Mining Publication: Methane Emission from U.S. Coal Mines in 1975, A Survey : A Supplement to Information Circulars 8558 and 8659

This Bureau of Mines report tabulates methane emissions from U.S. Bituminous coal mines with daily emission rates of at least 100,000 cfd according to states, counties, and coalbeds. Most of the methane emitted is from mines in the Appalachian States. Total daily emission in 1975 was 216.3 MMCFD, compared with 227.0 MMCFD in 1971 and 214.5 MMCFD in 1973. Thirty counties in nine states had daily methane emissions of 1 MMCFD or more. These emitted 93 percent of the total methane. The highest emissions were from Monongalia County, West Virginia, which accounted for 18.9 percent of the total. This was followed by Marion County, West Virginia, 9.6 percent; Buchanan County, Virginia, 8.5 percent; Jefferson County, Alabama, 6.1 percent; and Washington County, Pennsylvania, 5.9 percent. The Pittsburgh coalbed emitted 45.7 percent of the total methane, followed by the Pocahontas No. 3 Coalbed with 12.9 percent. The report lists 196 mines, of which 60 had daily methane emissions of 1 MMCFD or more. Included in this compilation are the identification and thickness of the coalbed, methane emission, coal production and ventilation rates, number of drifts, shafts, and slopes used for ventilation purposes, shaft depth, age of mine, and gas-to-coal ratio.