<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Geochemical and isotopic monitoring of coalbed gases at the excavation fields of mining areas in Velenje Coal Basin, Slovenia, has been ongoing since the year 2000 with the aim of obtaining better insights into the distribution and origin of coalbed gases. Results from the mining areas Pesje and Preloge (active excavation fields) are presented here from the year 2000 up to the present. Composition and origin of coalbed gases were determined using mass spectrometry at the Jožef Stefan Institute. From a larger database of geochemical samples, 119 samples were used for analysis and spatial presentation in a geographical information system (GIS) environment. We have used geochemical (CH4, CO2 and N2) and isotopic (<italic>δ</italic>13CCO2 and <italic>δ</italic>13CCH4) tracers for geochemical and isotopic characterisation of coalbed gases from the active excavation fields. Concentrations of CO2 and the carbon dioxide–methane indices in the southern part of the basin are higher than in the northern part of the basin due to the vicinity of the active Šoštanj Fault. The value of <italic>δ</italic>13CCH4 at the active excavation field indicates a bacterial origin, with values greater than –50‰, and only some boreholes show elevated <italic>δ</italic>13CCH4 quantities as a consequence of the CO2 reduction process in Velenje Coal Basin. The value of <italic>δ</italic>13CCO2 indicates the bacterial and endogenic origin of carbon.</abstract>

Geochemical and isotopic monitoring of coalbed gases at the excavation fields of mining areas in Velenje Coal Basin, Slovenia, has been ongoing since the year 2000 with the aim of obtaining better insights into the distribution and origin of coalbed gases. Results from the mining areas Pesje and Preloge (active excavation fields) are presented here from the year 2000 up to the present. Composition and origin of coalbed gases were determined using mass spectrometry at the Jožef Stefan Institute. From a larger database of geochemical samples, 119 samples were used for analysis and spatial presentation in a geographical information system (GIS) environment. We have used geochemical (CH4, CO2 and N2) and isotopic (δ13CCO2 and δ13CCH4) tracers for geochemical and isotopic characterisation of coalbed gases from the active excavation fields. Concentrations of CO2 and the carbon dioxide–methane indices in the southern part of the basin are higher than in the northern part of the basin due to the vicinity of the active Šoštanj Fault. The value of δ13CCH4 at the active excavation field indicates a bacterial origin, with values greater than –50‰, and only some boreholes show elevated δ13CCH4 quantities as a consequence of the CO2 reduction process in Velenje Coal Basin. The value of δ13CCO2 indicates the bacterial and endogenic origin of carbon.

Spatial distribution and origin of coalbed gases at the working faces of the Velenje Coal Basin, Slovenia, since the year 2000

Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI - 1000 Ljubljana,

Velenje Coal Mine, Partizanska cesta 78, 3320 Velenje,

Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Privoz 11, 1000 Ljubljana,

Materials and Geoenvironment

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Geochemical and isotopic monitoring of coalbed gases at the excavation fields of mining areas in Velenje Coal Basin, Slovenia, has been ongoing since the year...

Spatial distribution and origin of coalbed gases at the working faces of the Velenje Coal Basin, Slovenia, since the year 2000

Published Online: Feb 18, 2017

Page range: 213 - 226

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/rmzmag-2016-0019

Keywords
distribution of coalbed gases, gas origin, JamTveg GIS, excavation fields, Velenje Coal Basin

© 2016 Tjaša Kanduč et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Spatial distribution and origin of coalbed gases at the working faces of the Velenje Coal Basin, Slovenia, since the year 2000

Published Online: Feb 18, 2017

Page range: 213 - 226

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/rmzmag-2016-0019

Keywordsdistribution of coalbed gases, gas origin, JamTveg GIS, excavation fields, Velenje Coal Basin

© 2016 Tjaša Kanduč et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
distribution of coalbed gases, gas origin, JamTveg GIS, excavation fields, Velenje Coal Basin