Feasibility Study of Methane Drainage in Tabas Coal Mine for Power Generation

Methane is one of the gases emitted from coal seams, which is released into atmosphere through ventilation operation. The emission of this gas causes environmental problems and losing of energy resources. According to previous studies, several billion cubic meters of methane annually are emitted from coal mines in the world. Currently, methane drainage operation is done in many coal mines in the world and the drainages methane was collected by special methods and transported by pipelines to the surface. This gas was used for power generation, sales, town gas and industrial use. Tabas mechanized coal mine extract by longwall mining. In this mine coal seam gas content was varied from 10 ton per cubic meters in depth of 100 m to 20 ton per cubic meters in depth of 600 m. This condition caused that methane drainage operation is done in this mine. The aim of this paper is feasibility study of methane drainage in Tabas coal mine for power generation. Therefore, by considering the investment and operating costs as well as the income from the sale of gas to the power plant, the results has been shown that methane drainage for power generation is economic. However, methane drainage operation in Tabas coal mine, in addition to its energy efficiency and methane production as a fuel, reduce greenhouse gas emission and outburst potential in this mine.