" as a blue-chip bond, mature into another profitable, as the USDOE puts it herein “value-added”, resource, Methane.
And, we are again compelled to remind you, that, once Methane is obtained, as herein bio-synthesized from "sequestered" Carbon Dioxide, that Methane can, as via, for only one instance now out of many we have documented, the process described in our earlier report:
WVU CO2 + CH4 = Hydrocarbon Syngas | Research & Development | News; concerning: "New Catalysts for Syngas Production from Carbon Dioxide and Methane; Mahesh V. Iyer; West Virginia University"; be reacted with even more Carbon Dioxide in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemical Engineering;
be reacted with even more Carbon Dioxide, recovered from whatever source, perhaps an all-natural geothermal spring, with both the CO2-derived Methane and the Carbon Dioxide being thus converted into a synthesis gas, suitable in composition for catalytic condensation into a variety of liquid hydrocarbons.
If someone really wants our valuable Coal Country effluent Carbon Dioxide, for any purpose, they should darned-well have to pay us to get it.