Methane gas content of the Mary Lee group Walker counties, Alabama

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · U.S., Bur. Mines, Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6895064

Diamond, W P; Murrie, G W; McCulloch, C M

It is estimated that more than one trillion cubic feet of methane is contained within the coals of the Mary Lee group in Jefferson, E. Tuscaloosa, and S. Walker counties, Alabama. Most of this methane will be encountered by mining. Coals of the Mary Lee group are presently being mined at depths exceeding 1,000 ft and will in the near future be mined at even greater depths, where the problem of methane gas affecting the mining operations will be acute. It is calculated that approx. 90% of the methane is at depths greater than 1,000 ft, and over half of the gas is contained within only 12% of the study area which is more than 1,500 ft of overburden. Degasification in advance of mining will increase mine safety, reduce ventilation expenditures, increase productivity, provide an additional energy source, and make it possible to mine parts of deep coal beds that probably could not otherwise be mined.

• OSTI ID: 6895064
• Journal Information: U.S., Bur. Mines, Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: U.S., Bur. Mines, Bull.; (United States) Vol. 8117; ISSN XBMBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ALABAMA
ALKANES
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINES
COAL SEAMS
DEGASSING
ENGINEERING
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINES
MINING ENGINEERING
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA