7. Potential Problem of Biogas
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CH2M HILL Hong Kong Ltd. 7. POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF BIOGAS 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 This section presents an assessment on the potential problem of biogas in accordance with the requirements given in Clause 3.5.3 of the EIA Study Brief. 7.1.2 To create solid ground for the proposed residential portion, ponds at the southwestern boundary of the Site will have to be reclaimed. Top soils will be dredged from each fishpond and filled with fill materials (e.g. marine sand or recycled C&D materials). The dredged topsoil will be re-used on-site for the establishment of WNR. 7.1.3 Biogas comprises mainly of methane and carbon dioxide and is generated as a result of anaerobic degradation of organic matters buried under reclaimed land. The potential risk would be migration of methane and carbon dioxide, which are flammable and asphyxiating. 7.2 Assessment Methodology 7.2.1 As it is impossible to measure the rates of biogas emission at this stage from the organic sediment within the reclaimed area, the biogas generation has therefore been estimated from the proposed reclaimed areas based on a stoichiometric analysis. 7.2.2 The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and sediment oxygen demand (SOD) can be used to estimate the methane generating potential of the sediment at the reclaimed areas. 7.2.3 SOD values are therefore used to calculate the total biodegradable organic carbons in the sediment. SOD20days has been analysed to estimate the “ultimate SOD” for estimation of biogas generation. 7.3 Field Sampling and Laboratory Analysis 7.3.1 Ponds dredging and filling will be concentrated at the southwestern boundary of the Site where the residential development is planned. 7.3.2 To enable a biogas assessment be carried out, sediments were sampled at fishponds within the proposed residential area where some pond mud could be to be left in place. Sediment samples were collected at Pond no.19 and no. 62 as shown in Figure 7-1 by a HOKLAS accredited laboratory in May 2002 for analysis of Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD20days) and moisture content. 7.3.3 As it is envisaged that the first 0.3m of topsoil at the proposed residential area will be dredged before any filling activities, sediments were therefore sampled at depths of 0.5m and 1m below pond water level to quantify the potential biogas generation problem through appreciation of the TOC and SOD levels at the surface layer. 7.3.4 Each sample weighs about 0.5g. The results of analysis are presented in Table 7-1 below. Table 7-1 Sampling Locations and Levels of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD) Moisture TOC SOD 20days Location Sample Depth (m) (% w/w) (% dry wt) (mg/kg) Pond 19-1 1.0 21.6 0.69 2644 Pond 19-2 1.0 34.9 0.69 3372 Pond 19-3 1.0 24.4 0.34 2826 Pond 19-4 0.5 32 0.76 3468 Pond 19-5 0.5 31.2 0.58 3021 7-1 CH2M HILL Hong Kong Ltd. Pond 19-6 0.5 21.7 0.46 1144 Pond 62-1 1.0 26.2 0.95 2955 Pond 62-2 1.0 34.4 1.13 4861 Pond 62-3 1.0 25.2 0.71 1862 Pond 62-4 0.5 44.3 1.11 1912 Pond 62-5 0.5 38.9 0.83 1197 Pond 62-6 0.5 35 1.06 2317 Average - 30.8 0.78 2632 7.4 Risk Assessment Criterion 7.4.1 Though the issue of methane risk is not a requirement in the TM on EIA Process and there is no primary legislation in Hong Kong covering hazards to developments caused by methane gas, there is however certain relevant guidelines that can be referenced to assess its safe rates. 7.4.2 The process adopted for estimation of safe rates of biogas emission for filled land over sediment left in-situ is similar to estimating safe emission rates of landfill gas when deciding whether or not an old landfill site can be regarded as being sufficiently stabilised without poses any danger. The assessment of a safe rate of landfill gas emission is necessary for determining when a site no longer needs to be monitored and when it can be used for unrestricted development. The assumption made is that any type of building could be safely constructed on top of the landfill and therefore required the adoption of a universally applicable safe rate of methane emission. EPD’s Landfill Gas Hazard Guidance Note 7.4.3 There is no primary legislation in Hong Kong covering hazards to development caused by landfill gas or methane gas generated from organic deposits. The most relevant guidance is the guideline, “Landfill Gas Hazard Guidance Note” issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). The guidance note recommends that methane gas should be monitored periodically in all excavations, manholes and chambers and any confined spaces during construction. No works and no entry to the excavation areas or confined spaces should be allowed and the personnel on-site should be evacuated if the methane concentration measured during the monitoring exceeds 20% lower explosive limit (LEL) (or 1.0% gas). Maximum “safe” rate of gas emission based on the UK Department of the Environment’s Waste Management Paper No. 26A: Landfill Completion 7.4.4 The UK Department of the Environment Waste Management Paper No. 26A on Landfill Completion recommends a maximum acceptable rate of methane ingress into a building constructed on a disused landfill site. It states that methane emission rates from monitoring boreholes should fall consistently below 0.015 m3 per hour. This criterion was developed to determine when monitoring of landfill gas emissions at a restored landfill can be discontinued and when the site can be used for unrestricted development. It is assumed that the most sensitive ‘at risk’ room or void has a height of 2.5 m and a very low rate of ventilation of 1 air change per week. 7.4.5 For residential development at the built area of Fung Lok Wai, it is considered more conservative to adopt a height of 1 m to represent the void space (to allow for smaller void spaces such as utilities or services ducts) and a ventilation rate of 1 air change per day (this is in line with rates of natural ventilation for closed rooms). The maximum safe rate of methane ingress was then defined as that at which it would take 1 day for the methane concentration to reach 1% (v/v). This is 20% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) for methane and provides a safety factor of 5 to allow for variations in, for instance, rates of gas emission across the area of the site or over time compared with those measured at particular places and during the evaluation period. 7.4.6 The corresponding daily maximum “safe” rate of methane gas emission per unit area is therefore calculated as follows: 7-2 CH2M HILL Hong Kong Ltd. -1 3 -2 -1 1.0 m x 0.01 d (equivalent to m CH4 m d ) 3 -2 -1 = 0.01 m CH4m d -2 -1 = 10 litres CH4m d 7.4.7 The criterion provides a reasonable general guide for determining whether the rates of methane emission pose an unacceptable risk to unrestricted development on a potential site. 7.5 Estimation of potential Gas Emissions 7.5.1 The generation rate of biogas depends on a number of parameters including concentrations and biodegradability of the organic matters in the sediment, age of the reclamation, redox potential, temperature, moisture content, presence of toxic matters which may inhibit biological activities. These parameters may vary at different depths and locations and their interactions are complex and difficult to predict. For the purpose of this preliminary assessment, the potential methane risk will be assessed based on the theoretical biogas production rate. 7.5.2 As learnt from several anaerobic degradation projects, the formation of biogas under anaerobic conditions can be described as a first order degradation process. This process is characterised by high gas generation rates at the early stage of the process, followed by an exponential decrease over the course of time. Although it is difficult to predict the extent of anaerobic conditions, the generation of biogas can be estimated theoretically based on the available data on TOC and the SOD. 7.5.3 At the residential development area, the depth of topsoil dredged from each fishpond which are going to be filled is about 0.3m. Consequently, the methane generation potential of the sediment (fish pond mud) to be left in place will be estimated based on the sediment layer in the depth of about 0.3m to 2m. As such, the estimated quantity of sediment at the built area is: - Volume of sediment left in-situ at built area = 41,000m2 x (2 - 0.3) m = 69,700m3 7.5.4 SOD represents only a fraction of the organic carbon present in the sediment. The total methane generation potential calculated based on SOD results is usually much lower than that calculated based on the TOC results because TOC is a measure of the total organic carbon whereas some of it may not be biodegradable. SOD results, which measure the biodegradable portion of the organic matters in the sediment, provide a more realistic assessment comparing with those estimated using TOC results. 7.5.5 However, as a prudent approach, the estimation of methane generation potential for the proposed development would be based on both TOC and SOD in the Study.