Tools and Resources Library

The Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP) strives to provide stakeholders with the necessary tools and resources to maximize profitable methane reductions.

On this page you will find:

Resources by Project Phase
Resources by Coal Mine Methane (CMM) Source Type
International Resources
Additional Non-EPA Resources

Resources by Project Phase

Identify Opportunities

Map of U.S. Coal Mine Methane (CMM) Project Opportunities

Provides information about current projects and potential opportunities to develop CMM recovery and utilization projects at U.S. coal mines.

TOOLINTERACTIVE MAP
Coal Mine Methane Developments in the United States (July 2019)

Provides an overview of U.S. CMM emissions and projects, as well as federal policies and state incentives for CMM capture and utilization.

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Conducting Pre-Feasibility Studies for Coal Mine Methane Projects Training

Introduces principles for assessing potential projects to capture and use CMM.

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CMM Recovery and Use: Opportunities at Western U.S. Mines (July 2019)

Summarizes the opportunities for CMM recovery and use at coal mines in the western United States, including case studies.

REPORTPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Coal Mine Methane Mitigation and Utilization Technologies and Project Profiles (November 2011)

Details CMM mitigation and utilization technologies and project profiles, including company information and points of contact.

CASE STUDYPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Assess Methane and Revenue

Emerging Incentives for the Development of CMM Emission Reduction Projects (July 2019)

Summarizes how mines can benefit financially from avoided energy costs and/or from revenues generated from CMM recovery and use or destruction.

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Coal Mine Methane (CMM) Finance Guide (July 2019)

Summarizes challenges and solutions to financing CMM projects.

REPORTPDFCARBON CREDITSFINANCINGPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
State Renewable Energy Programs (July 2019)

Summarizes state renewable energy programs in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Indiana, and Colorado.

REPORTPDFEMISSIONS REDUCTION
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Programs that Include Coal Mine Methane (January 2021)

Summarizes greenhouse gas emissions trading programs and compares their key features as they pertain to CMM emissions reduction projects.

REPORTPDFEMISSIONS TRADINGREGISTRIESOFFSETS
Coal Mine Methane Cash Flow Model

Evaluates the potential financial viability of recovering and utilizing CMM at a specific site.

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Develop and Operate Projects

CMOP Program Event and Webinar Recordings

Provides content from past webinars, conferences, and other events, including recordings and slide presentations.

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Coal Mine Methane Recovery: A Primer (July 2019)

Reviews the main pre-mining and post-mining CMM drainage methods with associated costs, water disposal options, and in-mine and surface gas collection systems.

REPORTPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Coal Mine Methane: A Review of Capture and Utilization Practices with Benefits to Mining Safety and to Greenhouse Gas Reduction (March 2011)

Reviews the technical aspects of CMM capture, methods for capturing methane using boreholes, and benefits of capturing and controlling CMM for mine safety and emissions reductions.

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Coal Mine Methane Flaring: Technology and Case Studies (January 2021)

Presents information related to CMM flaring, including information on three projects in the United States, Mexico, and China.

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Flaring of Coal Mine Methane: Assessing Appropriate Opportunities Policy White Paper (November 2013)

Summarizes the approach of the Global Methane Initiative Coal Subcommittee towards CMM and abandoned mine methane (AMM) projects that involve mitigation-only of drained gas through flaring.

REPORTPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Resources by CMM Source Type

Active Underground Mines: Drained Gas

Identifying Opportunities for Methane Recovery at U.S. Coal Mines: Profiles of Selected Gassy Underground Coal Mines 2002–2016 (July 2019)

Provides information about specific opportunities to develop methane recovery and use projects at large, underground coal mines in the United States and profiles of the 35 gassiest coal mines.

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Coal Mine Methane Recovery at Active and Abandoned U.S. Coal Mines: Current Projects and Potential Opportunities (July 2019)

Identifies current and potential methane utilization project opportunities at U.S. coal mines.

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Case Study: Methane Recovery at Non-Coal Mines (September 2013)

Details two methane recovery project case studies in the United States and South Africa.

CASE STUDYPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Active Underground Mines: Ventilation Air Methane

Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) Utilization Technologies (July 2019)

Provides an overview of VAM technologies and resources and details VAM case studies.

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U.S. Underground Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane Exhaust Characterization (August 2017)

Identifies prospective mines and shafts based on publicly available shaft data to encourage VAM project development.

REPORTPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
A 2012 Update on the World VAM Oxidizer Technology Market (June 2012)

Discusses global VAM emissions, technology options, the state of the market, and factors that lead to successful VAM projects.

STUDYPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Ventilation Air Methane Measurement Methodologies (February 2011)

Summarizes the discussions and findings regarding measuring and characterizing ventilation air flows to assess the viability of potential VAM projects at underground coal mines.

REPORTPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Coal Mine Ventilation Air Emissions: Project Development Planning and Mitigation Technologies (August 2010)

Discusses global VAM emissions, VAM measurement requirements, recent shaft data for gassy U.S. mines, and technology options for the recovery and utilization of VAM.

STUDYPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Active Surface Mines

U.S. Surface Mines Emissions Assessment: Update (February 2015)

Outlines ways to improve the surface mine methane emissions estimation methodology through a review of current information and assumptions.

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Case Study: Methane Recovery at Surface Mines in the United States (March 2014)

Details a methane recovery case study at a U.S. surface mine.

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Abandoned Underground Mines

Identifying Opportunities for Methane Recovery at U.S. Coal Mines: Profiles of Selected Gassy Underground Coal Mines 2002–2016 (July 2019)

Provides information about specific opportunities to develop methane recovery and use projects at large, underground coal mines in the United States and profiles of the 35 gassiest coal mines.

REPORTPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Abandoned Coal Mine Methane Opportunities Database (July 2017)

Examines the magnitude of AMM emissions in the United States to assess the technical feasibility of AMM projects.

STUDYPDFPROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Methane Emissions from Abandoned Coal Mines in the U.S.: Emission Inventory Methodology and 1990–2002 Emissions Estimates (April 2004)

Outlines a methodology for determining methane emissions from abandoned underground coal mines and uses this methodology to quantify methane emissions from abandoned U.S. mines for years 1990 through 2002.

REPORTPDFEMISSIONS

International Resources

Coal Mine Methane International Activities

Additional Non-EPA Resources

Short-Term Energy Outlook
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
United States Coalbed Methane Maps
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Methane Control and Prediction (MCP) Software (July 2019)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Mine Data Retrieval System
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) | Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)