Mine gas in the UK: risks to development

In the UK, parts of all the major coalfields have in the past been affected at some time by surface emissions of mine gas. The issue came to the fore after mine gas was found to be seeping into recently built houses in Gorebridge, Scotland and a decision was made to demolish them in 2017. Incidents caused by mine gas emissions are rare but nonetheless there are important lessons to be learned from the Gorebridge situation.

A study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in 2019 found that not all colliery closures necessarily lead to gas emission. During the 1990s an average of about 3 new incidents per year were reported, of which more than 60% were attributed to leakages of gas through old, abandoned mine entries. While methane ignitions have occurred in residential buildings, there have been no fatalities. In contrast, blackdamp (carbon dioxide and nitrogen or oxygen-deficient air) emissions have led to a number of deaths.

The Scottish government researched incidents related to carbon dioxide emissions from old mines. The data summarised in Figures 1 and 2 shows that where the source or pathway for the gas was stated it was either related to shafts – or other entries – or shallow coal workings. None of the incidents was caused by carbon dioxide emissions from old deep mines through the ground above.

There is clearly a risk associated with mine gas emissions in certain situations, but not all areas of a former coalfield are a risk. The key factors that indicate an elevated risk of mine gas emissions are the presence of former mine entries, faulting and/or shallow mine workings below a site. An understanding of how coal mining methods have developed over time is vital when assessing the potential risk of mine gas emissions.

Shafts: were used to reach deeper coal horizons from about the middle of the 16th century. These early shafts were still relatively shallow and were not recorded. At first single shafts were used but later two or more shafts were constructed for ventilation. By the end of the eighteenth century some shafts had been constructed up to 250m deep with a diameter of 4m. Some modern shafts extend to depths of 1,000m.

Room and pillar workings: originally developed to allow extension of bell pits, they rarely extend more than 40m from a shaft. The excavations to remove coal were supported by pillars of unmined coal. Over time the distance from the bell pit or shaft and the depth increased. The layout was arbitrary at first but became more systematic, with later workings having distinct rectilinear patterns. Pillar robbing – removing the coal – at the end of mining operations was common but this method is not common in more recent deep coal mines.

Longwall mining: was the process used for most deep mining in the UK. This involves a coal face – the longwall – that is up to 300m long and accessed by roadways perpendicular to it. The coal face area is supported temporarily and as the works advance the roof behind is allowed to collapse to leave an area of waste.

Surface or opencast mining: involves extracting coal by stripping off the covering soils to expose the seams in effective quarrying for coal.

Figure 3 shows the various mining methods used in the UK.

Rising groundwater can cause increased mine gas emissions but in many parts of UK coalfields groundwater levels are recovered and/or are maintained at stable levels. Mine gas emissions that affect developments do not occur from permanently flooded deep workings, because the water constrains or prevents the processes that cause gas to be present in mine workings. The water also reduces or prevents gas migration out of the ground. Emissions through the ground from any deep workings will not be an issue if the overlying rock is greater than 150m deep unless faults are present, which can provide a pathway for gas to escape to the surface more easily.

To develop a conceptual model for mine gas risk you should do thorough desk research to collect information about a site followed by interpretation of the data. The first place to look for information about mine gas risk is the Coal Authority online interactive viewer. The information on the British Geological Survey geological maps and online borehole scans shows known mine entries, areas of seam outcrops and the likelihood that shallow workings are present. In the Durham and Northumberland fields it also includes data on groundwater recovery.

The conceptual model should be a geological cross-section that considers the source of gas and the likely pathway to the surface to reach a receptor. The model should be site-specific and not include generic statements such as ‘groundwater rises can push gas out of the ground’ unless they relate to that particular site. Mine entries and shallow unflooded workings overlain by fractured sandstone pose the greatest risk because large volumes of gas can be emitted in response to drops in atmospheric pressure. Deeper flooded workings with no nearby entries pose minimal risk. Figure 4 shows an example of a conceptual model that shows minimal risk of mine gas emissions. Of particular note on this site is the presence of the upper coal measures that did not contain workable coal seams in this area – referred to as barren – and thus there are no shallow workings.

Clients must be confident that anyone advising on mine gas risk possesses the right knowledge and skills and holds the relevant professional qualifications. Professional registration demonstrates that risk assessors have met the standard that gives the public, employers and their clients that confidence. One such scheme is the Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) accreditation scheme for risk assessors (including ground gas, some of whom will have appropriate experience in mine gas risk assessment).

Mine gas can pose a significant risk to developments in certain circumstances. However, not all areas of coal fields will be affected. The main risk factors are proximity to mine entries and shallow unflooded workings with limited or no barrier, such as a clay layer above to prevent gas migration to the surface. A robust conceptual model allows interpretation of gas monitoring data. Gas concentrations in monitoring wells alone – especially depleted oxygen – should not be used as a risk indicator for mine gas.