Testing new ground: gas drainage trial at BMA

We’re putting an idea to the test. BMA has kicked off an innovative trial at Saraji Mine, testing whether gas drainage can be safely and effectively performed in an active mining environment.  

Methane is a naturally occurring gas found within coal seams and one of coal mining's more complex greenhouse gas emissions challenges.  

That's why teams from across BMA and BHP are working together to explore innovative solutions, challenge conventional thinking and build a better understanding of what could be possible. 

The project is taking an approach that's largely untested in open cut coal mining and putting it through its paces at a working operation. While still in the early stages, the proof-of-concept trial offers a valuable opportunity to better understand the practical challenges, opportunities and potential of open cut gas drainage in an active mining environment. 

BMA Saraji Mine General Manager Dane Nielsen said the trial demonstrates the importance of innovation and problem-solving in tackling complex operational challenges. 

"The resources we produce make an important contribution to modern life, and we're committed to exploring practical ways to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with our operations," Dane said. 

"What's exciting about this trial is that we're taking an emerging concept and testing it in the real world. It's giving us the opportunity to challenge assumptions, gather practical insights and better understand what's possible." 

"It's also a great example of people from across our business coming together to tackle a challenge, share ideas and push the boundaries of what's been done before." 

Gabrielle Sycamore, BHP’s Head of Power Decarbonisation, said methane abatement remains an important focus area as BHP works to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions. 

"Alongside initiatives such as renewable electricity and fleet decarbonisation, we're continuing to explore opportunities to better understand and address methane emissions," Gabrielle said. 

"This trial will help us assess whether methane can be safely and operationally extracted in an active open cut mining environment and provide valuable operational insights that simply can't be generated in a laboratory or desktop study." 

"Whether the outcome confirms the approach is viable or highlights challenges that need to be overcome, the learnings will be incredibly valuable." 

As the trial progresses, teams will continue to gather data and evaluate the operational and technical performance of the approach. The insights generated will help build understanding of gas drainage in open cut coal mining and contribute to broader industry knowledge in this emerging area.  

For the teams involved, the trial is about more than testing technology - it's about learning what works, what doesn't, and helping shape the future of methane management through practical, real-world experience.