User guide for the BGS UK Coal Resource for New Exploitation Technologies (Version 1) dataset

This report describes the Coal for New Technologies GIS dataset, which is a suite of data layers
developed 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 produce
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 original source data. No
updating has been carried out and 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 500m buffer zone (based on Coal Authority data,
May 2002)
New Technologies:
 Area greater than 1200m 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: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=1712.