Join the CMOP Network
As part of its outreach efforts, EPA maintains contact with the U.S. and
international CMM / CBM industries and encourages interaction between
industry participants through the CMOP Network.
Joining the CMOP Network is free and voluntary! As a CMOP Network
Member, you:
• Will receive our quarterly newsletter, the Coalbed Methane (CBM)
Extra, via e-mail.
• Can request to receive our weekly news announcement, the CBM
Note, via e-mail.
• Can add your organization and contact information to our Network
Contacts list featured on the CMOP Web site.
Sign up online today! www.epa.gov/cmop/join/index.html
U.S. EPA
Coalbed Methane
'OUTREACH PROGRAM
Coalbed Methane
Outreach Program
Promoting Coal Mine
Methane Recovery and Use
..il Protection.._,..
1200 Pennsylvania Averiue, N
'
OfficialBusiness
Penalty for Privat
. -^
;PA-430-K-08-008.
October 2008 .••'•"••;
www.epa.gov/cmc
jcycle'el/ftecyclable.
;ycled paper.
Environmental Protection
Agencty , .
• _
-------
Our Mission
International Activities
PROGRAM GOALS
Reduce GHG emissions
Achieve the profitable
recovery and use of CMM
Promote the use of a clean
energy source
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Coalbed Methane Outreach
Program (CMOP) is a voluntary pro-
gram with a goal of reducing methane
emissions from coal mining activities.
Our mission is to promote the profit-
able recovery and utilization of coal
mine methane (CMM), a potent green-
house gas (GHG) that contributes to
climate change if emitted to the atmosphere. When collected and used for
energy, CMM is a valuable fuel source.
Since 1994, CMOP has worked cooperatively with the coal mining indus-
try to reduce CMM emissions. By helping to identify and implement meth-
ods to recover and use CMM instead of emitting it to the atmosphere,
CMOP has played a key role in the United States' efforts to reduce GHG
emissions and address global climate change.
This guide summarizes CMOP activities and also highlights some of the
program's accomplishments.
CMOP has worked with many coal-producing countries around the world
for more than a decade to promote CMM development and use. Today,
CMOP conducts its international activities under the auspices of the
Methane to Markets Partnership.
On behalf of Methane to Markets, CMOP has: developed comprehen-
sive profiles that characterize the coal and CMM sectors in more than 30
countries; established an online database of more than 200 global CMM
projects; launched a number of pre- and full-scale feasibility studies;
sponsored technology demonstrations; and supported in-country capac-
ity building through clearinghouses, technology transfer workshops, and
study tours. CMOP also maintains strong relationships with several
Partner countries, including China, India, Russia, and Ukraine.
For more information on CMOP's international activities and its involve-
ment in the Methane to Markets Coal Subcommittee, visit:
www.epa.gov/cmop/international/index.html or www.methanetomarkets.
org/coalmines/index.htm.
Methane to Markets
6
-------
CMOP Accomplishments—U.S. Emissions
Reductions
Between the time of the program's launch in 1994 and 2006, CMOP as-
sisted the U.S. coal mining industry in successfully reducing U.S. CMM
emissions by about 16 percent. These emissions reductions are the result
of active underground mines recovering and utilizing drained gas. Today,
the U.S. coal mining industry recovers and uses more than 80 percent of
all drained CMM.
U.S. CMM reductions since 1994 have effectively removed the equivalent
of more than 216 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (535 billion cubic
feet of methane) from the atmosphere. According to EPA, this is
equivalent to:
• Removing more than 39 million passenger vehicles from the roads for
one year.
• Shutting off more than 46 coal-fired power plants for one year.
• Providing electricity to more than 28 million homes for one year.
These emissions reductions have had an important economic impact
as well. Nationally, CMM gas sales generate more than $300 million in
revenue each year.
U.S. CMM Emissions Have Declined Since 1994
?nn •
00
5 IbU-
LJU
.a
A
U= 1 nn •
c
_o
S Rn-
0 .
t *"^ — » — *^
"^" — - — -T "^— ^ HI
400
J50
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
o
CO
.1
-fatal U.S. CMM Emissions (Bcf) -m-total U.S. Underground Coal Production (M Short Tons)
Source: CMOP Annual Report, August 2008.
What Is Coal Mine Methane?
Coal mine methane (CMM) refers to methane released from the coal and
surrounding rock strata due to mining activities. In underground mines, it
can create an explosive hazard to coal miners. Underground mines are the
largest single source of CMM emissions. Mines tend to emit more methane
the deeper they are, but their methane levels depend on many factors.
Sources of CMM
Coal mine methane is emitted from several sources:
• Underground mine ventilation systems, which emit large quantities of
very dilute methane known as Ventilation Air Methane (VAM).
• Underground mine degasification (or "drainage") systems are needed at
some very gassy mines to remove methane from the coal seams. This
can be done in advance of mining ("pre-mine drainage") from the surface
or from inside the mine, during or after mining ("gob" or "goaf" wells).
• Abandoned (permanently closed) mines emit abandoned mine
methane (AMM) through vent holes, fissures, or cracks.
• Surface mines emit methane as the coal seam is directly exposed to
the atmosphere.
• Post-mining operations—when coal is stored in piles and transported—
produce fugitive methane emissions.
Surface Mines
35 Bcf, 22%
Abandoned
Mines
13 Bcf, 8%
2006 U.S. CMM Emissions
Post-Mining
(fugitive emissions), 21 Bcf, 13%
Ventilation Air
Methane (VAM)
81 Bcf, 52%
Underground Mines
(drained gas), 8 Bcf, 5%
Source: U.S. EPA, 2006.
-------
Recovery and Use of CMM
BENEFITS OF CAPTURING
AND USING CMM
Reduces GHG emissions
Conserves a local source of
valuable, clean-burning energy
Enhances mine safety by re-
ducing in-mine concentrations
of methane
Provides revenue to the mine
Technology is readily available
to recover methane—the major
component of natural gas—from
coal mines. Specific end uses for
CMM depend on the gas quality,
especially the concentration of
methane and the presence of other
contaminants.
Worldwide, CMM is most often used
for power generation, district heat-
ing, boiler fuel, and town gas, or it is
sold to natural gas pipeline systems.
CMM can also be used in many other ways:
• Coal drying
• Heat source for mine ventilation air
• Supplemental fuel for mine boilers
• Vehicle fuel as compressed or liquefied natural gas (LNG)
• Manufacturing feedstock
• Fuel source for fuel cells
In the United States, nearly all CMM recovered for use from active mines
is injected into the natural gas pipeline system.
CMOP Domestic Activities
EPAs Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP) is engaged in
numerous domestic and international outreach efforts.
CMOP works cooperatively with the private sector to support project
development. The program helps to overcome institutional, technical,
regulatory, and financial barriers to implementation, and communicates
the benefits of CMM recovery to interested and necessary audiences.
Specific program activities include:
• Identifying, evaluating, and promoting CMM recovery and use oppor-
tunities.
• Conducting feasibility and pre-feasibility studies at U.S. mines and
supporting cutting-edge technology demonstrations.
• Preparing and disseminating reports on key technical, economic, and
legal issues.
• Interfacing with the mining industry, CMM project developers, and the
financing community to advance project development.
• Organizing conferences and workshops to discuss leading technology
and policy developments.
Sample screens from CMOP's Coal Mine
Methane Project Cash Flow Model
FlulllllillFUY fepMf
How to reach CMOP: www.epa.gov/cmop
------- |