Atmospheric methane flux from coals - preliminary investigation of coal mines and geologic structures in the Black Warrior Basin, Alabama
- Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
- Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (United States)
- Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States)
Methane is an important greenhouse gas whose concentration in the atmosphere is increasing. Although this increase in atmospheric methane is correlative with growth in human population and activities, the exact causes for the increase are not fully understood. Because of increasing energy demand, particularly in developing countries where population is increasing, coal production is likely to increase over the next few decades and this could further increase the flux of atmospheric methane. In addition, no data are currently available on methane flux from coalbeds as a result of natural processes such as leakage at outcrops, or along faults and fractures that could provide avenues for methane migration upward from coal at depth. To better understand the global methane cycle and the role of fossil fuels in methane emissions, field measurements of methane emissions are needed from coalbeds, from areas of active mining, from coalbed gas production, and from undisturbed coals. In this paper, we report results of field measurements of CH[sub 4] emissions from surface and underground mines, fault zones, and coreholes in the Black Warrior Basin, Alabama. Ventilation of underground mines in Mary Lee group coals (of economic usage) gave the highest methane emissions rates - about 71,480,000 m[sup 3]/yr (2.5 Bcf or billion cubic feet) from one ventilation shaft. In contrast, very low emissions occurred from active or abandoned coreholes and from Brookwood group coals (of economic usage) exposed by surface mining (about 81 m[sup 3]/yr (2.9 Mcf or thousand cubic feet)). Methane flux of as much as about 500 m[sup 3]/yr occurs from a small section of a normal fault and associated joints exposed at Bankhead Lock and Dam. The carbon isotopic composition of CH[sub 4] collected at the Bankhead Fault ([delta][sup 13]C -49.3 permil) indicates a coalbed origin. 50 refs., 15 figs., 4 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6779535
- Journal Information:
- United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (United States), Vol. 1570
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL DEPOSITS
GREENHOUSE GASES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
METHANE
PRODUCTION
ALABAMA
COAL MINES
ALKANES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
030300* - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing
012033 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Underground Mining- Mine Environment- (1987-)