Eco-efficiency and life cycle assessment of the long reach directionally drilled and cross-measure boreholes methane drainage technologies employed in bituminous coal mine on the basis of the pilot scale experimental data

Bartłomiej Jura, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute, Department of Mining Aerology, Poland,
Piotr Krawczyk, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute, Department of Energy Saving and Air Protection, Poland
Anna Śliwińska, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute, Department of Energy Saving and Air Protection, Poland,
Jacek Skiba, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute, Department of Mining Aerology, Poland,
Marcin Karbownik, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute, Department of Mining Aerology, Poland,
Natalia Howaniec, Central Mining Institute– National Research Institute, Department of Energy Saving and Air Protection, PolandFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

Bartłomiej Jura: 0000-0002-4393-9152

Piotr Krawczyk: 0000-0003-3184-5383

Anna Śliwińska: 0000-0001-5413-6948

Jacek Skiba: 0000-0002-4232-683X

Marcin Karbownik: 0000-0001-5858-5345

Natalia Howaniec: 0000-0003-4625-8464

Abstract

This paper presents the results of eco-efficiency and life cycle analysis conducted for two methane drainage technologies: cross-measure (CM) and long reach directionally drilled (LRDD) boreholes. In the analyses, data from coal mine methane drainage of two coal panels, I-C and II-C, located at the Staszic-Wujek coal mine in Poland, were used. The results of the life cycle and eco-efficiency assessments showed that employment of long reach directional drilling boreholes method has a lower environmental impact and is more eco-efficient, causing the lower environmental impact and lower construction and operating costs per cubic meter of methane extracted. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicated that the quantity of methane extracted has the greatest impact on the eco-efficiency index. For LRDD technology, the quantities of methane captured are significantly higher than for CM technology. The advantage of LRDD technology results mainly from the possibility of further extraction of methane from the exploited coal panel after coal extraction is completed. This is not possible with CM technology, in case of which the boreholes are being destroyed during coal extraction. CM technology also requires drilling a much larger number of boreholes and of a higher total length than needed in LRDD technology.

Recommended Citation

Jura, Bartłomiej; Krawczyk, Piotr; Śliwińska, Anna; Skiba, Jacek; Karbownik, Marcin; and Howaniec, Natalia (2025) "Eco-efficiency and life cycle assessment of the long reach directionally drilled and cross-measure boreholes methane drainage technologies employed in bituminous coal mine on the basis of the pilot scale experimental data," Journal of Sustainable Mining: Vol. 24 : Iss. 2 , Article 1.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46873/2300-3960.1449