Coal Mine Methane Emission Reduction Projects

1
Coal Mine Methane Emission Reduction Projects

• By Oleg Tailakov
• UNDP
• April 29th, 2008

2
Presentation Content

• Generalized evaluation of methane emission within
  coal mining in Russian coal sector.
• Review of process capabilities in the field of
  mine methane utilization.
• Preparation of project design documentation.

3
Generalized Evaluation of Methane Emission within
Coal Mining in Russian Coal Sector
4
General Evaluation Methodology

• The methodology recommended in 2006 by the
  Intergovernmental Climate Change Expert Group was
  used for evaluation of methane emission from coal
  seams.
• Sources
• Coal mining at mines (the volume of recovered and
  utilized methane is taken into account).
• Coal mining at open pits
• Downstream activities.

4
5
Coal Mining at Mines and Associated Methane
Emission in Russia
Forecast for 2008-2012, 7.1 mln. t of CH4 148.9
mln. t of CO2 equivalent
Coal mining at mines, million tons
Methane emission, million tons
Year
6
Possible Mine Methane Emission Reduction in
Russia in 2008-2012

• Total methane emission - 148.9 mln. t of
  ??2equivalent.
• Coal mine degassing systems (degassing
  efficiency of 15-30) - 22-45 mln. t of ??2
  equivalent.

19
65
7
Review of Process Capabilities in the Field of
Mine Methane Utilization
8
Mine Methane Utilization Technology

• Electricity generation.
• Weak methane-air mixture processing.
• Methane burning in boilers to generate heat.
• Methane flaring.
• Operation of vacuum pumps utilizing methane.
• Use of compressed methane as automotive fuel.

8
9
Electricity Generation

• VVN-150
• Concentration of ??4 60-80 in the flow of
  120 m3/min
• 7 gas generators x 1.021 MWe
• Electricity to the industrial site substation
• Dissipated heat.

Electric substation
Gas-generator plant
Vacuum-pump station
Degassing borehole
Gas pipeline Power transmission line
10
Weak Methane-Air Mixture Processing
Connection of the low-concentration methane-air
mixture burner unit
Surface plan
To atmosphere
Pump Station
Mine ventilation shaft Ch4lt1
Catalytic power unit
Thermal energy
Generators
El. substation
Workshop
Electricity to consumer
Machine workshop
To consumer
Grading facility
Bunker

• Ventilation
• 12 mln. m3/year of ??4
• (5 mln. m3 uk. 19
• 3 mln. m3 uk. 26
• 4  mln. m3 uk. 29)

Incl. shaft
Transfer Tower
Boiler House
Inclined shaft 2
Rock bin
Existing heat pipeline Heat pipeline under design
Catalytic power unit
11
Methane Burning in Boiler Houses to Generate Heat
(1)
12
Methane Burning in Boiler Houses to Generate Heat
(2)
Modular Boiler House
Air Heater to Dissipate Heat
13
Mine Methane Utilization JI Project Example
2009
Mine C
Mine D
Mine A
Mine B
Prep. Plant
Quantity of methane recovered by the mine for
utilization, t of CH4 Quantity of methane fed for
utilization, t of CH4 Quantity of methane
utilized at the facility, t of CH4 Quantity of
flared methane, t of CH4
Preparation plant Gas-engine station Boiler house
14
Preparation of Project Design Documentation
15
Choice Determining Factors and Accepted Baseline
Evaluation Methodology

• Factors
• Coal seam and alternation gas content.
• Mine development plant.
• Commissioning of high-performance equipment.
• Coal seam degassing alternatives.
• Methodology
• Approved consolidated baseline methodology
  ACM0008 Consolidated baseline methodology for
  coal bed methane and coal mine methane capture
  and use for power (electrical or motive) and heat
  and/or destruction by flaring.

15
16
GHG Sources

• CH4
• Surface degassing boreholes.
• Underground degassing boreholes.
• Worked-out area boreholes drilled into the rock
  cavities.
• Systems to extract methane from isolated
  worked-out areas.
• Ventilation systems.
• CO2
• Methane flaring.
• Electricity generation for capture and
  utilization of methane.

16
17
Additionality and Monitoring

• Additionality criterion
• Investment and process attractiveness of the
  baseline is higher than of the mine methane
  emission reduction project not registered as a JI
  project.
• Measurements
• Volume of captured mine methane using continuous
  flow meters, temperature, pressure and CH4
  concentration measurements.
• Methane concentration is measured by a continuous
  analyzer or methane flow meters.
• Afterburning efficiency monitoring.

17
18
Example of Monitoring (Baseline)
18
19
Example of Monitoring (JIP)
19
20
Problems with Mine Methane Utilization Project
Preparation and Implementation

• Problems with mine methane ownership are
  possible.
• Low gas and electricity prices.
• Insignificant number of mines using degassing,
  decentralized methane capturing.
• Lack of high-performance drilling equipment to
  drill boreholes from surface and mine workings.
• Need to agree connection of consumers (in case of
  electricity generation) with power generation
  companies, possible competition with other
  electricity producers.

20
21
Recommendations to Investors and Developers in
Respect of Dealing with Mine Methane Projects

• Options envisaging equipment sharing, engagement
  of experienced mine methane project operators.
• Review the possibility to use methane utilization
  products by external consumers.

21
22
Contact Information

• WWW.UGLEMETAN.RU
• Mr. Oleg Vladimirovich TAILAKOV
• E-mail tailakov_at_uglemetan.ru
• Tel. [phone]

22