Resource targets for advanced underground coal-extraction systems. [Identification of location and geology of deposit for which greatest savings can be realized by advanced mining systems in 2000] (original) (raw)
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Resource targets for advanced underground coal extraction systems
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N, 1982
This report identifies resource targets appropriate for federal sponsorship of research and development of advanced underground coal mining systems. The geological data used in the analysis came from A Study of the United States Coal Resources by John Ferm and Paul Nuthig of the University of Kentucky, Lexington. In contrast to previous research, which focused on a particular resource type, this study made a comprehensive examination of both conventional and unconventional coals, with particular attention to exceptionally thin and thick seams, steeply dipping beds, and multiple seam geometry. The major thrust of the targeting analysis was forecasting which coals would be of clear commercial significance at the beginning of the 21st century under three widely different scenarios for coal demand. The primary measure of commercial importance was an estimate of the aggregate dollar savings realized by consumers if advanced technology were available to mine coal at prices at or below the price projected for conventional technology in the year 2000. Both deterministic and probabilistic savings estimates were prepared for each demand scenario. The results indicate that the resource of primary importance is flatlying bituminous coal of moderate thickness, under moderate cover, and located within the lower 48 states. Resources of secondary importance are the flatlying multiple seams and thin seams (especially those in Appalachia). The rather substantial deposits of bituminous coal in North Alaska and the deeply buried lignites of the Gulf Coast present transportation and ground control problems which appear to postpone their commer:ial importance well beyond 2000. Steeply dipping coals, abandoned pillars, and exceptionally thick western coals may be important in some regions or sub-regions, but the limited tonnage available places them in a position of tertiary importance. i i i FOREWORD This report identifies resource targets appropriate for research and development of advanced underground coal mining systems. The study reported here is one of a series of documents produced by a program to define, develop, and demonstrate coal mining systems with substantially improved production cost and safety performance, while complying with regulatory intent in the areas of miner health, environmental impact, and coal conservation. Earlier reports established systems performance goals and conceptual design requirements. A companion document by Ferm and Muthig (1982) describes the results of a geological study of generic resource types, including estimates of the tonnages associated with commonly occurring sets of mining conditions.
The Environmental Assessment of a Contemporary Coal Mining System
1980
A contemporary underground coal mine in eastern Kentucky was assessed in order to determine potential off-site and on-site environmental impacts associated with the mining system in the given environmental setting. A 4-section, continuous room-and-pillar mine plan was developed for an appropriate site in eastern Kentucky. Potential environmental impacts were identified, and mitigation costs determined, using an environmental assessment methodology for coal extraction systems developed by Sullivan et al., 1980 (JPL Publication 79-82). The major potential environmental impacts were determined to be: (1) acid water drainage from the mine and refuse site, (2) uneven subsidence of the surface as a result of mining activity, and (3) alteration of groundwater aquifers in the subsidence zone. In the specific case examined, the costs of environmental impact mitigation to levels prescribed by regulations would not exceed $1/ton of coal mined, and post-mining land values would not be affected. 111 FOREWORD This document is one of a series which describe systems level requirements for advanced underground coal mining equipment. These requirements are summarized in "Overall Requirements for an Advanced Underground Coal Extraction System," JPL Publication 80-39, by Martin Goldsmith and Milton L. Lavin. Five areas of performance are discussed: (1) Production cost. (2) Miner safety. (3) Miner health. (4) Environmental impact. (5) Recovery efficiency. The report which follows illustrates the methodology used to assess compliance with the environmental impact requirements. Details of this methodology may be found in "A Methodology for the Environmental Assessment of Advanced Coal Extraction Systems", JPL Publication 79-82. This work is part of an effort to define and develop innovative coal extraction systems suitable for the significant resources remaining in the year 2000. Sponsorship is provided by the Office of Mining, United States Department of Energy via an interagency agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The US Geological Survey's national coal resource assessment: the results
International Journal of Coal Geology, 2002
The US Geological Survey and the State geological surveys of many coal-bearing States recently completed a new assessment of the top producing coal beds and coal zones in five major producing coal regions-the Appalachian Basin, Gulf Coast, Illinois Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. The assessments, which focused on both coal quality and quantity, utilized geographic information system technology and large databases. Over 1,600,000 million short tons of coal remain in over 60 coal beds and coal zones that were assessed. Given current economic, environmental, and technological restrictions, the majority of US coal production will occur in that portion of the assessed coal resource that is lowest in sulfur content. These resources are concentrated in parts of the central Appalachian Basin, Colorado Plateau, and the Northern Rocky Mountains. D (L.F. Ruppert).
Geologic Coal Assessment: The Interface with Economics
2001
Geologic resource assessments describe the location, general characteristics, and estimated volumes of resources, whether in situ or technically recoverable. Such compilations are only an initial step in economic resource evaluation. This paper identifies, by examples from the Illinois and Appalachian basins, the salient features of a geologic assessment that assure its usefulness to downstream economic analysis. Assessments should be in sufficient detail to allocate resources to production units (mines or wells). Coal assessments should include the spatial distribution of coal bed characteristics and the ability to allocate parts of the resource to specific mining technologies. For coal bed gas assessment, the production well recoveries and well deliverability characteristics must be preserved and the risk structure should be specified so dryholes and noncommercial well costs are recovered by commercially successful wells.
Proceedings of the 2004 Coal Operators' Conference
2004
The underground coal operators conference series held annually in Wollongong has been recognised as the main form of the exchange of ideas between mine operators, engineers and researchers in the diverse field of coal mining technology. For the last five years the conference addressed a variety of issues, focusing primarily on underground ground control and mine safety. In order to increase participation, attention has now been drawn to addressing various other issues in addition to ground control. The theme of Coal2004, Mine Planning demonstrates the true interest of the conference in promoting high output longwall operation. This year the conference is preceded by a halfday workshop on mine subsidence and surface environment impacts.
Proceedings of the 2003 Coal Operators' Conference
2003
The underground coal operators conference series held annually in Wollongong has been recognised as the main form of the exchange of ideas between the mine operators, engineers and researchers in the diverse field of coal mining technology. For the last five years the conference addressed a variety of issues, focusing primarily on underground ground control and mine safety. In order to increase participation, the attention has now been drawn to addressing various issues in addition to ground control and the theme of Coal2003, Longwall Environment demonstrates the true interest of the conference in promoting high output longwall operation. This year the conference is preceded by a halfday workshop on mine subsidence.
Michał Kopacz, Jarosław Kulpa, Dominik Galica, Jacek Jarosz: © 2019 Elsevier Ltd Resources Policy 63, 2019
Abstract Resource and economic assessment under uncertainty and risk is quite a difficult process. Many geological, mining, technical and economic aspects should be taken in to consideration simultaneously. The assessment process is also subject to errors, including measurement and interpretation errors and errors resulting from lack of knowledge or over-optimism. Uncertainty about the true value of the geological parameters is reduced as the recognition process and the knowledge about deposits improve. Especially at the first stages of mine development, the information available is insufficient and can lead to incorrect interpretation. In this paper, the impact of geological information on key economic parameters was examined, using the example of a hard coal deposit in mine X in Poland. A scenario analysis was performed, based on a Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation was conducted using ogive distributions and copulas (empirical copulas) binding six geological parameters (coal and waste rock thickness, coal density, coal calorific value (LHV) and sulfur and ash content). To achieve the research purposes, the most popular economic measures (indicators), i.e., IRR, NPV and EBITDA, were used. Finally, differential distributions of these parameters were built and commented upon. The three analyzed scenarios were elaborated considering the data from the geological 3D model of coal deposit X. A polygon (testing) area was defined in the coal field, where complete geological information was available. The first data set (scenario 1) incorporated only information from deep surface boreholes (drillings), the second included data from surface drillings and channel samples and the third used only channel sampling. To interpolate the geological data between boreholes, the inverse distance interpolator was applied. Significant differences in the values of selected economic parameters were obtained; the largest in scenario 1. The average value of the IRR difference distribution (overestimation) was 6.4%; for NPV it was up to 213.7 million PLN and for EBITDA up to 678.6 million PLN in comparison to the reference scenario, or possibly even more. The results achieved are influenced by optimistic estimates of the thickness of coal partings, the amount of coal impurities and finally, lower costs of waste rock handling and coal production, despite the unfavorable values of the coal-quality parameters. The total cost of waste rock management underground and coal processing should be of special interest in the assessment process. These observations led to the general conclusion that interpretation of the geological information at the early stages of the exploration based only on surface boreholes, can lead to overestimating the potential value of the coal reserves and hence to significant errors. It is worth mentioning that the aspects of geological appraisals presented above are commented upon in the professional literature, but elaborations regarding the influence of geological information in the resource economic evaluation are very limited. To strengthen the results achieved, there is a need to continue the research and verify the results obtained on other examples of coal mines.