Tier 3 Method for Estimating Fugitive Emissions from Open Cut Coal Mining

Abouna Saghafi
ECBM and Greenhouse Gas Research
Blackwater, 26 February 2009

Fugitive emissions from Australian coal mining

Total fugitive emissions from coal mining = 22 Mt CO2 (Year 2005)

Fugitive emissions from coal mining (Mt/y) Underground 12.10 Opencut 7.48 Abandonned mine 1.76 Post mining 0.66 Toatla 22.00

Underground Opencut Abandonned mine Post mining 8% 3%

34%

55%

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Definition of Tiers for emissions calculation

Emissions estimates are classified in Tiers (1, 2 and 3) based on their accuracy (see IPCC reports) Tier 1 Country/group of Tier 3 countries Specific
Cheap but very inaccurate Accuracy

Tier 2 Basin Specific

Cost depends on how many mines results are averaged Tier 1 Tier 2

Tier 3 Mine Specific

Cost depends on the number of gas zones in the mine but very accurate

Cost $

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Project path to the Tier 3 Methodology

Department of Environment, Sports and Territories 199093

Methane emissions from open-cut mines and post-mining emissions from underground coal

IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, 1994-96

Methane emissions from coal mining

ACARP C9063, 2001-03.

Toward the Development of an Improved Methodology for Estimating Fugitive Seam Gas Emissions from Open Cut Mining

ACARP C12072, 2003-04.

Development of an improved methodology for Estimation of Fugitive Seam Gas Emissions from Open Cut Mining

ACARP C15076 2005-07.

Evaluating a Tier 3 method for estimating fugitive emissions from open cut coal mining

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Direct measurement of emissions from opencut mines

Global emissions (gas plume measurement):
Measure crosswind profile of CH4 concentration using an v instrumented vehicle driving downstream along mine access roads around mine perimeter % CH4

Q = %CH 4 h w v
Individual emissions (chamber method)
Direct in pit measurement from highwall, uncovered coal seams, blasted coal seam and and spoil piles.

Open cut
road ccess A

Q = q1 + q2 + q3 + q4 + ..

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Results of 1990-93 study Regional Emission Factor (Tier 2)

Emission measurements from 17 mines were used to suggest EF values for Bowen Basin and Hunter Valley open cut mines. These numbers were then adopted by the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO).

Emission factor for Queensland: 1.2 m3 per tonne of produced coal (m3/t) Emission factor for NSW : 3.2 m3/t
These emission factors were intended to be indicative and could only be used in the absence of any mine specific data.

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

ACARP C9063: Direct emission measurements

In the course of the ACARP C9063 surface emissions were measured in numerous coal mines of Hunter and Bowen coalfields. Flow rates were also measured from exploration boreholes.

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

ACARP 12072: Estimation of emission rate from the in situ gas content measurement
In situ gas content is the source of fugitive emissions.

Therefore, the sum of all emissions should be equal to the volume of gas in place

Q q1 + q2 + q3 + q4 + ...

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Development of the new Tier 3 methodology ACARP Project C15076

Coal seam gas emissions rate from open cut at any time is the sum of, = q1 + q2 + q4 + q4 +

q1

q4

If the mine advances at a certain regular speed over the year then the sum of all emissions would be equal to the gas contained in a slice of strata corresponding to the average speed: Q =q1 + q2 + q3 + q4 +

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

New Methodology (Concepts of emissions)

Ground surface

A Seam h B Seam

During open cut mining, coal seams, overburden and underburden strata are fractured. The fracturing of the strata produces a gas release zone from which the trapped seam gas is released into the atmosphere

Pit base C Seam

h D Seam

Gas release zone

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

New emissions model (Emission layers)

Gas release zone is partitioned in a number of layers corresponding to the local geological strata. Emissions from each layer are calculated,

Layer 1

Layer 2 Layer 3

Layer i-1

Rock

Overburden emissions (h )

qi = i ci i hi
is the emission coefficient (0< <1). It is the ratio of the gas volume which can be emitted to the gas volume which is in place.

Layer i

hi

Water table level

Layer i+1

Coal seam
Pit floor level

Layer n-1 Layer n

Carbonaceous rock

Floor emissions (h)

Total emissions is the sum of emissions from all layers,

Q = qi
1
CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

New methodology (Emission Factor)

Emission Factor (EF) is the volume of gas emitted per tonne of coal produced

Gas Release Zone

Ground surface Qcs

Q EF = P
Coal produced

P = i i hi
1
Pit floor

qs qc

Rock layer

Target seam

= 1, seam mined = 0, seam not mined (spoiled or in underburden)

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Application of the method: Generic case

Position and thickness of the layer (m)

Layer Nature of the layer Top 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conglomerate and sandstone Coal, A Seam Tuff Coal, B Seam Carbonaceous mudstone Coal, C Seam Base of the pit Siltstone, shale & stony coal bands Coal, D Seam Claystone and tuff 0 35.15 39.25 42.62 48.51 49.89 Bottom 35.15 39.25 42.62 48.51 49.89 50.93

Middepth
17.58 37.20 40.94 45.57 49.20 50.41

Thickness 35.15 4.10 3.37 5.89 1.38 1.04

A hypothetic open cut virgin ground cross section showing coal seams and rock strata for EF calculation

7 8 9

50.93 61.55 62.08

61.55 62.08 70.93

56.24 61.82 66.51

10.62 0.53 8.85

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Generic case
Input data for calculation of emissions for generic open cut
Note that =1 for the seams and strata above the pit base and <1 for the undrburden strata.

Layer

Middepth (m)

Thickness (m)

Density 3 (t/m )

Gas content 3 (m /t)

Gas composition (%)

Layer attributes Production coeff, 0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Emission coeff. 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.71 0.43 0.20

CH4

CO2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

17.58 37.20 40.94 45.57 49.2 50.41 56.24 61.82 66.51

35.15 4.10 3.37 5.89 1.38 1.04 10.62 0.53 8.85

2.50 1.50 2.50 1.60 2.30 1.45 2.20 1.40 2.30

0.00 0.10 0.00 0.40

0.00 19.86 0.00 2.78

0.00 80.14 0.00 97.22 85.70 96.36 22.40 20.00 15.00

0.01 14.30 0.60 3.64 Base of the pit 0.03 0.80 0.01 77.60 80.00 85.00

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Generic case

EF = Q/P = 15.50/17.08 = 0.91 m3/t Q = 5.30+1.22x8.36 = 15.50 m3/m2 P = 17.08 t/m2

Emission Factor (CO2-e)

The spreadsheet to calculate the emission factor for the Generic Case

Saghafi, 2007 CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Basic concepts of the new model: gas zones

A mine lease could be imagined as an assembly of gas zones The gas content and reservoir properties of the coal seams and strata within each gas zone should be relatively constant. Gas emissions is quantified in terms of specific emissions from these gas zones.

How to delineate a gas zone?

A gas zone may be identified by similarity of the local geology and coal formation sequences in the area as well as similar coal layout and hydrology regimes. The data from previous exploration drilling and piezometric studies should assist in delineating these zones.
Saghafi, 2007 CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

ACARP 15076: Application of the new methodology, Case Studies

The new methodology was applied to 4 cases: Case 1: A relatively deep open cut mine (~200 m) with a moderate gas content (4 - 6 m3/t) and data obtained from borecores specifically drilled for this project. Case 2: A relatively deep open cut mine (~200 m) with a low gas content (<1 m3/t) and data obtained from borecores specifically drilled for this project. Case 3: A shallow open cut mine (~60 m) with a low gas content (< 1m3/t) and data obtained from previous exploration drilling as well as from one purpose-drilled borehole. Case 4: An open cut mine for which no direct gas content data are available.

Saghafi, 2007 CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Examples: Estimate of emissions for Case 1 and Case 2

Item
Total coal production, p i Total CO2 emissions, (q i)CO2

Value
41.46 82.68 65.21 1.99 1.57 3.57 15.14

Unit
t/m
3 2

Case 1

Total CH4 emissions, (q i)CH4 CO2 Emissions factor, EF CO2 CH4 Emissions factor, EF CH4 Total emission factor Total emission factor CO2-e

m /m

m /t m /t
3

Item Total coal production, p i

Total CO2 emissions, (q i)CO2 Total CH4 emissions, (q i)CH4

Value 31.31
8.00 0.10 0.26 0.00 0.26 0.26

Unit t/m2
m /m
3 2

Case 2
CO2 Emissions factor, EF CO2 CH4 Emissions factor, EF CH4 Total emission factor Total emission factor CO2-e m /t m /t
3 3

CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

Tier 3 method requirements

Model requires knowledge of the in-situ gas content of coal seams and carbonaceous rock in the overburden, and to some extent, into the underburden of the gas release zone. Also required is gas composition. Because of large spatial variations in gas content at shallow depths the best way to obtain the gas content data required for the model is to drill and core surface boreholes for the purpose of measuring the in situ gas content. Mine lease may be partitioned into a limited number of gas zones based on knowledge of coal strata layout and hydrology. Within the same gas zone gas content should be approximately constant. For the case of mixed gas conditions the gas content should be determined by quick crush method, so to inhibit the dissolution of CO2 in the measuring water and to reduce frequent gas composition measurements.
CSIRO. Saghafi, 2009

References
Saghafi A, Williams D J (1992). Estimation of methane emission from Australian coal mines. Symposium on Coalbed Methane Research and Development in Australia, Townsville, Australia. Vol. 5, pp. 7-13. Williams, D. J., Saghafi, A., Lange, A. L. and Drummond, M. S., (1993). Methane emissions from open-cut mines and post-mining emissions from underground coal, Report to Department of Environment, Sports and Territories, CSIRO Investigation Report CET/IR173, 17 p. Williams D J and Saghafi A (1993). Methane emissions from coal mining - A prospective. The Coal Journal, number 41, pp. 37-40. Williams, D. J., Saghafi, A. and Lama, R., D., (1996). Methane emissions from coal mining, IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, Report Number PH2/5, June 1996, Paris, 180 p. Saghafi, A. and Williams, D., J. (1996). Methane emissions from underground coal mining in Australia: Current and future development, In the Proceeding of the 13th International Clean Air and Environment Conference, Published by The Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc. Adelaide, Australia, pp. 345-350 Creedy, D., P., Saghafi, A. and Lama, R., D. (1997). Gas Control in Underground Coal Mining, IEA Coal Research, IEA CR/91, London, UK, 120 p. Saghafi, A., Williams, D., J. and Lama R., D., (1997). Worldwide methane emissions from underground coal mining. In the Proceedings of the 6th International Mine Ventilation Congress, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, pp. 441-445 Saghafi, A., Day, S., Williams, D., J., Roberts, D., B., Quintanar, A. and Carras, J. N. (2003), Toward the Development of an Improved Methodology for Estimating Fugitive Seam Gas Emissions from Open Cut Mining, ACARP Project C9063, 49p. Saghafi A., Day S. J., Fry R., Quintanar A., Roberts D., Williams D. J. and Carras J. N. (2004), Development of an improved methodology for Estimation of Fugitive Seam Gas Emissions from Open Cut Mining, ACARP Project C12072, 55 p. Saghafi, A., Roberts, D.B., Fry, R.F., Quintanar, A., Day, S.J., Lange, T., Hoarau, P. and Dokumcu, C. (2008). Evaluating a tier 3 method for estimating fugitive emissions from open cut coal mining, ET/IR 1011R, ACARP Project C15076, 120 p.

Dr Abouna Saghafi
CSIRO Energy Technology P.O. Box 330, Newcastle, NSW 2300

+61-2- 9490 8670 abouna.saghafi@csiro.au

Thank you
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