STATE AND DIRECTIONS OF

DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTION AND

USE OF MINE GAS-METHANE

IGOR YASHCHENKO

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND COAL INDUSTRY OF UKRAINE

2014

0

50

100

2011 2012 2013

Coal production in Ukraine, mtProduction from private mines, mtProduction from state-owned mines, mt

71,2%

28.8%

68%

32%

71%

29%

81,9 mt 85,7 mt 83,7mt

56 mt 61 mt 59,6 mt

25,9 mt 24,7 mt 24,1 mt

By 2014 on mines of Ukraine it is noted stable (<80 million T.)

level of coal production. In 2013 it made over 83,7 million T.

Production from the mines which are not owned by the state is

increasing and now accounts for 71,2 % in total coal production

balance, while that from state-owned mines – for 28,8%

56,4

38,9

17,5

53,4

38

15,4

0

40

80

9 month 2013 9 month 2014

Mines total, mt Private mines, mt State mines, mt

-0,9 mt

- 3 mt

- 2,1 mt

Dynamics of coal mining in Ukraine for 9 months 2013 – 2014

68,162,6

44,9

17,7

32,5

26,7

12 14,7

0

45

1 середньодобовий видобуток у

3 кварталі, тис.т.

Total mines in Ukraine Located on Donbass

In zone of anti-terrorist operation Beyond of zone of АТО

thousand tons per day

92

- 52,3%

- 57,3%

- 73,3%

- 16,9%

80

53

27

92 80

53 27

Work of the state coal-mining enterprises

during anti-terrorist operation in 2014

average production, thousand tons

first half of 2014 the third quarter of 2014

Total:

12 trillion m3

150 billion m3

– reserves at operating mines

1.1 trillion m3 –

potential for the extraction

including:

including:

Geological reserves of gas methane in Ukraine exceed

12 trillion m3, 1.1 trillion m3 of which are recoverable

ones, including 150 billion m3 in operating mines

0

90

180

Number of methane-free mines

143

10

Number of mines

in methane-reach coal seams

133

103

30

Extra-category and with potential

for spontaneous outbursts of

coal and gas

Absolute methane-bearing

capacity > 12 m3/min

First, second, third methane-based

categories, absolute methane-

bearing capacity from 0.5 to 12

m3/min

Coal in Ukraine is produced by 143 large mines, 133 of which (93%)

have methane-rich coal seams (30 mines have absolute methane

emissions between 0.5 and 12 m3/min, and 103 mines – over 12 m3/min

and potential for spontaneous outbursts. These mines in 2013

produced over 60 million tones of coal, or 70% of total production).

Total number of mines

1386

1026

360

1408

1038

370

1410

1040

370

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2011 2012 2013

total amount of gas-methane, million m3 emissions with ventilation air, million m3

capture by degasification systems, million m3

Volume of methane emissions from mines is about 1400 million m3/year. Coal production process is accompanied by natural methane gas emissions into mine ventilation system

in approximate amount of 1000 million m3/year. Degasification recovers 370 million m3/year, or about 25% of

total methane emissions

0

35

70

2010

- Total number of mines with degasification

- State-owned mines - Private mines

41 42

25

16

26

16

41

23

18

37

15 20

2011 2012 2013

Currently degasification is performed at 37 mines that account for 41% of total coal production in Ukraine, including 20 mines not

owned by the state, with annual production of 28.6 million tones, and 17 state mines with annual production of 10 million tones.

On 10 mines degasification is applied periodically, depending on rate of coal mining.

355

143

360

150

370

160

370

125

-40

10

60

110

160

210

260

310

360

410

2010 2011 2012 2013

Каптування дегазаційними системами, млн. куб. м утілізовано, млн. куб. м

+ 5 млн. м3 + 10 млн. м3

+ 7 млн. м3 + 10 млн. м3

± 0 млн. м3

- 35 млн. м3

With 370 million m3 of gas - methane, capture degasification

systems, annually utilize about 125-160 million m3 - 40-50%. In

2013 - 125 million m3 (reduction due to the termination of use of

torch installations )

mine boiler plants gas generators flaring units heating of mineshafts

car fuel

2012 2013

14

4

6

2 1

14

4

0

2 1

Captured methane gas is utilized in the following way:

for mine boiler plants – 14 mines, for gas generators – 4 mines,

flared – 0 mines, for heating of mine shaft – 2 mines,

as a car fuel – 1 mine

8

0

300

2013 Prospect

capture by degasification systems, million m3 recovered, million m3

370

125

450

250

+ 125 million м3 increase by 2 times

+ 80 million м3 increase by 1,2 times

Prospects of increase in objects of degasification and the subsequent

utilization of gas - methane on mines of Ukraine are possible at the

expense of increase in number of mines, sites where is degasification,

reconstruction of underground vent networks, by increase of efficiency

of degasification, application of degasification from a surface, utilization

of methane for the purpose of obtaining electric energy, heat, etc.

1. Introduction of the approved technologies of preliminary degasification

of coal fields, due to drilling of wells from a surface with hydraulic

fracturing application.

2. Conducting researches on preliminary degasification, taking into account

collection properties of the breeds containing coal layer. Permeability of

sandstones makes <0,1 mD (millidarcy), porosity of sandstones on

average 5 ÷ 6%.

3. Increase of production level in clearing faces >1000 t/days and rates of

advancing of a face for the purpose of growth of intensity of methane

release.

4. The application of advanced technologies and equipment for

underground degasification allowing drill vent wells extent more 100m

and with a diameter more than 100 mm.

5. Reconstruction of mine vent networks increase in diameter of the

pipeline with 250 ÷ 350 mm to 400 ÷ 600 mm.

6. Use of the equipment of degasification control with support of its

parameters first of all (concentration>25%) and productivities.

7. Improvement legislative and normative documents on stimulation of

investments and the preferential taxation.

Main directions of increase of degasification level

and methane utilization

Decrease in level of accident rate and increase of safety of miners

work;

Increase of use level of alternative types of fuel;

Creation of prerequisites for increase in volumes of coal mining;

The possibility of receiving by mines is cheaper than electric and

thermal energy;

Receiving additional financial resources by results of joint activity

of mines (enterprises) with the investor in the sphere of

degasification and utilization of mine methane;

Essential reduction of greenhouse gases emissions;

Creation of additional workplaces.

EXPECTED RESULTS

from implementation of methane degasification

and utilization projects in Ukraine:

Thank you for your attention!