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COAL

COAL. Uses, History and Environmental Issues in Alabama. History. 1815 1 st discovery of Coal in Alabama after the Battle of New Orleans Used “stones” to build fire, cook supper. 1856 1 st systematic underground mining occurred in Cahaba field near Montevallo

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COAL

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  1. COAL Uses, History and Environmental Issues in Alabama

  2. History • 1815 1st discovery of Coal in Alabama after the Battle of New Orleans • Used “stones” to build fire, cook supper. • 1856 1st systematic underground mining occurred in Cahaba field near Montevallo • Alabama Coal Mining Company (ACMC) 1st coal-mining enterprise

  3. Uses • Electrical Utilities - In an electric power plant, coal, like oil and natural gas, is burned to produce heat. • Industrial and Retail Users - chemical manufacturers, users of stone, clay and glass, paper mills, primary metal industries and the food industry.  Industry uses coal as a chemical feedstock to make dyes, insecticides, fertilizers, explosives, synthetic fibers, food preservatives, ammonia, synthetic rubber, fingernail polish, medicines, etc.

  4. Uses -Continued • Iron and Steel Industry – coal used to make coke • Exports to other countries • CoalbedMethane* - 1st Coal bed methane development occurred here in Alabama in the Black Warrior Basin. Coalbed methane is natural gas that is derived and produced from coal seams. The first coalbed methane well in Alabama was drilled in 1980.

  5. Mining and Extraction of Coal • Early miners used rudimentary tools like picks, shovels, saws and axes. • Removed coal in 4 step process: undercutting, drilling, blasting and loading. Coal removed by hand and loaded into carts carried by mules. This is known as Room and Pillar Method. • In 1930’s mechanical loaders invented. • Longwall Mining enabled mass extraction of coal. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDb9UnkQ9rk&feature=related

  6. Economic and Social Impacts • Boomtowns: Coal companies established towns to house the miners. • As markets increased, convicts were leased from state prisons to work. Fees based on physical condition and convict expected to work as deemed necessary. Death rates were high. • Labor Relations • Coal mining boomed as railroad lines to Birmingham steel and iron industry became available

  7. Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining • Mining releases carbon dioxide and methane into atmosphere. These are greenhouse gases. • Release of sulfur creates sulfuric acid and therefore acid rain • Interferes with groundwater and water table levels • Affects quality of water • Strip mining leaves subsoil infertile • Wildlife impact stems primarily from disturbing, removing, and redistributing the land surface • Loss of topsoil and erosion

  8. Alabama Statistics • Alabama ranks 14th in the United States for coal production, producing over 20 million short tons of coal each year. • About two-thirds of Alabama's coal is mined in deep underground mines, with the remainder coming from surface mines. • Our use of coal statewide has risen to more than 30 million short tons annually, primarily use coal to produce electricity. Coal is also used to make coke which is part of the steel-making process. • In Alabama, over 70% of all electricity generated is produced at coal-fueled steam plants. Annually the total value of coal produced in Alabama exceeds $1 billion.

  9. Coalbed Methane Extraction • CBM is an unconventional source of natural gas produced from gas residing in coal seams.  Often this gas is not pressurized, and is dissolved in the naturally occurring groundwater. CBM wells are typically shallow (less than 1000 meters total depth) and have a single string of surface casing cemented in place. • Typical CBM wells are drilled quickly.  Often a well can be drilled and completed in less than 48 hours

  10. Typical Drill Rig

  11. Drilling for CBM usually involves the type of modest size rig used to drill conventional water supply wells. • Some of the groundwater in and around the coal seam is pumped to the surface, where it is managed or discharged in accordance with an MPDES permit. • Quantities of produced water are often very large. • Lowering of the hydraulic head over the coal allows methane to come out of solution. The gas escapes up the well bore to the surface where it is processed and transported through pipelines to markets. - Montana Department of Environmental Quality

  12. Typical CBM well bore

  13. Benefits of CBM • 7% of domestic natural gas production • Environmentally responsible to collect methane from coal seams that would escape into atmosphere • Improves safety for coal miners to deplete coal of methane • “Clean gas” – very few other hydrocarbons present in CBM, reduces amount of needed machinery to clean these toxic gases before compressing into pipeline infrastructure.

  14. Alabama Coal Statistics

  15. Environmental Impacts of CBM • Utility Impact: Road Use, Buildings, Pipeline • Discharged Water* - governed by state DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) and State Engineer’s Office • Disruption of habitat* • Endangered or Threatened Species* • Other issues: Know your mineral rights!!

  16. Careers to Consider • Bureau of Land Management • Department of Environmental Quality • State Engineers Office • State Oil and Gas Commission • Oil and Gas Developer and Producer • Drill Rig Owner

  17. Buffalo, Wyoming at the foothills of The Bighorn National Park

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