Laserfiche WebLink
f MOUNTAIN COdI <br />/~' ~COMPANYL.~.~. <br />A Subsidiary afArch Weslem Resources, LLC <br />February 10, 2003 <br />RECEIVED <br />FEB 1 1 2003 <br />Divisional Minerals and Ceolagt~ <br />Mr. James Burnell <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) <br />Office of Mined Land Reclamation <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />West Elk Mine <br />P.O. Box 591 <br />1174 Highway 133 <br />Somerset, CO 8]434 <br />(970) 929-5015 <br />Faz (970) 929-5595 <br />Re: Mountain Coal Company LLC (MCC), West Elk Mine; Permit No. C-80-007; Minor <br />Revision No. 291, Request to Add One Methane Drainage Well Pad and Three Methane <br />Drainage Wells and Associated Road for Longwall Panel 17. <br />Dear Mr. Burnell: <br />MCC is requesting this minor revision to the mining and reclamation permit to construct one Methane <br />Drainage Well Pad, a short road, and drill three Methane Drainage Wells neaz MDW 17-01. <br />The minor revision is necessary and prudent in order to complete this needed drilling and related <br />activities by the end of Mazch, which is when the mining of Panel 17 is scheduled to commence. The <br />methane drainage situation at the West Elk Mine has changed over the past several weeks. Without <br />this drilling MCC expects high levels of methane to exceed current methane drainage capabilities. <br />Additional drainage capabilities will reduce methane levels in the mine and provide for a safer work <br />environment. <br />Recently MCC learned that the methane content in this azea is more severe than expected. <br />Schlumberger Data and Consulting Services (BOGS) has updated the "gas in place" model (as <br />indicated in their December 5, 2002 report prepared for MCC), based on newly required gas content <br />measurements. With this new information, SCDS updated the West Elk Mine model that indicates the <br />mining of Longwall Panel 17 will result in increased methane liberation. More than previously <br />estimated. <br />Further, MCC was able to develop and extend Longwall Panel 17 more to the east than originally <br />anticipated. MDWs completed in 2002 were designed and located based on projected geologic <br />conditions and limitations. Actual geologic conditions encountered in the development of Longwall <br />Panel 17 were less prohibitive than projected. As such, development proceeded further eastwazd <br />providing for maximum economic recovery of the leased reserve as required by the Bureau of Land <br />Management. However, as a result of this further than anticipated eastward development, the existing <br />MDWs will not accommodate methane drainage for the initial mining or "start-up" of Longwall Panel <br />17. <br />