Coal Mine Explosion in WV

[Broomstick]

There was a question earlier about the mine refuges. I found a webpage that links to various manufacturers here. I spent some time at this site which seems to provide a range of options. Shelters apparently range from sealed units to pop up/inflatable emergency tents. I find it interesting that some of these sites discussing mine shelters in general make reference to specific challenges of WV coal mines.

Just thought I'd throw that out for information purposes. I have no idea what sort of shleters are in the mine in question in this thread.

[MKSheppard]

Shep, I don't know WTF your major malfunction is when it comes to myself and/or WV, but I'm sick and tired of your blatant trolling whenever a thread about WV is posted.

So what's with the thread segue into organ grinding against evil King Coal (massey will get theirs) after some prompting from others?

When I pointed out that Open Pit Mining is vastly much safer, you went into the usual organ grinding piece about "despoiling our beautiful streams of wild, wet and wonderful west virginia;" despite the fact that none of that wilderness is actually older than about a century; following two successful clear cuttings of the entire state.

Brutally put, the economics favor open pit mining. The EPA estimates that a human life is worth about $6.9 million for various purposes. This means that this disaster has cost at least $172 million; and you can build pretty decent and impressive wastewater treatment plants for that amount, thus allowing open pit mines to be used more often with an increase in safety for the miners; since instead of going into holes in the ground at risk from cave ins, methane gas, explosions, suffocation; they're only at risk from vehicular collisions and pit wall slides, which are not as lethal as being in a confined space hundreds of feet underground as a explosion rips through it...

Additionally, you seem to think that west virginia is unique in it's shitholery. It isn't.

Western Maryland has 30~ operating mines plus 800+ abandoned ones leaking stuff into the water table in the region, and some cases the waste tailings at these abandoned sites ignite spontaneously.

Meanwhile the Eastern Shore is basically a wholly owned subsidary of Perdue, Inc, producing billions of tons of chicken shit that goes into the Chesapeake Bay and polluting it; so that you can go to the local KFC and chow down on that yummy popcorn chicken. Baltimore is a rusting post-industrial wasteland trying to recover from the job losses in the last 40 years as major heavy industries shut down; and the fishing/oystering industry is perpetually near collapse; hitting hard a lot of small fishing towns along both sides of the Bay.

The difference is that Marylanders aren't stubbornly rooted to a hillbilly shack in the woods because "it's where my great-grandpa wuz born and where I wuz born!" and we'll move if conditions get crappy.

[LadyTevar]

Ignoring Shep's Bullshit, since it's no better than the "Thank God for Dead Miners" sign I saw a Westboro Cultist holding today
--

Broomstick, so far there's been no real information on the shelters in question. It's assumed they are the metal shelters, they have been said to be able to hold 30+men for 4 days, with food, fresh air, and water all available. However, I have yet to find any statement on which company installed them. All we've been told is what's in the Coal Tattoo blog, and what has been released to the national media.

As of right now, the rescuers are hoping the newest vent holes will clear enough methane to allow another try sometime in the next 3hrs. Last time they got within 1000ft -- they're certainly going to push themselves to reach the target this time. I've yet to hear if they retrieved any of the 14 known dead, but again I'm assuming they were concentrating on looking for survivors.

But, there are a lot of headlines that I think need pointed out at this point:

Massey repeatedly cited for coal dust at Upper Big Branch
Mine received 61 closure orders prior to disaster
Citations issued day of mine explosion

[eion]

If it weren't for the methane and hydrogen they could just push on with breathing sets, but the worst thing that could happen is another explosion while the rescuers are evacuating the miners.

I really hope some company somewhere is working hard on automated mining equipment. The fewer people who have to put their lives on the line the better.

I wonder where all the fines that these mining companies pay go? I hope to some disaster or survivor fund.

[FSTargetDrone]

That's why my father in law joined the marines - the alternative was the coal mines. Even as a young man he'd seen a lot of his relatives die either in mine accidents or coughing up blood and gasping for breath with ruined lungs and bodies.

Lung disease killed my mother's father before she turned 18, leaving 6 children and a widow behind. He was a miner near Scranton, PA.

I really hope some company somewhere is working hard on automated mining equipment. The fewer people who have to put their lives on the line the better.

I hope this doesn't end up like the situation in Utah in 2007 where 3 people died in the rescue/inspection efforts. Ultimately, that mine was sealed and the missing miners were never recovered.

[SirNitram]

For those interested in following laws, strip-mining mountaintops is not really going to be possible pretty soon. Link.
But this mine and it's owner is flatly unconcerned about such.

Link

As more details continue to surface about the checkered safety record of the Massey Energy coal mine where 25 workers perished Monday, the lavish lifestyle and allegedly cavalier attitude of the company's controversial chief executive, as described in lawsuits and corporate documents, are now coming under intensifying scrutiny.

One miner who worked in Massey mines most of his 25-year career said working for CEO Don Blankenship was "like living under a hammer. It's all about the bottom line, we all know that." The miner, who would only agree to speak with an ABC News reporter if his name was not used, said Blankenship believes in "stretching the men to the limit & they want every ounce out of the men that they can get."

The public record describing Blankenship's bottom-line approach is long, much of it laid out in a series of investor lawsuits filed against Blankenship and his company, and in SEC documents submitted by a Wall Street investment house that made a failed bid to take control of Massey Energy four years ago. In these records, Blankenship was repeatedly criticized for both his approach to safety, and for what one investor called his "extravagant" package of pay and perks.

In just one year 2005 -- Blankenship was paid $33.7 million in compensation, according to a 2008 lawsuit. He flies to resorts on a company-owned Challenger 601 luxury jet. And he lives in a house owned by Massey Energy that by contract becomes his property if he leaves.

Blankenship has always publicly disputed the notion that safety comes second for him or his company. At the same time, in public remarks, he has challenged his critics to have a realistic outlook about one of the nation's most dangerous professions.

The safety complaints were also the subject of increasing unease from investors, who worried Blankenship's management style was putting the future of Massey Energy at risk. In June 2007, two board members resigned from Massey's board of directors. Daniel S. Loeb and Todd Q. Swanson submitted a resignation letter saying they were stepping down in part because of Blankenship's "poor risk management" and the company's "confrontational handling" of regulatory matters.

In December 2008 a group of shareholders sued Massey Energy's board members for "blatantly disregarding their fiduciary obligations," in part because of safety violations that allowed employees to die in "preventable accidents." The suit was dismissed because a similar case, filed in West Virginia state court, had been settled, according to Barry Hill, a Wheeling attorney who represented plaintiffs in the case.

Many of these battles became grist for a book published in 2008 by freelance writer Michael Shnayerson called "Coal River." In an interview with ABC News Tuesday, Shnayerson said there's no question in his mind that Blankenship knew about the repeated safety citations at the Upper Big Branch.

"Don was and is a complete micromanager," Shnayerson said. "He knew everything that was going on at Upper Big Branch. A lot of the fault of the explosion would have to be laid at his feet."

Shnayerson described how Blankenship had a special red phone installed at Upper Big Branch so he could reach managers whenever he needed to. "It was like the line to the Kremlin, only it went to Don."

Employees at the mine were instructed to call him "Mr. B.," Shnayerson said. Blankenship would call any time coal production slowed.

Shnayerson said that, despite appearances, Blankenship is not a comic book villain, but a complex man who is respected by many in West Virginia for what is viewed as straight talk, and for his almost paternalistic treatment of his workers and colleagues.

In fact, while many Massey employees have refused to talk to reporters about the mine disaster, some have rallied to Blankenship's defense. Robin Shamblin, whose sister, Bobbie, is a miner at Upper Big Branch, where the explosion occurred, told The New York Times this week: "There is a lot of pride that Massey people feel about their work and working in the mines over all. They are happy to be working and many, not all, but many feel lucky to be working for Massey and Blankenship."

Shnayerson said that loyalty has been rewarding for some, who have worked long careers with the firm, but not for others. When Blankenship first took control of the mine, he spent more than a year trying to woo the miners to abandon their allegiance to the labor union that had represented them.

"Don made it his own personal campaign. He began flying in every week in his helicopter. He gave pep talks. He took a whole bunch of them on trips to Dollywood, where they went to concerts. He went with them and bonded with them. New cars started turning up in their driveways," Shnayerson said.

But as soon as the union was gone, Shnayerson said Blankenship shifted gears. Work hours increased from eight hours to 12 hours. Bonuses were cut. If they got injured, their jobs were at risk.

And according to federal mining data, citations and safety violations started to rise. Ellen Smith, a mine safety expert who publishes a mining industry news letter, said a number of violations at Upper Big Branch signaled significant risks, including one incident where a ventilation system was malfunctioning and sending coal dust into a primary escape shaft. Two violations were cited on the day of the explosion.

"They had so many citations," Smith said, "It appears this was an explosion or an accident waiting to happen."

In an interview with Diane Sawyer Tuesday, Blankenship said he didn't know of any steps his company could have taken to prevent the disaster and deflected suggestions that his company's coal mines are more dangerous than others.

"Eighteen of the last 20 years we've been safer than the industry average," Blankenship told Sawyer. "We're the leaders in safety innovation and continue to be more creative in the area of safety than any other company, in our opinion."

Blankenship acknowledged a record of problems but said the mine had been deemed safe by federal inspectors.

"We have lots of regulators in the industry, probably more regulators in the coal industry than any other industry in the country, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the state agencies, all the safety people we have on hand felt this was a safe coal mine," Blankenship said. "At the Massey level, we're doing everything we can to make all of our mines as safe as we can."

When asked by Sawyer whether Massey Energy owes anything to the families of the killed miners, Blankenship said that his company will set up a fund for the families and provide assistance for the needs of the miners children. He told her: "Anything in life has risks."

But if you want his real opinion on safety, look no further than the 2005 memo the WV legal journal uncovered: Link

The complaint cites a memo Blankenship sent in October 2005 to all deep mine superintendents.

"If any of you have been asked by your group presidents, your supervisors, engineers or anyone else to do anything other than run coal (i.e. - build overcasts, do construction jobs, or whatever) you need to ignore them and run coal," the complaint quotes the memo. "This memo is necessary only because we seem not to understand that coal pays the bills."

Make your ventilation system stop running in reverse? No. Run coal. Shore up the tunnels? No. Run coal. Ensure proper removal of hydrogen, methane, and coal dust? No. Run. Coal.

[LadyTevar]

Rescue teams won't go back into Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine until sometime after 6 p.m., said Chris Adkins, Massey's senior vice president and chief operating officer.

Adkins briefed reporters at 1:15 p.m. today on the situation at the Raleigh County mine, where a Monday afternoon explosion left 25 miners dead and 4 miners missing.

Rescue teams went back into the mine at 4:55 a.m. today but had to be withdrawn at around 10:15 a.m. when a storm passed, the barometric pressure dropped, and four air samples detected a high level of dangerous methane gas.

One bore hole is being used to extract bad air from the mine and air samples are being taken from it. Another hole being drilled nearby was within 70 feet of entering the mine when drilling was stopped so rescuers could re-enter the mine. Adkins explained that it would be dangerous to continue drilling while rescuers were underground. "It's just a chance we don't take," he said.

Adkins said rescuers were "very angry" about pulling out. He said some of the rescuers were within 500 feet of one of the underground shelters but didn't have an opportunity to check it before pulling out. He said the rescuers are currently "off their feet" and resting, waiting to go back in.

He estimated that momentarily it would be known if the second drill penetrated the mine or missed it. About 11/2 hours would be required to pull the drill bit out and another hour to get a high-pressure fan operating, he said. The second hole will double the quantity of air that can be ventilated from the mine.

Adkins estimated that once the second fan is operating, it would take three or four hours to get the atmosphere inside the mine back to safe levels.

"We won't ask for a plan to go back in until 6 p.m.," Adkins said. It may be 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. before rescuers will be allowed to go back in, he said.

[Broomstick]

I don't make any claims to knowing shit about coal mining, but it seems to my uneducated eye that this might be more than a "pocket" of trapped badness, but rather something is venting toxic/explosive gas into the mine. I wonder if the initial explosion may have cracked some rock down to a reservoir of gas somehow.

[SirNitram]

I don't make any claims to knowing shit about coal mining, but it seems to my uneducated eye that this might be more than a "pocket" of trapped badness, but rather something is venting toxic/explosive gas into the mine. I wonder if the initial explosion may have cracked some rock down to a reservoir of gas somehow.

I suspect it's the earthquake last week. Mag 3.4, fairly close to the site. That would allow the venting. Of course, if the ventilation system hadn't been running in reverse...

[eion]

I don't make any claims to knowing shit about coal mining, but it seems to my uneducated eye that this might be more than a "pocket" of trapped badness, but rather something is venting toxic/explosive gas into the mine. I wonder if the initial explosion may have cracked some rock down to a reservoir of gas somehow.

Here's a little interview about methane and coal mining I found. Random speculation on my part points to weather conditions pulling more methane out of the coal face.

As to what caused the initial explosion, I think it's anybody's guess at this point. If the safety record at this mine is as spotty as it appears, the methane detectors on the machines may have been faulty or deactivated.

Coal seam degasification seems like a promising method. They drill the seam before the open the mine and remove the methane before miners remove the coal. Besides safety benefits, the mining company can sell the methane gas rather than just venting it. Perhaps the Mine Safety and Health Administration will make it mandatory now.

[LadyTevar]

There have been multiple comments to the media about how Upper Branch is a "Gassy Mine". They were literally pumping thousands of gallons of methane out of the mine on a monthly basis, and that is one reason for the countless violations and closures of the mine. Unfortunately, something broke into a much larger concentration.

As Nitram mentioned, there had been a 2.7 earthquake two weeks ago, just outside of the town of Man. It was in an uninhabited area, so it did not get much attention until Geologists saw it on their monitoring equipment after the fact. There is a possibility that a massive methane pocket was disturbed, and moved along the path of least resistance. However, this is total guesswork and gossip at this point.

What we do have for sure is another night of no rescues, due to the methane content.

Manchin said Thursday began with three scenarios:

* Forge ahead to check the shelter.
* Discover one area of the mine with unacceptable concentrations of bad air and install a temporary barrier so nitrogen could be pumped in and work could go on elsewhere.
* Find conditions too dangerous and extract everyone.

"Unfortunately we have the worst scenario," Manchin said at a Thursday morning press briefing.

It will take a few more hours to have the second and third vent-holes drilled and the venting fans installed. At this time WV is experiencing a low-pressure system that's brought lower temps and rainstorms, which seems to be sucking more methane out of the rock and into the mine tunnels. It's a battle of how fast it's accumulating to how fast it can be vented, and so far the methane is winning.

[eion]

Is there some chemical process they can use to sequester the methane safely to speed up the venting of it?

[LadyTevar]

Is there some chemical process they can use to sequester the methane safely to speed up the venting of it?

If there is, Massey doesn't use it. As far as I know, all they can do is pump the bad air out. At this point, I can't even say what they're doing with the methane. I don't even know if they're pumping it into storage tanks, or just letting it flow into the countryside. With the concentrations, I am really hoping they're containing it.

[General Brock]

Who pays for the rescue and lost production? Insurance? The taxpayer? If the company, why skimp on safety when a disaster can wipe out all the 'savings' from the practice?

[Broomstick]

Is there some chemical process they can use to sequester the methane safely to speed up the venting of it?

If there is, Massey doesn't use it. As far as I know, all they can do is pump the bad air out. At this point, I can't even say what they're doing with the methane. I don't even know if they're pumping it into storage tanks, or just letting it flow into the countryside. With the concentrations, I am really hoping they're containing it.

Given the reports of the vented gasses affecting the drillers I suspect they're not containing it at all.

[Broomstick]

Who pays for the rescue and lost production? Insurance? The taxpayer? If the company, why skimp on safety when a disaster can wipe out all the 'savings' from the practice?

Short-sightedness, penny wise and pound foolish, take the profits and run... The owners have their wealth, if they mine closed tomorrow they'd never have to worry about going hungry, and who knows if they care for the workers at all?

[eion]

Is there some chemical process they can use to sequester the methane safely to speed up the venting of it?

If there is, Massey doesn't use it. As far as I know, all they can do is pump the bad air out. At this point, I can't even say what they're doing with the methane. I don't even know if they're pumping it into storage tanks, or just letting it flow into the countryside. With the concentrations, I am really hoping they're containing it.

Given the reports of the vented gasses affecting the drillers I suspect they're not containing it at all.

I think the risk of explosion is also a concern. I would hope they have breathing sets available.

[Broomstick]

CNN is reporting that the rescue teams will shortly attempt a "mad dash" to one of the shelter units to see if anyone is inside and, if so, bring them out.

Sounds a bit desperate to me, but I wish them success.

[LadyTevar]

The "MadDash" was tried.

April 9, 2010
Rescue teams forced to pull out of mine for third time


AdvertiserRescue teams had to turn back in their third attempt to rescue four missing miners in Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine, after they encountered a large amount of smoke from a fire near the longwall section of the mine.

They will not be able to get to a second refuge chamber within 96 hours of Monday's explosion. That's how long the chambers are supposed to be able to shelter miners.

Two rescue teams composed of eight men each entered the mine around 12:45 a.m. Friday with the intent to find two underground refuge chambers. They found one, and it had not been used, said Kevin Stricklin, a coal administrator for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Twice before, rescue teams have been forced to leave the mine because the gases in the air created a risk of explosion.

Now, on top of everything else, a coal-seam fire that may never go out.

[Serafina]

Let's hope that the shelter has a good safety measure and is good for another few days, and that these days will allow for a save rescue.

[LadyTevar]

Let's hope that the shelter has a good safety measure and is good for another few days, and that these days will allow for a save rescue.

You didn't see the limit, 'Fina... The refuge had a 96-hr oxygen supply. That will run out at 3pm this afternoon, EDT.

[Serafina]

Let's hope that the shelter has a good safety measure and is good for another few days, and that these days will allow for a save rescue.

You didn't see the limit, 'Fina... The refuge had a 96-hr oxygen supply. That will run out at 3pm this afternoon, EDT.

Ah, i meant that there hopefully is a positive margin of error - that the oxygen supply will hold longer than expected for several possible reasons.

It might not be likely, here's hope that they are lucky.

[MKSheppard]

The more I read about this mine, the more I'm convinced that it was a disaster in waiting.

Hopefully this will lead to a shift in the methods of mining in West Virginia -- currently only 38% of coal in WV is produced from surface mines; the rest is done underground, with all the dangers that entails.

[Edi]

Let's hope that the shelter has a good safety measure and is good for another few days, and that these days will allow for a save rescue.

You didn't see the limit, 'Fina... The refuge had a 96-hr oxygen supply. That will run out at 3pm this afternoon, EDT.

If you take a look at your own second post at the top of the thread, the shelters are supposed to be stocked with enough food, water and air to last 32 people 96 hours. If there are only three miners there (assuming that based on the number of breathing gear that was not accounted for), they'll be good for 960 hours.

[Edi]

The more I read about this mine, the more I'm convinced that it was a disaster in waiting.

No disagreement there. Had this been in Finland, everyone involved in any sort of management position of this coal company and this particular mine would have been behind bars years ago for the safety violations alone.