Study of Ash and Total Moisture Effects on Calorific Value in Coal Seam at West Banko Field, PT. Bukit Asam, Tbk., Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra

Abstract

In the coal mining industry, the coal quality is as crucial as the coal quantity because it can impact the coal usefulness. The quality of coal itself can be influenced by several factors, such as moisture content, ash, sulfur, and volatile matter. This study tries to understand the coal quality and its variation in the Muara Enim Formation of South Sumatra Basin. The research was conducted in the West Banko field, PT. Bukit Asam, Tbk., Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra. By using linear regression, this study found that increasing ash and total moisture content will lead to a decreasing amount of the calorific value. Additionally, the value of coal quality content such as ash and total moisture can be affected by the depositional environment, sedimentation rate, and coal characteristics in the study area thus affecting the calorific value. Transitional lower delta plain depositional environment with low sedimentation rate and coarsening upward sandstone sequence indicates lower ash and total moisture content in the study area. The highest calorific value found in the study area is in C1 seam, this can be seen from the ash quality and total moisture distribution map which inversely proportional to the calorific value.