DOCSLIB.ORG

Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Recovery and Use from Abandoned Coal Mines

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Recovery and Use from Abandoned Coal Mines DRAFT NOT FOR CIRCULATION Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Recovery and Use from Abandoned Coal Mines 29 August 2019 Prepared on behalf of UNECE Group of Experts on CMM DRAFT NOT FOR CIRCULATION Table of Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. 2 Sponsoring Organisations ............................................................................................................... 2 Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 4 Glossary of Terms................................................................................................................................ 5 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 8 Key messages .................................................................................................................................. 8 1.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 8 1.2 Abandoned Mine Methane Overview ................................................................................ 8 1.3 AMM Gas Extraction ........................................................................................................... 9 1.4 AMM Emissions and Exploitation in Selected Countries .................................................. 10 Chapter 2 - Source of AMM Emissions ............................................................................................. 14 Key messages ................................................................................................................................ 14 2.1 AMM Migration ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Composition of gases in abandoned mines ............................................................................ 18 Chapter 3. Quantifying AMM Resources and Predicting Gas Flow Rates ......................................... 21 Key messages ................................................................................................................................ 21 3.1 AMM Resource.................................................................................................................. 21 3.2 AMM Reserves .................................................................................................................. 22 3.3 Predicting AMM Flow Rate ............................................................................................... 23 Chapter 4. Evaluating Feasibility of AMM Extraction and Use ......................................................... 25 Key messages ................................................................................................................................ 25 4.1 Factors in Assessing Feasibility of AMM Projects ............................................................. 25 4.2 Gas Production Strategies ................................................................................................. 26 4.3 AMM Utilisation Options .................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 5. Optimizing AMM Production .......................................................................................... 31 Key messages: ............................................................................................................................... 31 5.1 Control of Air Ingress ........................................................................................................ 31 5.2 Control of Surface and Underground Water .................................................................... 32 Chapter 6. AMM Project Development ............................................................................................ 33 Key messages: ................................................................................................................................... 33 6.1 Desk Study Review ............................................................................................................ 33 6.2 Reservoir Testing ............................................................................................................... 34 i DRAFT NOT FOR CIRCULATION 6.3 Pre-Feasibility Study .......................................................................................................... 34 6.4 Full Feasibility Study .......................................................................................................... 35 6.5 Financing AMM Projects ................................................................................................... 35 6.6 AMM Project Design and Operation ................................................................................. 36 Chapter 7. Policy & Regulatory Mechanisms to Facilitate and Promote AMM Extraction and Use ........................................................................................................................................................ 400 Key messages .............................................................................................................................. 400 7.1 Role of Mine Management in Preparing for Mine Closure ............................................. 400 7.2 Gas Ownership ................................................................................................................ 400 7.3 Fugitive Gas Liabilities ..................................................................................................... 411 7.4 Infrastructure Access ...................................................................................................... 411 7.5 Financial and Fiscal Incentives ........................................................................................ 411 7.6 Carbon Finance ............................................................................................................... 422 Chapter 8. Summary and Conclusions ...................................................................................... 433 Chapter 9. Case Studies ............................................................................................................ 455 Case Study 1: Germany - Ruhr Coal Field, North Rhineland Westphalia ................................... 455 Case Study 2: Poland - Upper Silesian Basin .............................................................................. 488 Case Study 3: UK - Abandoned Mine Methane Utilization in the United Kingdom ................... 500 Case Study 4: United States - North Fork Valley, Colorado ....................................................... 544 Case Study 5: United States - Elk Creek Permit Area Abandoned Mine Methane Project ........ 588 Appendices ...................................................................................................................................... 600 Appendix 1. Testing regimes for AMM reservoir characterisation ............................................. 600 Appendix 2. Key ingredients of an AMM pre-feasibility study ................................................... 622 Appendix 3. Engineering options for the treatment of mine entries on mine closure .............. 644 Appendix 4. Equipment and services required for AMM project construction and operation .. 655 References ...................................................................................................................................... 666 ii DRAFT NOT FOR CIRCULATION Foreword Coal is central to the energy mix of many countries and has played a significant role in alleviating energy poverty around the world. Inevitably, coal reserves are depleted as coal extraction progresses and mines are closed and abandoned. Abandoned mines continue to emit methane for many years after closure, yet their emissions remain unchecked and uncounted in many coal producing regions. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG), and recent research has shown that the impact of methane in the atmosphere is far more extensive than was originally thought. Coal mines are the fourth largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions after the oil and gas sectors, landfills and livestock industries. Technological advances have made it possible to significantly reduce methane emissions from the gassiest working mines. Closed mines can provide a small but significant opportunity to exploit a clean energy resource, known as Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM), that can be extracted and used. AMM capture and use offers many benefits, such as improved safety, air quality and health, energy supply and environmental performance. Technology exists that can recover methane from abandoned coal mines. This document is aimed at raising awareness of AMM opportunities and hazards by providing accessible high-level guidance for senior corporate, government and financial decision-makers – all of whom play an integral role in decisions to implement best practices. Recommended principles and standards
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mineral Facilities of Asia and the Pacific," 2007 (Open-File Report 2010-1254)
    Table1.—Attribute data for the map "Mineral Facilities of Asia and the Pacific," 2007 (Open-File Report 2010-1254). [The United States Geological Survey (USGS) surveys international mineral industries to generate statistics on the global production, distribution, and resources of industrial minerals. This directory highlights the economically significant mineral facilities of Asia and the Pacific. Distribution of these facilities is shown on the accompanying map. Each record represents one commodity and one facility type for a single location. Facility types include mines, oil and gas fields, and processing plants such as refineries, smelters, and mills. Facility identification numbers (“Position”) are ordered alphabetically by country, followed by commodity, and then by capacity (descending). The “Year” field establishes the year for which the data were reported in Minerals Yearbook, Volume III – Area Reports: Mineral Industries of Asia and the Pacific. In the “DMS Latitiude” and “DMS Longitude” fields, coordinates are provided in degree-minute-second (DMS) format; “DD Latitude” and “DD Longitude” provide coordinates in decimal degrees (DD). Data were converted from DMS to DD. Coordinates reflect the most precise data available. Where necessary, coordinates are estimated using the nearest city or other administrative district.“Status” indicates the most recent operating status of the facility. Closed facilities are excluded from this report. In the “Notes” field, combined annual capacity represents the total of more facilities, plus additional
    [Show full text]
  • The Case for Mine Energy – Unlocking Deployment at Scale in the UK a Mine Energy White Paper
    The Case for Mine Energy – unlocking deployment at scale in the UK A mine energy white paper @northeastlep northeastlep.co.uk @northeastlep northeastlep.co.uk Foreword At the heart of this Government’s agenda are three key priorities: the development of new and innovative sources of employment and economic growth, rapid decarbonisation of our society, and levelling up - reducing the inequalities between diferent parts of the UK. I’m therefore delighted to be able to ofer my support to this report, which, perhaps uniquely, involves an approach which has the potential to address all three of these priorities. Mine energy, the use of the geothermally heated water in abandoned coal mines, is not a new technology, but it is one with the potential to deliver thousands of jobs. One quarter of the UK’s homes and businesses are sited on former coalfields. The Coal Authority estimates that there is an estimated 2.2 GWh of heat available – enough to heat all of these homes and businesses, and drive economic growth in some of the most disadvantaged communities in our country. Indeed, this report demonstrates that if we only implement the 42 projects currently on the Coal Authority’s books, we will deliver almost 4,500 direct jobs and a further 9-11,000 in the supply chain, at the same time saving 90,000 tonnes of carbon. The report also identifies a number of issues which need to be addressed to take full advantage of this opportunity; with investment, intelligence, supply chain development, skills and technical support all needing attention.
    [Show full text]
  • United Kingdom – Extensive Potential and a Positive Outlook by Paul Lusty, British Geological Survey Introduction in Relation
    United Kingdom – extensive potential and a positive outlook By Paul Lusty, British Geological Survey Introduction In relation to its size the United Kingdom (UK) is remarkably well-endowed with mineral resources as a result of its complex geological history. Their extraction and use have played an important role in the development of the UK economy over many years and minerals are currently worked at some 2100 mine and quarry sites. Production is now largely confined to construction minerals, primarily aggregates, energy minerals and industrial minerals including salt, potash, kaolin and fluorspar, although renewed interest in metals is an important development in recent years. With surging global demand for minerals the UK is seen by explorers as an attractive location to develop projects. With low political risk and excellent infrastructure a survey conducted by Resources Stocks (2009) ranked the UK twelfth in a global assessment of countries’ risk profiles for resource sector investment. Northern Ireland is notable in terms of the extensive licence coverage for gold and base metal exploration and in having the UK’s only operational metalliferous mine. The most advanced projects elsewhere include the Hemerdon tin-tungsten deposit in Devon, the South Crofty tin deposit in Cornwall and the Cononish gold deposit in central Scotland. UK coal has seen a resurgence during the last three years driven largely by higher global prices, making it more competitive with imports. Coal is also viewed as having a key role in the future UK energy mix. This has led to greater investment in UK operations resulting in increased numbers of new opencast sites commencing production and more permit applications for further sites.
    [Show full text]
  • Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2012
    Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2012 Production team: Iain MacLeay Kevin Harris Anwar Annut and chapter authors A National Statistics publication London: TSO © Crown Copyright 2012 All rights reserved First published 2012 ISBN 9780115155284 Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics Enquiries about statistics in this publication should be made to the contact named at the end of the relevant chapter. Brief extracts from this publication may be reproduced provided that the source is fully acknowledged. General enquiries about the publication, and proposals for reproduction of larger extracts, should be addressed to Kevin Harris, at the address given in paragraph XXIX of the Introduction. The Department of Energy and Climate Change reserves the right to revise or discontinue the text or any table contained in this Digest without prior notice. About TSO's Standing Order Service The Standing Order Service, open to all TSO account holders, allows customers to automatically receive the publications they require in a specified subject area, thereby saving them the time, trouble and expense of placing individual orders, also without handling charges normally incurred when placing ad-hoc orders. Customers may choose from over 4,000 classifications arranged in 250 sub groups under 30 major subject areas. These classifications enable customers to choose from a wide variety of subjects, those publications that are of special interest to them. This is a particularly valuable service for the specialist library or research body. All publications will be dispatched immediately after publication date. Write to TSO, Standing Order Department, PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN, quoting reference 12.01.013.
    [Show full text]
  • ~ Coal Mining in Canada: a Historical and Comparative Overview
    ~ Coal Mining in Canada: A Historical and Comparative Overview Delphin A. Muise Robert G. McIntosh Transformation Series Collection Transformation "Transformation," an occasional paper series pub- La collection Transformation, publication en st~~rie du lished by the Collection and Research Branch of the Musee national des sciences et de la technologic parais- National Museum of Science and Technology, is intended sant irregulierement, a pour but de faire connaitre, le to make current research available as quickly and inex- plus vite possible et au moindre cout, les recherches en pensively as possible. The series presents original cours dans certains secteurs. Elle prend la forme de research on science and technology history and issues monographies ou de recueils de courtes etudes accep- in Canada through refereed monographs or collections tes par un comite d'experts et s'alignant sur le thenne cen- of shorter studies, consistent with the Corporate frame- tral de la Societe, v La transformation du CanadaLo . Elle work, "The Transformation of Canada," and curatorial presente les travaux de recherche originaux en histoire subject priorities in agricultural and forestry, communi- des sciences et de la technologic au Canada et, ques- cations and space, transportation, industry, physical tions connexes realises en fonction des priorites de la sciences and energy. Division de la conservation, dans les secteurs de: l'agri- The Transformation series provides access to research culture et des forets, des communications et de 1'cspace, undertaken by staff curators and researchers for develop- des transports, de 1'industrie, des sciences physiques ment of collections, exhibits and programs. Submissions et de 1'energie .
    [Show full text]
  • Mine Rescue Team Training: Metal and Nonmetal Mines (MSHA 3027, Formerly IG 6)
    Mine Rescue Team Training Metal and Nonmetal Mines U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration National Mine Health and Safety Academy MSHA 3027 (Formerly IG 6) Revised 2008 Visit the Mine Safety and Health Administration website at www.msha.gov CONTENTS Introduction Your Role as an Instructor Overview Module 1 – Surface Organization Module 2 – Mine Gases Module 3 – Mine Ventilation Module 4 – Exploration Module 5 – Fires, Firefighting, and Explosions Module 6 – Rescue of Survivors and Recovery of Bodies Module 7 – Mine Recovery Module 8 – Mine Rescue Training Activities Introduction Throughout history, miners have traveled underground secure in the knowledge that if disaster strikes and they become trapped in the mine, other miners will make every possible attempt to rescue them. This is the mine rescue tradition. Today’s mine rescue efforts are highly organized operations carried out by groups of trained and skilled individuals who work together as a team. Regulations require all underground mines to have fully-trained and equipped professional mine rescue teams available in the event of a mine emergency. MSHA’s Mine Rescue Instruction Guide (IG) series is intended to help your mine to meet mine rescue team training requirements under 30 CFR Part 49. The materials in this series are divided into self-contained units of study called “modules.” Each module covers a separate subject and includes suggestions, handouts, visuals, and text materials to assist you with training. Instructors and trainers may wish to use these materials to either supplement existing mine rescue training, or tailor a program to fit their mine-specific training needs.
    [Show full text]
  • Somerset Geology-A Good Rock Guide
    SOMERSET GEOLOGY-A GOOD ROCK GUIDE Hugh Prudden The great unconformity figured by De la Beche WELCOME TO SOMERSET Welcome to green fields, wild flower meadows, farm cider, Cheddar cheese, picturesque villages, wild moorland, peat moors, a spectacular coastline, quiet country lanes…… To which we can add a wealth of geological features. The gorge and caves at Cheddar are well-known. Further east near Frome there are Silurian volcanics, Carboniferous Limestone outcrops, Variscan thrust tectonics, Permo-Triassic conglomerates, sediment-filled fissures, a classic unconformity, Jurassic clays and limestones, Cretaceous Greensand and Chalk topped with Tertiary remnants including sarsen stones-a veritable geological park! Elsewhere in Mendip are reminders of coal and lead mining both in the field and museums. Today the Mendips are a major source of aggregates. The Mesozoic formations curve in an arc through southwest and southeast Somerset creating vales and escarpments that define the landscape and clearly have influenced the patterns of soils, land use and settlement as at Porlock. The church building stones mark the outcrops. Wilder country can be found in the Quantocks, Brendon Hills and Exmoor which are underlain by rocks of Devonian age and within which lie sunken blocks (half-grabens) containing Permo-Triassic sediments. The coastline contains exposures of Devonian sediments and tectonics west of Minehead adjoining the classic exposures of Mesozoic sediments and structural features which extend eastward to the Parrett estuary. The predominance of wave energy from the west and the large tidal range of the Bristol Channel has resulted in rapid cliff erosion and longshore drift to the east where there is a full suite of accretionary landforms: sandy beaches, storm ridges, salt marsh, and sand dunes popular with summer visitors.
    [Show full text]
  • Department of Energy & Climate Change Short Guide
    A Short Guide to the Department of Energy & Climate Change July 2015 Overview Decarbonisation Ensuring security Affordability Legacy issues of supply | About this guide This Short Guide summarises what the | Contact details Department of Energy & Climate Change does, how much it costs, recent and planned changes and what to look out for across its main business areas and services. If you would like to know more about the NAO’s work on the DECC, please contact: Michael Kell Director, DECC VfM and environmental sustainability [email protected] 020 7798 7675 If you are interested in the NAO’s work and support The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending for Parliament and is independent of government. The Comptroller and Auditor General for Parliament more widely, please contact: (C&AG), Sir Amyas Morse KCB, is an Officer of the House of Commons and leads the NAO, which employs some 810 people. The C&AG Adrian Jenner certifies the accounts of all government departments and many other Director of Parliamentary Relations public sector bodies. He has statutory authority to examine and report [email protected] to Parliament on whether departments and the bodies they fund have used their resources efficiently, effectively, and with economy. Our 020 7798 7461 studies evaluate the value for money of public spending, nationally and locally. Our recommendations and reports on good practice For full iPad interactivity, please view this PDF help government improve public services, and our work led to Interactive in iBooks or GoodReader audited savings of £1.15 billion in 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2006
    Annual Report & Accounts 2006/7 Our mission is to: Deliver safe, sustainable and publicly acceptable solutions to the challenge of nuclear clean-up and waste management. This means never compromising on safety or security, taking full account of our social and environmental responsibilities, always seeking value for money for the taxpayer and actively engaging with stakeholders. 02 NDA Report and Accounts 2006/7 Welcome to the NDA Annual Report & Accounts 2006/7 Presented to Parliament pursuant sections 14 [6], [8] and 26 [10], [11] of the Energy Act 2004. Laid before the Houses of Parliament 9 October 2007 HC/1001. Laid before the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish Ministers 9 October 2007 SE/2007/171. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 9 October 2007. HC1001 London: The Stationery Office. 03 The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 4 Contents 6 Our Priorities (NDA) is a non-departmental public 9 Chairman’s Report body set up under the Energy Act 2004. 11 Chief Executive’s Review This means that operationally we are 17 NDA Business Review 19 HSSE independent of Government, although 22 Decommissioning and Clean-up 24 Waste Management we report to the Secretary of State for 26 Commercial Operation Business, Enterprise and Regulatory 30 Nuclear Materials 32 Competition and Contracting Reform and to the Scottish Ministers. 36 Innovation, Skills, Research and Development R&D and Good Practice 42 Socio-Economic Support Our remit is to ensure that the and Stakeholder Engagement UK’s civil public sector nuclear sites 45 Operating Unit Reports 49 Site Licensee Reports for which we are responsible are 49 British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited (BNGSL) decommissioned and cleaned up 57 Magnox Electric Limited 73 United Kingdom Atomic safely, securely, cost-effectively, Energy Authority (UKAEA) affordably and in ways that protect 83 Springfields Fuels Limited 86 NDA Owned Subsidiary Reports the environment for this and future 86 Direct Rail Services (DRS) 88 UK Nirex Limited generations.
    [Show full text]
  • Länderprofil Großbritannien Stand: Juli / 2013
    Länderprofil Großbritannien Stand: Juli / 2013 Impressum Herausgeber: Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) Regenerative Energien Chausseestraße 128a 10115 Berlin, Germany Telefon: + 49 (0)30 72 6165 - 600 Telefax: + 49 (0)30 72 6165 – 699 E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected] Internet: www.dena.de Die dena unterstützt im Rahmen der Exportinitiative Erneuerbare Energien des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Technologie (BMWi) deutsche Unternehmen der Erneuerbare-Energien-Branche bei der Auslandsmarkterschließung. Dieses Länderprofil liefert Informationen zur Energiesituation, zu energiepolitischen und wirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen sowie Standort- und Geschäftsbedingungen für erneuerbare Energien im Überblick. Das Werk einschließlich aller seiner Teile ist urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Verwertung, die nicht ausdrücklich vom Urheberrechtsgesetz zugelassen ist, bedarf der vorherigen Zustimmung der dena. Sämtliche Inhalte wurden mit größtmöglicher Sorgfalt und nach bestem Wissen erstellt. Die dena übernimmt keine Gewähr für die Aktualität, Richtigkeit, Vollständigkeit oder Qualität der bereitgestellten Informationen. Für Schäden materieller oder immaterieller Art, die durch Nutzen oder Nichtnutzung der dargebotenen Informationen unmittelbar oder mittelbar verursacht werden, haftet die dena nicht, sofern ihr nicht nachweislich vorsätzliches oder grob fahrlässiges Verschulden zur Last gelegt werden kann. Offizielle Websites www.renewables-made-in-germany.com www.exportinitiative.de Länderprofil Großbritannien – Informationen für
    [Show full text]
  • Part 5 Fires and Explosions
    Part 5 Fires and Explosions Subsurface fires and explosions Malcolm J. McPherson CHAPTER 21. SUBSURFACE FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS 21.1 INTRODUCTION 2 21.1.1. The fire triangle and the combustion process 3 21.1.2. Classification of mine fires 4 21.2 CAUSES OF IGNITIONS 4 21.2.1. Mechanized equipment 4 21.2.2. Electrical apparatus 5 21.2.3. Conveyors 5 21.2.4. Other frictional ignitions 6 21.2.5. Explosives 7 21.2.6. Welding 7 21.2.7. Smoking and flame safety lamps 7 21.3. OPEN FIRES 7 21.3.1. Oxygen-rich and fuel-rich fires 8 21.3.2. Effects of fires on ventilation 9 21.3.2.1. The choke effect 9 21.3.2.2. The buoyancy (natural draft) effect 10 21.3.3. Methods of fighting open fires 11 21.3.3.1. Firefighting with water 12 21.3.3.2. High expansion foam 13 21.3.4. Control by ventilation 14 21.3.4.1. Pressure control 14 21.3.4.2. Airflow reversal 15 21.4. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION 17 21.4.1. The mechanisms of spontaneous combustion in minerals 17 21.4.1.1. The phases of oxidation 17 21.4.1.2. The effects of water vapour 18 21.4.1.3. The path of a spontaneous heating. 19 21.4.2. Susceptibility to spontaneous combustion 19 21.4.3. Precautions against spontaneous combustion 20 21.4.4. Detection of a spontaneous heating 23 21.4.5. Dealing with a spontaneous heating 24 21.4.5.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix I Glossary of Mining and Related Terms Relevant to Mine Water
    APPENDIX I GLOSSARY OF MINING AND RELATED TERMS RELEVANT TO MINE WATER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING The glossary which follows is drawn from the experience of the authors, and represents terminology which was current in the English-speaking mining world at the start of the 21st Century. The glossary is restricted to mining and geological terms likely to be heard in the context of mine water management. We do not provide a general geochemical or hydrological glossary. Neither is this a thoroughly exhaustive glossary of mining engi- neering. The reader seeking a general mining glossary is referred to works such as Greenwell (1888), Orchard (1991) or Rieuwerts (1998). The glossary is not intended to cover geological and chemical terminology, with the exception of a few terms restricted largely to mining applications of these sciences. In the definitions which follow, words are underlined where they are themselves defined elsewhere in this glossary. Acid mine drainage Water which became acidic during its passage through pyrite- bearing mined strata. Synonym: “acid rock drainage”. Acid rock drainage See “acid mine drainage”. The term “acid rock drainage” is used predominantly in Canada, with the implication that the acidity problem is due to the rocks rather than the process of mining. There are at least two reasons why this usage is objectionable: (i) “Acid rocks” sensu stricto are a group of igneous rocks which are not noted for giving rise to problematic drainage. (ii) It is somewhat disingenuous to attempt to exonerate mining in this manner, as acidic drainage is relatively rare in unmined sulphidic strata, but is common where mining has increased the rock mass permeability and allowed oxygen to access previously reduced strata.
    [Show full text]