Found this posted over the road by Bbook.If ANY of it is true,...

Found this posted over the road by Bbook.
If ANY of it is true, we appear to be at least 'experimenting' with UCG [right now] in Poland!
Make up your own mind..........................




The Wieczorek Mine in Poland

Linc Energy has two leases in Poland that are well known: the Polanka Wielkie Drogi (PWD) lease and the more recently acquired Kobiar lease in the Upper Silesia area of south-east Poland. But Linc also has a relationship with The Wieczorek Mine ( "The Evening Mine" ) in the same area, near the City and Special Economic Zone of Katowice.

The Wieczorek Mine is owned by the Polish company KHW ( "Katowice Coal Holding" ). The mine is described, in a recent article, as an "active mine"; there is conventional underground mining in shafts deep into the ground; one shaft is called "The East Shaft" - it has been worked-over in a conventional sense but still has coal that UCG can utilize. "Later this month" (March 2014) this shaft will be activated by UCG. The owner is KHW but the operator is/was Linc Energy. The financial arrangements were not clear but the author suggested a joint-venture; in any case it is an experimental UCG mine. The process is being closely monitored and studied from perspectives of the science and technology as well as the environmental aspects. Based on the date (end of March 2014) my guess is that this one, the Evening Mine, is/was producing gas from that date. There are usually teething problems so there has not yet been an anouncement by Linc of any kind. The gas was being flared. The Poles are saying that this is "ten times larger" than anything that has been done before (presumably referring to Australia's Chinchilla UCG mine). They also add that although this mine is classified as experimental, it will be of a size that will be suitable for industry in Poland and by industry they mean large coal-fired electric power stations. They will not have to upsize the plant and mine to connect to the grid. This again suggests Polish confidence that this is going to be successful.

The above information comes from the 2 articles below:
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"Australians Do Our Coal Gas
KHW and Linc Energy are on the eve of the signing of a letter of intent on cooperation in coal gasification - from "Rom".

Representatives of the Australian firm for over 10 years producing gas from coal (operation using boreholes) and liquefaction of the raw material in early June, met with representatives of the mining office, because since last year, Linc Energy has a license to survey estimated at 1.2 billion tons of coal deposits in the region Polanka-Big Way.

However, the company focuses not only on his bed (its PWD field). It also has the intention to cooperate with KHW. - The idea is that KHW provides coal, which has a license, and Linc Energy technology to draw energy from coal in a different and clearer way than its combustion - says "Rzeczpospolita" a person close to the matter. Details cooperation, m.in . distribution of any profits yet to be worked out, but our information suggests that at the stage of investment will fund joint venture with the Australians.

How did we determine the first drilling to a depth of 800 - 1000 m can move in 2013, and the beginning of 2014, is a real launch date of operation.

KHW months preparing gasification of several thousand tons of coal in the mine Wieczorek."

Dated 2 July 2012.
Source: http://www.ekonomia.rp.pl/artykul/907013.html
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"COAL GAS - NO LONGER ALMOST HERE - WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THIS GAS?

Good news for those who see an opportunity for Poland in the development of clean coal technologies. Technology that allows underground coal gasification (PAA) has a chance to catch the wind in the sails. And Polish wind. Linc Energy, which is a world leader in research on the PAA (UCG), just got another exploratory concession in Poland, and many promises to myself after her. Later this month will begin the first Polish attempt at PAA in the active mine - wrote "Business Pulse".

Linc Energy does not hide excitement about PAA growth prospects in Poland. The Australian company, with assets in Australia, Asia and Europe, listed on the stock exchange in Singapore and equipped with almost $50 million of cash collected in the recent public offering, praised the new license obtained in Poland. It's a concession at Kobiór in Upper Silesia, opacity - the Polish Geological Institute - 2.8 billion tons of coal - as stated by "Business Pulse".

"This means that together with our concession in Polanka-Wielkie Drogi ( PWD - "Polanka Big Way" ) we have Polish portfolio assets with an estimated potential of 4 billion tons of coal. Transforming the amount of carbon in gas would meet 20-35 percent of demand across Poland in the coming decades. Poland could in effect become energy independent "- reads Linc Energy.

The Polish attempt PAA will start later this month in the Evening Mine, belonging to KHW.

- We will attempt to do underground coal gasification on a scale ten times larger than before, when it was just the experience carried out in a special experimental mine. It is already such a scale, which if successful attempt to authorize us to complete the project demonstration plant, which is large enough to use it in the industry - explains Prof. Krzysztof Stanczyk of the Central Mining Institute, the manager of the project."

Source: http://epolitic.salon24.pl/573374,gaz-z-wegla-juz-tuz-tuz-co-my-z-tym-gazem-zrobimy
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The second article above is from "Business Pulse". If someone has a subscription to this journal could they please do a search for the original article and confirm the substance of this article as I seem to be working from secondary sources?

Now, however, there is a new article just published in Poland on the 10 May 2014, containing new information:
1. the coal was ignited/pyrolized in the East Shaft 400m deep in the Evening Mine at the end of March 2014;
2. the gas flowed up to the surface and into a fully developed Plant, which looks quite new (see photo with article);
3. gas flow problems occurred fairly quickly and the plant was shut down; the term "patency" was mentioned - meaning "obstructed flow"; there were many teething problems on the way to this development that had to be solved; these problems have now been corrected; the author mentions "skillful control of the administration of gasifying agent" as a requirement. "The experiment has in fact proved that the process can be controlled and you can at any time stop."
4. the process of gasification of coal in this mine will resume in May 2014; the trial will last for about 2 months.

There is no mention of Linc Energy in this third article on the Wieczorek Mine. It would be good if we could ask LNC whether we are still in this project.

Poland is aware that the Chinchilla Plant has been stopped by the Queensland government but they are doing there own environmental testing. They already had their own georeactor device that was recently displayed on BBC news - it is designed to test pyrolysis of coal in a machine.

Also, there is a youtube video on UCG in Wieczorek at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJjZGFRKblw ; the company pictured is KWK-Wieczorek which is now part of KHW.
And another one from the BBC on clean coal technology in Katowice in Poland; the Professor in charge of the Wieczorek UCG experiment is also head of the Clean Energy Technology Institute which has a machine that changes coal into gas above ground; that Professor is interviewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHWz54dJkoc

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"Coal in a fluidized Zgazowac (gasification)
Author: Marcin Austyn
Published in "Nasz Dziennik" (Our Daily)
Saturday, May 10, 2014 (02:00)

Later in May the Evening Coal Mine will resume the process of underground coal gasification. Started in March, the experience will bring a lot of answers concerning the safety of this method.


The first start of the process of underground coal gasification ( PAA ) in terms of active mines took place at the end of March. The pilot plant was built by the combined forces of the Central Institute of Mining and KHW in the coal mine "Wieczorek" in connection with the research task "Development of coal gasification technology for highly efficient production of fuels and electricity." Launched a month ago, however, the process has not proceeded as expected. There were problems with patency and flow in pipes installed . The process was stopped and the shortcomings removed. Restart it is to take place later this month . The trial will be conducted for about two months.

Scientists want to check in particular ecological safety and the technology of coal gasification. The experiment has in fact proved that the process can be controlled and you can stop the process at any time.

At this stage of practical knowledge Polish scientists provide two attempts gasification made ??in the Experimental Mine "Barbara" .
In the opinion of Professor Christopher Stanczyk , head of the Department of Energy Saving and Air Protection Chief Geological Institute, involved in the project under the Coal Mine "Evening", despite the difficulties PAA is a prospective method .

- It is used in many places in the world, but essentially the process is difficult. It is not enough to drill two holes, one delivering the gasifying agent, the second to receive the gas. Along the way there are many problems that must be solved. It is also the environmental problems to which we pay special attention and we want to learn about them well before we allow that the process is carried out on a larger scale - said in an interview with "Our Dziennik ".

During underground coal gasification phase called pyrolysis tar, organic compounds. Just knowing these processes are more experience driven by GIG ("The Central Institute of Mining" - a government institute).

- We want to get to know these processes. Tests run on a smaller scale, because there is then a greater risk of environmental pollution. That's what we did already in KD "Barbara", allowed us to tell an individual substances are formed , how far from georeaktora, which is the process, they are able to migrate - said Prof. Stanczyk .

Experience in the mine " Evening " will explore this issue in a slightly larger scale. In order for the process to be introduced into the geological and mining law , scientists must make sure that the PAA will not cause nuisance beyond the norms of pollution.
In the opinion of Professor Stanczyk, based on the experience acquired so far it is difficult to determine whether the PAA method is suitable for use on a wider scale. As noted, in Australia, the process has been studied for many years and found that while does not carry out the entire process - from the gasification by extinction, closure and assessment of the impact of this process in the next few years - the method cannot be unambiguously considered safe. In Queensland has not decided on the implementation of PAA on an industrial scale .

- We also want to be confident about the safety of this method, before we decide on its wider use. Certainly an experiment in "Evening Mine" will give us a lot of answers . If we build another plant, this would result in a volume of 20-30 MW and serve as the tester, demo. It all takes time, however, and I think around 2020 it will be possible to say for sure whether PAA is safe - he added.

This perspective does not rule out that the development of PAA will tie in with the gradual transition to a hydrogen economy . However, the direction of change is not uniquely decided. But certainly, PAA will not compete with conventional mining . It is unrealistic, given the extent to which gasification can be realized in practice in the coming years . Realistically looking at the number of installations that could arise in the next decade, a total of bazowalaby on coal seams, which easily brings one mine - is 3-4 million tons of coal per year, which would be able to process the gas fuel. In addition, PAA method to be rather used in these decks, which does not reach conventional mining due to economic conditions, geological and finally the safety of people working underground .

- This is primarily of leftovers (leftover coal deposits), which we extract not classical methods of difficult places , including those located deep.

Although the latter case is so far only theoretical, because trying to PAA, which are carried out in the world, based on the board located at 200-300 meters . While talking about reaching for the deposits located at 1400 m, but the use of this method seems to be much more difficult - adds Professor Stanczyk.

The key for the development of PAA will also be economics. Currently, there are estimates of the cost-effectiveness of this method, which indicates that the carbon gasification in the bed can be effective . The Polish realities are , however, only theoretical fitting. But certainly, extracted gases can count on too in the energy and chemical synthesis . However, much depends on the market price of these gases. In the case of high. Therefore, their production can be
profitable.


The Pilot "Evening Mine"

According to the GIG, the installation prepared in the coal mine "Wieczorek" consists of the underground section located 400 m below the surface , which is a key element georeaktor gasification board 501 with a thickness of approximately 5 m, and the above-ground part of the shaft located in the East. It (the above-ground Plant) consists of the elements of power georeaktora in the media and the reception, treatment and disposal of gas. Provision of gasification agents and the removal of products from the reaction in the coal gasification zone is realized with two holes drilled in the V -shaped diagonal of the excavation made ??2-2.5 m above the deck. Pipeline products in the initial part is cooled by a diaphragm with water filling the excavation portion of the seal of his earlier gunning method (the method comprises administration of water to the dry ingredients of the concrete (or mortar).

Gasifying agents are supplied from the surface of the pipe system in the shaft and workings - free air (air compressor) and oxygen (from the tank of liquid oxygen out of the dishes). For safety reasons, the area of ??gasification are well fed and nitrogen filling pipelines. PAA process involves the secretion of tar, which will take place in the separators placed in underground workings. In turn, the gaseous products at temperatures up to 400° C are transported in an insulated glass pipe to the surface where they are cooled and purification above, and the gas is directed to the flare.

According to the assumptions, will be gasified in a fluidised from 100 to 600 kg of coal per hour, which will result in performance sourced gas to 1500 Nm3/h, with an estimated calorific value of the gas around 3.5-5 MJ/Nm3. The expected gas mixture will consist of nitrogen - 53 percent . vol . , carbon dioxide - 16 percent . vol . , carbon monoxide - 12 percent . vol . , methane - 3 percent . vol . and hydrogen - 15 percent . volume. When the entire sample is subjected to gasification of 1,200 tons of coal.

Experiment in the coal mine "Evening " is the first in Poland conducted in an active coal mine. This required the preparation of solutions of a formal legal nature related to compliance with the requirements of the geological and mining law Act. The aim is to develop and verify their own underground coal gasification technology verified in pilot scale . Studies have been targeted , among others, the development of underground coal gasification technology the glazing method, which assumes the use of the existing infrastructure of the mine for the use of residual deposits of coal.


PAA is still cognizable


Research on methods of PAA are carried out in the world for many years, but so far is only one commercial installation of this type in Angren in Uzbekistan.

The technology , however, is of great interest in Australia, China, Canada and South Africa.

Underground coal gasification involves bringing a lit coal gasification medium and collecting the gas produced by the industrial area. In order to properly process is skillful control of the administration of gasifying agent, so as to obtain a temperature that allows the production of gas of specified composition . The gas resulting from coal underground gasification process can have many applications: the generation of heat and electricity in the energy, natural gas chemistry, the production of liquid fuels. PAA can be carried out using air, oxygen, steam, or mixtures thereof as the gasifying agent. For use of gas energy is typically produced using air or oxygen. The resulting product , however, is different calorific value. And so from the gasification of oxygen gas is characterized by a calorific value of about 8 MJ/m3 , and the air - 3.5-4.5 MJ/m3."

Source: http://www.naszdziennik.pl/mysl/76796,zgazowac-wegiel-w-zlozu.html

Translations courtesy of Google robot.