Injection of alkaline ashes into underground coal mines for acid mine drainage abatement

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:549541

Aljoe, W W ^[1]

---

1. Dept. of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Pittsburgh Research Center

The injection of alkaline coal combustion waste products into abandoned underground coal mines for acid mine drainage (AMD) abatement has obvious conceptual appeal. This paper summarizes the findings of the baseline hydrogeologic and water quality evaluations at two sites--one in West Virginia and one in Maryland--where field demonstrations of the technique are being pursued in cooperative efforts among State and Federal agencies and/or private companies. The West Virginia site produces severe AMD from three to seven AMD sources that are spaced over about a 1.2 km stretch of the down-dip side of the mine workings. By completely filling the most problematic portion of the mine workings with coal combustion ashes, the State expects that the costs and problems associated with AMD treatment will be greatly reduced. At the Maryland site, it is expected that the AMD from a relatively small target mine will be eliminated completely by filling the entire mine void with a grout composed of a mixture of fly ash, fluidized-bed combustion ash, and flue gas desulfurization sludge. This project will also demonstrate the potential cost-effectiveness of the technique at other sites, both for the purpose of AMD remediation and control of land subsidence.

• OSTI ID: 549541
• Report Number(s): CONF-960954--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ASHES
COAL MINING
FLY ASH
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
GROUTING
MARYLAND
MITIGATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
SLUDGES
UNDERGROUND MINING
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WATER QUALITY
WEST VIRGINIA