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Firefighting foam heats up coal fire debate (2010)

earthmagazine.org

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Re: Firefighting foam heats up coal fire debate (2010)

#11

Post by azurezyq »

joshstrange wrote: post #2

I've read about this fire before and on the surface it seems crazy to think we have all of these underground fires happening that no one really thinks or cares about. I understand how we got to where we are but it still makes me stop in amazement that this is a thing that is actively happening.

It's actually already taken care of. Basically, most of them are beyond what the current technology can achieve.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_seam_fire

This is a good read. So the one mentioned in OP may work for some but it may be only useful for very limited set of these fires. We know too little about things under the surface. I'd say we have zero chance to conquer them until we can have a deep earth CT (just like CT of your brain).

60M for a technology which would be the future, yes. 60M for something only works for a few limited cases, probably not.

Re: Firefighting foam heats up coal fire debate (2010)

#15

Post by dmix »

azurezyq wrote: post #11
joshstrange wrote: post #2

I've read about this fire before and on the surface it seems crazy to think we have all of these underground fires happening that no one really thinks or cares about. I understand how we got to where we are but it still makes me stop in amazement that this is a thing that is actively happening.

It's actually already taken care of. Basically, most of them are beyond what the current technology can achieve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_seam_fire This is a good read. So the one mentioned in OP may work for some but it may be only useful for very limited set of these fires. We know too little about things under the surface. I'd say we have zero chance to conquer them until we can have a deep earth CT (jus…

How far along are we with ground penetrating radar?

I’d imagine if they struggle to find tunnels dug under borders of high tech countries that they will probably struggle with these.

Re: Firefighting foam heats up coal fire debate (2010)

#16

Post by hutzlibu »

azurezyq wrote: post #11
joshstrange wrote: post #2

I've read about this fire before and on the surface it seems crazy to think we have all of these underground fires happening that no one really thinks or cares about. I understand how we got to where we are but it still makes me stop in amazement that this is a thing that is actively happening.

It's actually already taken care of. Basically, most of them are beyond what the current technology can achieve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_seam_fire This is a good read. So the one mentioned in OP may work for some but it may be only useful for very limited set of these fires. We know too little about things under the surface. I'd say we have zero chance to conquer them until we can have a deep earth CT (jus…

"It's actually already taken care of."

It is? A big coal fire that burned on a area of 80ha last time they checked in 1983 estimated to burn up to an area of 1500 ha is only priority number 2 to the agency. So to me the problem seems far from being taken care of.

"The last detailed study of the fire was in 1983 ... GAI found that the fire was spread over almost 80 hectares, and estimated it could eventually burn close to 1,500 hectares. "

Re: Firefighting foam heats up coal fire debate (2010)

#19

Post by btrettel »

codewritinfool wrote: post #5

How much is a fire like this contributing to CO2 emissions? Seems like 60 million is a small price to pay if it stops ongoing burning and combustion products.

Large smoldering fires contribute roughly 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions according to Dr. Guillermo Rein.

http://guillermo-rein.blogspot.com/2016/06/erc-haze-reducing...

Re: Firefighting foam heats up coal fire debate (2010)

#20

Post by mirimir »

btrettel wrote: post #19
codewritinfool wrote: post #5

How much is a fire like this contributing to CO2 emissions? Seems like 60 million is a small price to pay if it stops ongoing burning and combustion products.

Large smoldering fires contribute roughly 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions according to Dr. Guillermo Rein. http://guillermo-rein.blogspot.com/2016/06/erc-haze-reducing...

I had no idea that there were so many underground coal fires. So this is comparable to the methane leakage issue, I think.
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