Turning a problem into a source of profit
Czech company OKD, which mines coal at more than 1,000 m depth, for the improvement of safety-in-mining and coal output enhancement, in 1960 launched a coal bed methane drainage program. Gas drainage systems are incorporated by DPB division, which is responsible for preliminary methane drainage of coalfields and the use of captured coal-bed methane for heat and electricity generation at Green Gas DPB power plants specially constructed for the purpose. The structure of the company business is described. Already implemented and future coal-bed methane utilization projects in the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Kazakhstan are discussed.