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CMM and VAM Recovery and Utilisation
Projects for methane utilisation or methane abatement at coal mines are developed under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or Joint Implementation mechanism (JI) of Kyoto Protocol and as voluntary carbon offsets, for example. DMT offers a wide range of consultancy and engineering services as support of such projects.
During mining coal, methane is emitted by the mine's ventilation system as Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) or by gas drainage as Coal Mine Methane (CMM). Depending on gas quantities and methane concentrations CMM and VAM could be utilised using various technologies like gas engines or thermal oxidation.
Released gas quantities and qualities are influenced by the ongoing mining operation and therefore usually more or less fluctuating. Apart from an assessment of the geological conditions and the gas contents of the coal, reliable forecasts of gas emissions requires an accurate analysis of the scheduled ventilation and gas drainage schemes as well as the whole mining operation. DMT has built up a longtime experience in forecasting gas emissions, among others in one of the most complex coal deposits in the world. If required we also determine gas contents of coal and adsorption isotherms in our own laboratory.
DMT supports investors and developers in CMM and VAM projects as well as emission traders and mine operators during project identification and development as well as during the whole project implementation. Our intention is to identify and reduce project risks and provide adequate solutions.
Our services cover
- assistance during identification of suitable projects
- technical due diligence
- independent forecasts of the quantities and qualities of future released and drainable gas emission
- improvement of mine ventilation and gas drainage systems
- engineering regarding ventilation and gas drainage
- concepts of methane abatement or utilisation
- basic engineering of gas utilisation plants and assistance with monitoring
After closure of a mine, methane emissions may continue long term. This source is called Abandoned Coal Mine Methane (AMM) and also offers possibilities for power generation or utilisation as primary energy. In virgin deposits methane is adsorbed as Coal Bed Methane (CBM) which is used successfully as a source of natural gas in some parts of the world.
