Production of gas from coal seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland in the post-injection period of an ECBM pilot site

AbstractIn the Czechoslovak part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Ostrava-Karvina Coal Basin), only part of the Upper Carboniferous (Namurian A, B, C and Westphalian A) is well developed, and tonsteins, which are clayey rocks or claystones, occur as thin, clayey interlayers in the coal seams. Two types of primary volcanic mineral assemblages were identified in four tonstein samples from different coal seams; the first type is characterized by the presence of biotite and sanidine, and the second by the presence of biotite, bytownite and Ca-amphibole. All tonsteins studied contained kaolinite minerals, volcanic quartz grains, crystals of zircon and apatite. Separated biotite flakes with an admixture of kaolinite layers were identified as 1M polytype. The flakes without kaolinite minerals were identified as epitactic overgrowth of 1M and complex polytypes, and twinned crystals of 2M1 polytype. Kaolinization of biotite flakes was observed in all tonstein samples studied. Kaolinite single layers (7 Å) as well as two-layer polytype of kaolinite minerals (14 Å) sandwiched between biotite layers (10 Å) were identified by HRTEM imaging.

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Methane emissions against the background of natural and mining conditions in the Budryk and Pniówek mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland)

Environmental Earth Sciences ◽

10.1007/s12665-021-10063-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (22) ◽

Author(s):

Marcin Dreger ◽

Sławomir Kędzior

Keyword(s):

Methane Emissions ◽

Geological Structure ◽

Methane Content ◽

Coal Extraction ◽

Hard Coal ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Related Factors ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

Mining Conditions

AbstractThe paper presents the variability of hard coal output, methane content and methane emissions into coal workings and into the atmosphere from the two most methane-gassy coal mines in Poland. The Budryk mine is one of the youngest mines in Poland, but it is the most methane-gassy as well. In 2016, the total CH4 emissions exceed 140 million of m3. This large increase in methane emissions to mine workings is primarily related to the increase in the depth of coal extraction (up to 1290 m) and, consequently, the rapid increase in the methane content in coal seams (up to 10–12 m3/Mg coaldaf). On the other hand, in the Pniówek mine, methane emission was the highest at the beginning of the study period (1986–1991). During the following years, emission decreased to the values of less than 140 million of m3, which were still one of the largest amounts of emitted methane in the entire Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The coexistence of natural factors, such as the geological structure and gas distribution, as well as mining-related factors, i.e. the depth of mining, the intensity of coal extraction determines the temporal variability of methane emissions in the studied mines.

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Variability of Mercury Content in Coal Matter From Coal Seams of The Upper Silesia Coal Basin

Archives of Mining Sciences ◽

10.1515/amsc-2017-0058 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 843-856 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Krzysztof Wierzchowski ◽

Jarosław Chećko ◽

Ireneusz Pyka

Keyword(s):

Mercury Content ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

Lithostratigraphic Units ◽

Method Of Assessment ◽

Deposition Depth ◽

Precise Assessment

Abstract The process of identifying and documenting the quality parameters of coal, as well as the conditions of coal deposition in the seam, is multi-stage and extremely expensive. The taking and analyzing of seam samples is the method of assessment of the quality and quantity parameters of coals in deep mines. Depending on the method of sampling, it offers quite precise assessment of the quality parameters of potential commercial coals. The main kind of seam samples under consideration are so-called “documentary seam samples”, which exclude dirt bands and other seam contaminants. Mercury content in coal matter from the currently accessible and exploited coal seams of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) was assessed. It was noted that the mercury content in coal seams decreases with the age of the seam and, to a lesser extent, seam deposition depth. Maps of the variation of mercury content in selected lithostratigraphic units (layers) of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin have been created.

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Resource Assessment and Numerical Modeling of CBM Extraction in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13092153 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 2153 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jarosław Chećko ◽

Tomasz Urych ◽

Małgorzata Magdziarczyk ◽

Adam Smoliński

Keyword(s):

Numerical Modeling ◽

Rock Mass ◽

Methane Production ◽

3D Model ◽

Resource Assessment ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

Reservoir Simulator

The paper presents the assessment of the resources of methane considered as the main mineral in the most prospective selected areas of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland in the region of undeveloped deposits. The methane resources were estimated by means of a volumetric method at three depth levels, 1000, 1250, and 1500 m. A part of the Studzienice deposit comprising three coal seams, 333, 336, and 337, located in a methane zone was chosen for the numerical modeling of simulated methane production. The presented static 3D model has been developed using Petrel Schlumberger software. The total resources of methane in the area amount to approximately 446.5 million of Nm3. Numerical simulations of methane production from the selected coal seams with hydraulic fracturing were conducted by means of Schlumberger ECLIPSE reservoir simulator. Based on the simulations, it was concluded that, in the first six months of the simulations, water is produced from the seams, which is connected with the decrease in the rock mass pressure. The process prompts methane desorption from the coal matrix, which in turn results in a total methane production of 76.2 million of Nm3 within the five-year period of the simulations, which constitutes about 17% of total methane resources (GIP). The paper also presents a detailed analysis of Polish legislation concerning the activities aimed at prospecting, exploring, and extracting the deposits of hydrocarbons.

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SPECIFIC TYPES OF COAL MACERALS FROM ORZESZE AND RUDA BEDS FROM ”PNIÓWEK” COAL MINE (UPPER SILESIAN COAL BASIN – POLAND) AS A MANIFESTATION OF THERMAL METAMORPHISM

Archives of Mining Sciences ◽

10.2478/amsc-2014-0006 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 77-91

Author(s):

Zdzisław Adamczyk ◽

Joanna Komorek ◽

Małgorzata Lewandowska

Keyword(s):

Coal Mine ◽

Pyrolytic Carbon ◽

Sampling Point ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Thermal Alteration ◽

Optical Character ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

Influence Of Temperature On ◽

Coal Macerals

Abstract Subject of the research were coal samples from the seams of Orzesze and Ruda beds from “Pniówek” coal mine. All samples represent methabituminous coal B, which present high vitrinite content (V mmf > 60%). Optical character of vitrinite from all analyzed coal samples is biaxial negative and it is characterized by low differentiation of bireflectance. The experiments have shown that the coal rank of investigated samples is generally decreasing with increasing both depth of coal seams and the distance between sampling point and the Carboniferous roof. It may suggests inversion of coalification. Specific types of macerals, typical for thermally metamorphosed coals have been found for all analysed coal samples. It was found, presence of such components like: fluorescing bituminous substance (FBS) filling of cellular spaces in semifusinite, fusinite, and funginite; pseudomorphs after megaspores exhibiting strong bireflectance, and anisotropic semifusinite. Petrographic components with a structure similar to structure of coke and pyrolytic carbon were observed rarely. Presence of colotelinite grains which are visible darker, impregnated with bituminous substance and exhibiting weak fluorescence may be related with influence of temperature on coal. Carbonates occur as filling of cellular spaces in semifusinite, in examined coal samples and there are the effect of thermal alteration of coal.

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Chemometric Study of Trace Elements in Hard Coals of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2014/234204 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Adam Smoliński ◽

Przemysław Rompalski ◽

Krzysztof Cybulski ◽

Jarosław Chećko ◽

Natalia Howaniec

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Average Concentration ◽

Chemical Parameters ◽

Coal Processing ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Potential Threat ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

Geological Conditions ◽

Physical And Chemical

The objective of the study was the analysis of trace elements contents in coals of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB), which may pose a potential threat to the environment when emitted from coal processing systems. Productive carbon overburden in central and southern zones of the USCB is composed mostly of insulating tertiary formations of a thickness from a few m to 1,100 m, and is represented by Miocene and Pliocene formations. In the data study the geological conditions of the coal seams of particular zones of the USCB were taken into account and the hierarchical clustering analysis was applied, which enabled the exploration of the dissimilarities between coal samples of various zones of the USCB in terms of basic physical and chemical parameters and trace elements contents. Coals of the northern and eastern zones of the USCB are characterized by high average Hg and low average Ba, Cr, and Ni contents, whereas coals of southern and western zones are unique due to high average concentrations of Ba, Co, Cu, Ni, and V. Coals of the central part of the USCB are characterized by the highest average concentration of Mn and the lowest average concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, V, and Zn.

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Emission and commercial utilization of coal mine methane in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin illustrated by the example of Katowice Coal Holding Company

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies ◽

10.1515/environ-2015-0051 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sławomir Kędzior

Keyword(s):

Methane Emission ◽

Mining Industry ◽

Mining Activity ◽

Coal Extraction ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Coal Mine Methane ◽

Holding Company ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

The Absolute

Abstract The article deals with the issue of the release of methane from coal seams and its emission to the atmosphere from the mines of Katowice Coal Holding Company in the years of 1997-2011. This period is characterized by organizational changes in Polish mining industry involving liquidation or a merger of mines, an increase in both the concentration of coal mining activity, and the depth of the exploitation at which the amount of methane in coal seams grows ever larger. The analysis of the variation in the methane emission from the coal mines in that period points out a decline in the intensity of the emission until 2005, probably owing to the liquidation of some mines, later, but in the years of 2006-2010 - a considerable increase in both the absolute methane emission of the mines and the methane emission to the atmosphere despite a dropping coal extraction. This signifies that mining activity takes place in increasingly difficult gas conditions prevailing at great depths. Despite a slight decrease in both the absolute methane emission and methane emission to the atmosphere in 2011, a continuously growing trend of this phenomenon should be expected in the future. A similar tendency is also visible in the whole Upper Silesian Coal Basin, however the methane emission peak falls in 2008. In order to curb the growth of the amount of the emitted methane, it should be commercially utilized. Particularly vital is considering methane as an unconventional resource, following the example of other countries.

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Methane emissions and demethanation of coal mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin between 1997 and 2016

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies ◽

10.2478/environ-2019-0002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 12-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marcin Dreger ◽

Sławomir Kędzior

Keyword(s):

Methane Emission ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Coal Extraction ◽

Hard Coal ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

Near Future ◽

Research Period ◽

Modern Technologies

Abstract Between 1997 and 2016 we observed important changes in hard coal extraction and methane emission in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Hard coal extraction in the near future will be very dangerous because it will be necessary to reach deeper methane-rich coal seams. Permanent monitoring of the volume of emitted and captured methane is necessary to combat the methane hazard. The predictability of gaseous hazards are important in order to keep underground work safe. We gathered and analysed data from three coal companies: Katowice Coal Holding, the Coal Company, Jastrzębie Coal Company and in the whole of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin for the last twenty years and this allowed us to notice changes and CH4 trends in ventilation emission and demethanation. There is a decrease in the extraction of hard coal from year to year. At the same time there is an increase in the total methane emissions which forces actions aimed to effective contracting the methane hazard. Specifically, methane emission has been increasing for years, making hard coal extraction very dangerous. We observed increases in CH4 vent emission and volume of methane coming from underground drainage systems. Much more methane is released during hard coal extraction at deeper mine levels. Throughout the entire research period the methane hazard increased. Therefore, the development of modern technologies for methane capturing should contribute to improvement of hazardous conditions for coal mining in the basin.

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The Seismic Source Parameters of Tremors Provoked by Long-Hole Destress Blasting Executed During the Longwall Mining of a Coal Seam Under Variable Stress Conditions

Pure and Applied Geophysics ◽

10.1007/s00024-020-02603-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 177 (12) ◽

pp. 5723-5739

Author(s):

Łukasz Wojtecki ◽

Maciej J. Mendecki ◽

Iwona Gołda ◽

Wacław M. Zuberek

Keyword(s):

Longwall Mining ◽

Source Parameters ◽

Seismic Source ◽

Hard Coal ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Rockburst Hazard ◽

Seismic Source Parameters ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

Destress Blasting

AbstractThe underground mining of coal seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin is carried out at great depths and mostly in the presence of remnants or edges of other surrounding coal seams, i.e. under the condition of high stress level in the rock mass. Therefore, this mining is accompanied by rockburst hazard and suitable preventive action is required. Long-hole destress blasting plays an important role and is commonly applied in rockburst prevention in underground hard coal mines. Estimated blasting effectiveness is important when designing rockburst prevention. It is commonly estimated on the basis of the seismic energy of a provoked tremor. The seismic source parameters have already been considered for this purpose. Additional information about the effects of long-hole destress blasting could be contemplated in the planning of active rockburst prevention. The seismic source parameters of tremors provoked by long-hole destress blasting have been calculated and are presented in this article. Destress blasts were performed during the longwall mining of coal seam no. 506 in one of the hard coal mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. They were executed from the longwall face, in order to destress the rock mass ahead of it. Parameters of the blasts were variable and they were modified according to geological and mining conditions and the observed level of rockburst hazard. The seismic source parameters have been determined for tremors provoked directly after firing explosives and for tremors occurring in the waiting time, and they have been compared with each other.

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Rare Earth Elements of Orzeskie Beds of South-West Part Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland) / Pierwiastki Ziem Rzadkich Z Pokładów Węgla Warstw Orzeskich Południowo-Zachodniej Części Gzw (Polska)

Archives of Mining Sciences ◽

10.1515/amsc-2015-0011 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 157-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zdzisław Adamczyk ◽

Barbara Białecka ◽

Joanna Całusz Moszko ◽

Joanna Komorek ◽

Małgorzata Lewandowska

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Coal Seams ◽

Coal Basin ◽

Petrographic Composition ◽

Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽

West Part ◽

Mineral Substance ◽

The Subject ◽

The Eu

Abstract The subject of the research concerned the coal samples from 360/1, 361 and 362/1 seams of the Orzesze beds in the “Pniówek” coal mine. The obtained samples were characterized by low ash content - 2.22- 6.27% of the mass. The chemical composition of the ash indicates the presence of aluminosilicate minerals in the analyzed coal samples - most likely clay minerals, the presence of which has been confirmed in microscopic tests of the petrographic composition of channel samples of coal. The content of rare earth elements (REE sum) in the ash of the tested coal seams ranged from 364 to 1429 ppm. Variation of the REE content has been observed within a single seam. The fraction of REE indicates a relation with a mineral substance. No relation of the REE fraction and the presence of red beds has been found based on the tested samples. The content of REE found in ash, normalized to chondrites, is characterized by LREE enrichment in relation to HREE. The Eu anomaly is most likely related to tuff and tonstein levels occurring in Orzesze beds, which accompany the coal seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (i.a., south of the studied area). The research has indicated that LREE in the tested samples are more related to the mineral substance, while HREE have a stronger affinity with organic substances.

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