Geological factors affecting methane in the Beckley coalbed. Report of investigations 1976

Technical Report · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7117597

Popp, J T; McCulloch, C M

The study area includes portions of Fayette, Raleigh, and Wyoming Counties, in southern West Virginia, where five underground coal mines are presently working in the Beckley coalbed. The Beckley coalbed is being developed in the deeper parts of its basin of deposition; earlier development was hindered by irregular coal thickness and increasing methane emission with depth. Initial desorption tests of coal cores and mine methane emissions in the new mines indicate a high methane content, especially as mining deepens. Because the structure and stratigraphy of the Beckley coalbed control the migration and retention of methane, geologic maps were constructed from core logs and mine data. These maps include the coalbed structure, coal thickness, overburden thickness, mined-out coal areas, and lithology above and below the Beckley. Surface joints were measured and are presented on a quadrangle basis. Cleat directions in the five mines were also measured, and the relation of the joints to the coal cleat is examined. (GRA)

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center
• OSTI ID: 7117597
• Report Number(s): PB-254186; BM-RI-8137
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
ALKANES
CENTRAL REGION
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
STRATIGRAPHY
USA
WEST VIRGINIA