Abstract
The Coal Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated the total methane emissions from worldwide mining, treatment and storage of coal to be approximately 25 million tonnes/year for 1990. Slightly more than one million tonnes of methane are utilized by the industry. Thus, the net annual discharge to the atmosphere is 24 million tonnes. Methane emissions data were available for the U.S., the U.K., former U.S.S.R., Australia, China, Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Methane emissions for India and S. Africa were estimated from a linear correlation between the average depth of mining and specific methane emissions derived from the available data for the eight countries. These ten largest coal producing countries represented nearly 90% of world coal production in 1990. Total methane emissions for the world coal industry were calculated by prorating the methane emissions from these ten countries in proportion to coal production.
The reported values represent the best international data available at present. The net total emissions of 24 million tonnes/year are substantially less than some previously reported indirect estimations and constitute only 4 to 6% of the global methane emissions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kuuskraa, Vello A. et. al, Coalbed Gas-Hunt for Quality Basin Goes Abroad, Oil & Gas Journal, Oct. 5, 1992, pp. 49–54.
Cecerone, R. and R. Oremland, “Biogeochemical Aspects of Atmospheric Methane”, Global Biogeochemistry Cycles, Vol. 2, pp 299–327, 1988.
Hargraves, A.J., “Planning and Operation of Gaseous Mines”, CIM Bulletin, March 1973.
Lama, R.D., “Methane Gas Emissions from Coal Mining in Australia: Estimates and Control Strategies”, IEA/OECD Conference on Coal, The Environment and Development, 1991.
Kissell, F.N. et al, “The Direct Method of Determining Methane Content of Coalbeds for Ventilation Design”, The U.S. Bureau of Mines Research Report 7767, 1973.
Holditch, S.A. et al, “Enhanced Recovery of Coalbed Methane Through Hydraulic Fracturing”, Proc. 63rd Annual SPE Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, TX, 1988, pp. 689–693.
Thakur, P.C. and J. G. Davis, “How to Plan Methane Control in Underground Coal Mines”, Mining Engineering, Oct. 1977, pp. 41–45.
Gunther, J. and Belin, J., “Prevision du Degagement du Grisou en Taille pour des Grisements en Plateure,” 12th International Conference on Mine Safety and Research, Dortmund, 1967.
Winter, K., “Extent of Gas Emissions in Zones Influenced by Extraction”, 16th International Conference on Mine Safety and Research, Washington, D.C., 1975.
Thakur, P.C., “Methane Control on Longwall Gobs”, Longwall-Shortwall Mining State-of-the-Art, Chapter, 10; Society of Mining Engineers, 1980.
Koyama, T. “Biogeochemical Studies on Lake Sediments and Paddy Soils and the Production of Hydrogen and Methane”, in Recent Researches in the Fields of Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Geochemistry, pp. 143–177, 1964.
Hitchcock, D.R. and Wechsler, A.E. “Biological Cycling of Atmospheric Trace Gases”, Final Report, NASW-2128, pp. 154–177, 1972.
Seiler, W., “Contributions of Biological Processes to the Global Budget of CH4 in the Atmosphere”, Current Perspectives in Microbial Ecology American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C., 1984.
Crutzen, P.J. “Role of the Tropics in Atmospheric Chemistry”, Geophysiology of Amazonia R. Dickenson (ed.) John Wiley N.Y., pp. 107–132, 1987.
Okken, P.A. and T. Kram, “Ch4/CO2 Emission from Fossil Fuels—Global Warming Potential,” IEA/EISAP Workshop, Paris, June, 1989.
Zimmermeyer, G., Personal Communications.
Selzer, H. and Zittel, W. “Klimarelevante Emissionen Von Methangas: Untersuchung der Weltweiten Methanemissionen ause der nitzung Energietrager der Abfallwirtschaft, der Landwirtschaft und der erde LBST-Report No. 10/90, Ottobrunn, Germany, 169 pp., 1990.
Barus, D.W. and Edmonds J.A., “An evaluation of the Relationship between the Production and Use of Energy and Atmospheric Methane Emissions, “TR047, U.S. DOE/NBB0088P, WA, USA 241 pp. 1990.
Boyer, C.M. et al, “Methane Emissions from Coal Mining: Issues and Opportunities for Reduction, EPA/400/9-90/008, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1990.
Hargraves, A.J., “Coal Seam Gas and the Atmosphere”, In Greenhouse and Energy, North Ryde, NSW, Australia, CSIRO, pp. 147–156, 1990.
Kirchgessner, D.A. et. al, “Estimate of Global Methane Emissions from Coal Mines”, NTIS PB93-212553, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, 1993.
Chadwick, John, “World Coal”, Mine Magazine, Oct. 1991.
McCulloch, C.M. et al, “Measuring the Methane Content of Bituminous Coalbeds”, U.S. Bureau of Mines R.I. 8043, 22 pp. 1975.
Personal communication with Mr. Michael Trevits of the U.S. Bureau of Mines Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Trevits, M.A., et. al, “Evaluation of U.S. Coal Mine Emissions”, Proceedings of the 5th U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium, 1991, pp. 177–182.
Personal communications with J.S. Harrison of British Coal, Stoke Orchard, Glos., U.K.
Personal communications with Dr. Gunter Zimmermeyer of Deutschen Steinkohlebergbau, Gluckaufhaus, 4300 Essen 1.
Personal communications with Mr. James Marshall of Raven Ridge Resources, Grand Junction, Colorado, U.S.A. (data provided by Skochinskii Mining Institute).
Pilcher, R.C., “Assessment of the Potential for Economic Development and Utilization of Coalbed Methane in Poland”, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Report No. EPA/400/1-91/022, August 1991.
“Opportunities for Coalbed Methane Recovery and Utilization in China. The Potential for U.S.-China Cooperation”, by J.P. International, Beijing, for U.S. E.P.A., Washington, D.C. 1990.
Bibler, Carol J. et al, “Assessment of the Potential for Economic Development and Utilization of Coalbed Methane in Czechoslovakia,” A report to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 1992.
Mitra, A.P., “Greenhouse Gas Emissions in India (1992 Update), National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, India.
Draft Report: “Global Coalbed Methane Recovery and Use: Current Practices and Prospects for Expansion”, Coal Industry Advisory Board of International Energy Agency, October 1993.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thakur, P.C., Graham-Bryce, I.J., Karis, W.G. et al. Global methane emissions from the world coal industry. Environ Monit Assess 31, 73–91 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00547183
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00547183