OR/15/055 Summary and acknowledgements

Summary

This report describes the Coal for New Technologies GIS dataset, which is a suite of data layers derived from a study conducted in 2004 by the British Geological Survey (BGS), with the assistance of Wardell Armstrong and Imperial College, London.

The principle aim of the original study was to develop a methodology to assess the potential of the UK onshore coal resources for both exploitation by conventional (mining) and new technologies. Digital data was created using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to reproduce the delivered output of the original project, a series of paper maps that would identify prospective areas.

The Coal for New Technologies digital data has been derived from the paper maps produced for the original 2004 study. This reflected our understanding of the subject matter at the time and no updates on resource potential have been carried out since. The data set has been published in its original format under Open Government Licence as a set of data layers covering mining technologies:

Mining Technologies:

• Area with technical potential for opencast workings (source Coal Resource Map of Great Britain BGS/Coal Authority 1999)
• Underground mining exploration prospects
• Good prospects for abandoned mine methane (AMM) (Mine workings not recovered)
• Resource area for coal mine methane (CMM) (source Coal Authority Underground Licences, May 2002)
• Extent of underground workings with 500 m buffer zone (based on Coal Authority data, May 2002)

New Technologies:

• Area greater than 1200 m from surface with potential for CO2 sequestration
• Area with good coalbed methane (CBM) potential
• Underground coal gasification (UCG) potential
• Coalbed methane (CBM) resource area
• Coal-bearing strata

The original methodology is described in the project report, which outlines the assessment, development and uncertainties of the methodology, which is available as a free download on the BGS website here: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=1712.

Report Reference:

Jones N S, Holloway S, Creedy D P, Garner K, Smith N J P, Browne, M A E and Durucan S. 2004. UK Coal Resource for New Exploitation Technologies. Final Report. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report CR/04/015N

Acknowledgements

A number of individuals in the Data Services, Geoanalytics and Modelling, Energy and Marine Geoscience Programmes have contributed to the project and helped compile this report. We would like to particularly acknowledge the original report authors, Neil Jones and Sam Holloway.

Assistance and additional data were provided by the Coal Authority, Wardell Armstrong and Imperial College, which is gratefully acknowledged.