Fugitive methane emissions and technologies for their reduction in Kuzbass coal mining
O.V. Tailakov, E.A. Utkaev, M.P. Makeev
The Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal-Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №6 / 2022 р. 54-59
Abstract: A retrospective analysis of methane emissions in underground and surface coal mining, as well as subsequent activities with coal mined in underground conditions in Kuzbass, is presented. Modern technologies for processing of coalbed methane, which is brought to the surface by ventilation and degassing systems of coal mines, to obtain chemical products, thermal and electrical energy, are considered. It is shown that a rational option for the utilization of degassing methane is its use as a fuel in gas generators; to reduce emissions of ventilation methane, it is necessary to improve and introduce technologies for regenerative thermal oxidation of depleted methane-air mixtures. Based on the use of discount factor analysis, an assessment of the economic efficiency of utilization of degassed and ventilation air methane was made. It has been established that it is economically feasible to obtain heat and electricity by utilizing of degassed methane, the positive economic effect of ventilation air methane processing projects is achieved by using additional incentives, including the sale of emission reduction units, taking into account the prices of the main energy resources. It is substantiated that the utilization of coalmine methane facilitates reduction of the carbon footprint of the coal mining industry. The obtained results can be used to select and implement rational technologies for capturing and processing coal methane in underground coal mining.
Keywords: coalmine methane, emission, coal mining, utilization, degassing, ventilation
Acknowledgements: The research was carried out within the framework of the comprehensive scientific and technical program of the full innovation cycle “Development and implementation of a complex of technologies in the fields of exploration and extraction of minerals, industrial safety, bioremediation, creation of new products of deep processing from coal raw materials with a consistent reduction of the environmental burden on the environment and risks to the life of the population”, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 11.05.2022, No. 1144-r (Agreement No. 075-15-2022-1196).
For citation: Tailakov O.V., Utkaev E.A., Makeev M.P. Fugitive methane emissions and technologies for their reduction in Kuzbass coal mining. Russian Mining Industry. 2022;(6):54–59. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2022-6-54-59
Article info
Received: 12.10.2022
Revised: 02.11.2022
Accepted: 03.11.2022
Information about the author
Oleg V. Tailakov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Chief Scientific Researcher, The Federal Research Center of Coal and CoalChemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Maxim P. Makeev – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Scientific Researcher, The Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal-Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Evgeniy A. Utkaev – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Scientific Researcher, The Federal Research Center of Coal and CoalChemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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