Restructuring substantial increase in natural gas reserves by coalbed methane (CBM) recovery

¹ National Institute for Research and Development in Mine Safety and Protection to Explosion INSEMEX, 32-34 G-ral Vasile Milea Street, Postcode: 332047, Petrosani, Hunedoara County, Romania
² University of Petrosani, 20, University Street, Postcode: 332006, Petrosani, Hunedoara County, Romania

^* Corresponding author: cristian.tomescu@insemex.ro

Abstract

Coal deposits, especially hard coal deposits, contain in their structure large amounts of methane, which during exploitation is diluted through industrial ventilation and degassing technologies down to non-hazardous concentrations, reducing the major risk factor for the safety of workers and resources minerals. The amount of methane released and exhausted into the atmosphere by the degassing and ventilation stations of the mining units, in addition to being wasted instead of being used, is also a factor of environmental pollution, as a potential greenhouse gas (GHG). The environmental issues and the climate crisis faced by humanity compel the establishment of an Action Program on the methane issue, which includes the capture, recovery and exploitation of gas from active coal mines, or from virgin strata, from unexploited mining fields, with the help of currently available technologies and practices, which represent the chance to obtain clean energy and substantial climate benefits, in the short and long term. The solution to the use of methane gas from coal at active mining operations in Jiu a Valley - Romania, by burning it to obtain the thermal agent, brought important economic benefits by reducing energy costs and environmental protection by reducing methane emissions in the atmosphere. The present paper proposes an analysis of the benefits obtained as well as the development possibilities of methane usage for obtaining a clean fuel.