Coal Mine Methane development in CIL COMMAND AREA: Opportunities and Challenges

1. Coal Mine Methane development in CIL COMMAND AREA: Opportunities and Challenges RajiwLochan Chief Manager (Geology/CBM), CMPDI V K Sinha Director (Technical/RD&T), CMPDI

2. India’sEnergyScenario: • The GDP growth of India is hovering around 7%, forecasted to increase in coming years. • India is facing challenge in meeting its ever-increasing energy demand for sustainable growth

3. India’sEnergyScenario • Coal is the main source of energy supply and meets about 53% of energy requirement. • With substantial reserve coal is likely to dominate in the foreseeable future. • Resource position of petroleum/gas is not good. • India Imports more than 1/3rd of its commercial energy needs, putting strain on economy. • Augmenting production from conventional resources and to initiate/expedite development of other non-conventional energy resources is therefore important.

4. Primary Energy Demand in INDIa BY FUEL India Energy Basket: Present & Future (Source: India Energy Book 2013)

5. Coalbed Methane: A mining hazard to source of clean energy • Coalbed Methane (CBM): CBM is methane occurring in areas where mining is neither going on nor projectised. • Coal Mine Methane (CMM): CMM is methane extracted from coal seams within existing or projectised coal mining blocks • Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with GWP of 23-25 times than CO2 It forms an explosive mixture at concentration of 5-15% in the atmosphere. • As per coal mining safety regulations, concentration of methane in the mine return air should be kept below 0.75%. • Methane emitted during coal mining is ventilated out and the process is an integral part of mining activity for mine safety

6. Coalbed Methane: A mining hazard to source of clean energy • CMM contributes about 8% of the total anthropogenic methane emissions (US EPA) and Its reduction will contribute in mitigation of climate change Source: USEPA • Harnessing and gainful utilization of CMM is a priority area in major coal producing countries viz China, USA, Australia etc. • Several regulatory provisions and investor friendly fiscal initiatives have been announced by these countries.

7. CMM Development: International Scenario • CMM development has taken a firm footing at international level; • Majority of projects making use of captured methane is in China, USA, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Germany (AMM) and the United Kingdom (AMM). • India & China started together on the CMM front:

8. CMM Development in India • In India about 1 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) of methane is released annually (USEPA estimate) by coal mining activity • Harnessing methane ahead of mining has following advantages: • Ensures future mining safe for gassy mines • Prevents release of methane to the atmosphere • Provides additional energy from the otherwise wasted resource • MoC has made CMPDI, Nodal Agency for the development of CMM in India • India CMM /CBM Clearing House is functional at CMPDI since 2008 under the aegis of MoC and US EPA with an objective of development of CMM in India. • Government has permitted to Coal India Limited (CIL) for Exploration and Exploitation of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) from areas under coal mining lease allotted to CIL (July 2015).

9. DEVELOPMENT OF CMM WITHIN CIL MINING LEASEHOLD AREAS: CIL’S PERSPECTIVE CIL operates many gassy coal mines of which 102 are Degree-II and 18 are Degree-III mines; Target seams for CMM development are Virgin coal seams lying below the active mining/worked out/goaved/abandoned areas; Attempts were made to implement methane drainage projects in gassy mines even before nationalization of coal mines mainly for safety reasons; With the advancement of harnessing and utilization technology of CMM, concerted efforts were made by CMPDI for CMM development in CIL mines since late 90’s.

10. Development of CMM within CIL mining leasehold areas: CMPDI’s Endeavour • A demonstration project on Recovery and Utilization of CMM under UNDP/GEF-GoI funded Project was successfully implemented in gassy Moonidih mine of BCCL proving the efficacy of the technology in Indian geo-mining conditions, • Above said project generated confidence that Methane can be incrementally exploited from lower seam along with Coal mining in upper seam by careful and optimum selection of technology, safety procedure, optimum uses of surface resource and last but not the least optimum use of operational manpower specially statuary nature liable for operational safety and lease liability towards government.

11. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CMM DEVELOPMENT WITHIN CIL LEASEHOLD AREAS: In view of Government permission to Coal India Limited (CIL) for Exploration and Exploitation of Coalbed Methane (CBM) from areas under coal mining lease allotted to CIL (July 2015), Prospective CMM blocks have been identified within CIL mining leasehold area;

12. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CMM DEVELOPMENT WITHIN CIL LEASEHOLD AREAS: Following needs consideration: • Resource assessment is fraught with uncertainties as the coal seams are lying in de-stressed conditions, • The size of CMM operation is small compared to a CBM operation and at best small commercial projects can be implemented where the returns may be marginal, • Prepare best practice guidelines in line with the developed countries involving all stake holders of CBM/CMM projects.

13. Schematic log sections of different coalfields:

14. Schematic Geological Cross Section CMM Block

15. Multi Seams Mine workings

16. CMM Block in ECL Area ECL Mining leasehold : 57Sq. km delineated in Raniganj coalfield

17. CMM BLOCK IN BCCL & CCL OMMAND AREA Development of CMM in JhariaCf • BCCL mining leasehold : A block of 25 sq. km identified in Jharia Coalfield Development of CMM in Bokaro & KaranpuraCfs • CCL mining leasehold: Potential block in East & West Bokaro Coalfields and North & South Karanpura Coalfields under delineation Jharia Coalfield Bokaro & Karanpura Coalfields

18. SAFETY/ ENVIRONMENT/ ECONOMICS: • Extraction of CMM from the working mine areas particularly underground requires issues of safety for men & mine of mines to be duly addressed. • The drilling of holes, associated activities must be carried out in a harmonious way under one ownership to avoid mine accidents/ inundation of mine. • Sharing of Calendar programme and data between mine and CMM operator is required. • Activity like hydro fracturing etc. requires, full understanding of its implication on coal mining. • Harnessing of CMM in association with coal mining will reduce methane venting in the atmosphere which is environment friendly.

19. CONCLUSION: • Theprimary aim of CMM operation isMine Environmentalbenefits. • Presently CIL is draining and venting methane for mine safety reasons within the provisions of different acts governing coal mining operations; • CIL/CMPDI has already successfully implemented a CMM Demonstration Project proving the efficacy of the process in Indian geo-mining conditions. • CIL/CMPDI has identified two CMM blocks where the projects could be taken up. Data dossiers on these areas is under finalization.

20. Thanks for your attention ! rajiw.lochan@coalindia.in