ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

The Conversion of Methane from Coal Mines to Chemicals

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation » Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Published: June 05Project Number: C11026

Get ReportAuthor: David Trimm, AJ Smith | UNSW

This report was commissioned to assess the potential for targeted R&D programs to lead to opportunities for commercial use of coal mine methane as a feed gas for chemicals production.  It broadly concludes that such opportunities are limited at best.

Synthesis routes from natural gas are reviewed and considered in the light of probable yields of methane from coal seam locations.  Aside from combustion, methane processing in general is limited to synthesis gas (syngas) or pyrolysis routes.  Potential products from these include synthetic fuels (synfuels), methanol/dimethyl ether, acetylene/unsaturates and ammonia/ammonium nitrate.

Coal seam methane presents additional limitations in terms of supply volumes, location and continuity of supply.  The average mine production of coal seam methane is of the order of 70,000 m3/day.  The value of any chemical products synthesized must exceed on site use of the methane (possibly as electricity) or sale to the grid (as gas or electricity) for mines located in such positions, as well as justify the capital cost of the plant.  For remote mines, the end use of the product on site will also need consideration.

Methanol and dimethyl ether can be manufactured from syngas, but require large plants for economy of scale.  Research is continuing into the synthesis of these chemicals, however it is unlikely to affect the economics to any large extent.

Ammonium nitrate appears more favourable economically, however the demand for this explosive needs to be considered.  Ammonium nitrate manufacture is a mature process and unlikely to benefit from further research.

Methane pyrolysis to synfuels and chemicals offers the advantage of a smaller plant size and research opportunities exist for improving the catalytic processes involved.  Capital costs for the plant, although more favourable compared to other routes, remain high due to the low volumes of methane available as feed gas.

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Recently Completed Projects

C33035High Water Recovery, Low Cost Desalination Using PV-Powered Membrane Capacitive Deionisation (Mcdi)

Capacitive deionization is a robust, energy efficient and cost effec...

C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC