lbed Methane 

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

Advancing Sustainable Economic Growth 

Outreach Program 
lobal climate change will require 

t, over many generations .... [S]ustained 

h is the solution, not the problem— 

n that grows its economy is a nation that 

ments in efficiency, new technologies, and 

nment.” 

—President George W. Bush 
methods 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 provides a brief overview of CMM— what it is, how it can be used, and the benefits of using it. We also describe ventilation air 

M 

methane, an important source of CMM that holds great potential for future emissions reductions. Finally, we summarize CMOP activities and 

highlight some of our accomplishments. 
oal Mine Methane?


efers to methane 

urrounding rock stra

 underground mines, 

zar

d to coal miners, 

tilation systems. In 

ry to supplement the 

on system consist

s and gas pipelines. 

rface mines, 

to the atmosphere 

her diffuse sources. 

s of CMM, which 

t qualities and 

• Degasification systems are employed before, 

during, and after mining activities: —Premining (vertical wells): Produce mediumto high-quality gas that is often suitable for 

direct use in the natural gas pipeline system. 

—In-mine (boreholes): Produce gas ranging 

from about 30 percent to mor

e than 90 percent methane. 

—Post-mine (gob wells): Produce low- to 

medium-quality gas. 

•	 Ventilation air methane (VAM) produces dilute 

gas concentrations (only about 1 percent methane) but is emitted in large quantities. VAM constitutes nearly half of all CMM and is critical to global reduction of CMM emissions. 

•	 Abandoned or closed mines produce emissions of low- to medium-quality gas from diffuse vents or via ventilation pipes or boreholes. 
e is Removed from Active Coal Mines

Systems

o as drainage systems,

ethane in advance of,

 well degasification and

m- to high-quality gas

pipelines. Post-mine

 low- to medium-quality

 heating, or coal drying.

Ventilation Air MethaneVentilation systems draw clean airinto and through the mine to diluteand remove methane. As a result,large volumes of ventilation air contain very low concentrations ofmethane, which may be harnessedfor energy.
CMM Be Used?


e to recover 

omponent of natural 

ific CMM end-uses 

specially the con

he presence of other 

gas pipeline systems. 

Worldwide, CMM is most often used for power generation, district heating, boiler fuel, or town gas, or it is sold to natural gas pipeline systems. CMM also can be used in many other ways: • • • • • • 

Coal drying 
Heat source for mine ventilation air
Supplemental fuel for mine boilers
Vehicle fuel as compressed or liquified natural
gas (LNG)
Manufacturing feedstock
Fuel source for fuel cells and internal combus­


tion engines


To date, almost all CMM captured and used from 

active U.S. mines is recovered from gas drainage systems. 
Inter

nal combustion engines using CMM. 

Development 

Source: Northwest Fuels Development 
of Capturing CMM


 to capturing CMM 

 to the atmosphere. 

•	 Methane is a valuable, clean burning energy 

source that would otherwise be wasted. 

•	 Methane is an explosive gas that poses a 

threat to mine and miner safety. 

•	 Recovering and using CMM is a win-win 

solution! 

—Reduces GHG emissions
—Increases mine productivity and generates


revenue 

—Improves air quality —Utilizes skilled labor, resulting in job creation 

—Leads to greater energy independence 

. Extremely effec

atmosphere, 

mes mor

e powerful 

atmosphere than 

g is a significant 

butes about 10 

d methane emis“Jim Walter Resources, Inc., a pioneer in the 

capture and utilization of both coalbed methane and coal mine methane, is convinced that degasification has been a critical element of its successful mining operation. The degas activities result in increased mining efficiency while at the same time the improved mining efficiency 

yields better degasification potential.” 

—Chuck Dixon 

formerly with Jim Walter Resources 

n CMM recovery 

panies have been 

ery technologies.” 

President and CEO 

 Mining Association 
AM and Why Is It


? 

ventilation air flow 

high levels to dilute 

on to well-below 

ethane concentra

rom 0.1 percent to 

) represents nearly 

ons in the United 

—with few excep

the atmosphere. 

What are the potential markets for VAM? The high volumetric flow rate and low concentrations of VAM make it difficult to utilize costeffectively. Technologies to capture and harness 

the energy resource in VAM are currently being 

developed, demonstrated, and commercialized. 

These include thermal and catalytic oxidizers, turbines and microturbines, and fluidized beds. 

What are potential uses of VAM? •	 Methane oxidation, which reduces GHG 

emissions 

• Heat recovery and use •	 Power generation as primary or supplementary 

fuel in engines and turbines 
ortunity for GHG emissions r

Photo by Er 

eductions. 

U.S. coal mine emissions, and r

ethane (V

nie Sistek, Kennametal, courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

. Coal Mine Methane Emissions 

epr

AM) constitutes the largest portion 

esents a 
tivities


reach Program 

rous domestic and 

. 

with the coal mining 

evelopment; over

 regulatory, and 

ntation; and commu­

•	 Preparing and disseminating reports and other 

materials that address topics ranging from 

technical and economic analyses to overviews of legal issues. 

•	 Interfacing with all facets of the mining industry 

to advance project development. 

•	 Conducting feasibility and pre-feasibility studies for U.S. mines that examine a range of 

end-use options. 

• Providing global access to information regarding 

ES 

ecovery. Specific 

d promoting methane 

g technological 

echanisms to 

entation. 

 educate the mining 

ntal, mine safety, 

methane recovery. 

latest development through the CMOP W

eb 

site and regular email updates and newsletters. 

Photo by David Parsons, courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
For more information on the partnership and

CMOP international activities, visit<www.epa.gov/methane/international.html>

or <www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets>.

Russia

Poland

Ukraine Czech Republic

Mexico

South Africa

India

Kazakhstan

China

CMOP International Activities
hievements— 

sions Reductions 

 coal mining industry 

methane emissions 

ce the program was 

his reduction is due 

zing drained gas. 

 recovers more than 

M. 

U.S. CMM reductions since 1994 have effectively 

removed the equivalent of mor

e than 180 million 

tons of carbon dioxide (440 billion cubic feet) from the atmosphere. 

These emissions reductions have had an important economic impact as well. CMM gas sales nationally generate mor

e than $50 million in r

ev

eductions since 

n automobiles per 

on acres of trees 

more than 6 million 

enue per year. 
due to r

ignificant r

 Emissions Ar

ecovery and utilization of drained CMM. 

ole in decr

e Decr

easing U.S. CMM emissions 

easing 
 with vegetable oil–based inks on 100% (minimum 50% postconsumer) recycled paper.