Coal Mine Methane: A Review of Capture and Utilization Practices with Benefits to Mining Safety and to Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cote M ; Karacan, C. Özgen ; Phipps S ; Ruiz FA
• Description:
  Coal mine methane (CMM) is a term given to the methane gas produced or emitted in association with coal mining activities either from the coal seam itself or from other gassy formations underground. The amount of CMM generated at a specific operation depends on the productivity of the coal mine, the gassiness of the coal seam and any underlying and overlying formations, operational variables, and geological conditions. CMM can be captured by engineered boreholes that augment the mine's ventilation system or it can be emitted into the mine environment and exhausted from the mine shafts along with ventilation air. The large amounts of methane released during mining present concerns about adequate mine ventilation to ensure worker safety, but they also can create opportunities to generate energy if this gas is captured and utilized properly. This article reviews the technical aspects of CMM capture in and from coal mines, the main factors affecting CMM accumulations in underground coal mines, methods for capturing methane using boreholes, specific borehole designs for effective methane capture, aspects of removing methane from abandoned mines and from sealed/active gobs of operating mines, benefits of capturing and controlling CMM for mine safety, and benefits for energy production and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Coal Coal Mining Engineering Geology Methane Mining Occupational Health Safety Safety Management Ventilation

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Coal Mine Methane Chemical-extraction Chemical-processing Coal-gas Coal-mining Control-methods Control-systems Engineering-controls Gases Greenhouse Gas Reduction Methane-control Methane-drainage Methane Drainage Methanes Methane Utilization Mining Safety Safety-measures Underground-mining Ventilation Air Methane

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0166-5162
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  121-156
• Volume:
  86
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20038813
• Citation:
  Int J Coal Geol 2011 May; 86(2-3):121-156
• Contact Point Address:
  C.Ö.Karacan, NIOSH, Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15236, USA
• Email:
  cok6@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Methane (CAS RN 74-82-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Coal Geology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4645da0836a6b11748a48712a07d4ea8dc70d7e5f6836c8db8bc3e822cdbf0ae863dc1fee29b3e632307a6798a8e7008b75d61805ccabfc341e77d57d75fa957
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227323/cdc_227323_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.90 MB ]