Patent ID: 7640978

Claim:
A method for stimulating methane production from a carbonaceous material comprising the steps of a) contacting the material with cells of a methanogenic consortium under anaerobic conditions, forming a reaction mixture, b) maintaining anaerobic conditions for a time sufficient to permit methanogenesis, and c) collecting methane from anaerobic water or head space of the reaction mixture, wherein the consortium is a concentrate of microorganisms prepared by the method of: i) extracting anaerobic formation water containing said microorganisms from an underground carbonaceous formation, ii) providing liquid transport means for transporting said water while maintaining an anaerobic state, iii) providing collection means for collecting said microorganisms in an anaerobic state from said water, iv) transporting said water through said collection means whereby said microorganisms are collected from said water, and v) removing said microorganisms in a concentrated form in said water from the collection means, whereby a concentrate of said microorganisms is prepared.