Shoal Creek Coal Mine
| This article is part of the Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor. |
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Shoal Creek Coal Mine is an operating coal mine in Oakman, Walker County, Alabama, United States.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Mine Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek Coal Mine | Oakman, Walker County, Alabama, United States[1] | 33.486937, -87.265563 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the coal mine:
Project Details
Table 2: Project status
| Status | Status Detail | Opening Year | Closing Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating[2] | – | 1991[1] | – |
Table 3: Operation details
| Capacity (Mtpa) | Production (Mtpa) | Year of Production | Mine Type | Mining Method | Mine Size (km2) | Mine Depth (m) | Workforce Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | 1.629303721[3] | 2025[3] | Underground[4] | Longwall[4] | – | 373* | 568[2] |
Table 4: Coal resources and destination
| Total Reserves (Mt) | Year of Total Reserves Recorded | Total Resources (Mt) | Coalfield | Coal Type | Coal Grade | Primary Consumer/ Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16[3] | 2024[3] | 77[3] | Appalachia | Bituminous[1] | Met[3] | – |
Table 5: Ownership and parent company
| Owner | Parent Company | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Peabody Southeast Mining LLC [100.0%][1][3] | Peabody Energy Corp [100%] | USA |
Table 6: Historical production (unit: million tonnes per annum)
| ROM or Saleable | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROM | 2.08[1] | 2.66[1] | 1.87[1] | 0.71[1] | 0.12[1] | 0.77[1] | 0.64[1] | – | 1.63[3] |
Reported Methane Emissions Data
Global Energy Monitor collates facility-scale methane emissions data reported by government and company sources collected in a systematic fashion. This mine is associated with the following methane emissions reports:
Table 7: Methane emissions
| Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes CO2 equivalent) | Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes CH4) | Year of Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions | Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes) Reference | Reference type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.030279999999999 | 417.51324 | 2023 | [5] | national government data |
Note: The above sections were automatically generated and are based on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker August 2026 release.
Reported Methane Emissions Data
Global Energy Monitor collates facility-scale methane emissions data reported by government and company sources collected in a systematic fashion. This mine is associated with the following methane emissions reports:
Table 7: Methane emissions
| Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes CO2 equivalent) | Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes CH4) | Year of Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions | Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes) Reference | Reference type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.03 | 417.513 | 2023 | [5] | national government data |
Note: The above sections were automatically generated and are based on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker May 2026 release.
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
Shoal Creek Mine is an underground mine owned by Drummond Company located near the central portion of the Warrior Coal Basin in Adger, Alabama. It is the largest coal mine in Alabama and one of the largest underground facilities in the country.[6] The operation stretches across three counties – Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Walker. The mine's main portal and preparation plant is in Jefferson County, 45 miles from Birmingham. The operations have access to truck, rail and river transportation systems, including water access to ports in Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana. The mine produces a medium-volatile, low-sulfur metallurgical coal, exported globally through the Port of Mobile, Alabama. The coal is mined underground using both longwall and continuous mining operations. The preparation plant is a 2,000-ton per hour jig plant, capable of washing over 11 million raw tons of coal per year.[6]
The mine is up to 1,300 feet deep at places, and crosses beneath the main course of the Warrior River. The mine requires constant pumping, using 168 pumps to remove over 18 million gallons per day, which is returned to the river downstream. In 2002 two "Synfuel" plants were built at Shoal Creek to wash and process the coal.[7]
Workers at Shoal Creek are unionized and members of the United Mine Workers of America, Local 2133. In 2005 the mine employed 819 miners in three shifts, seven days a week, producing an average of 12,000 tons of washed coal per day. However, in Spring 2009 Drummond laid off 56 miners from the mine and started operating on a four-day work week.[8]
The mine was the site of a series of methane gas explosions beginning on February 24, 2006, which caused significant flooding and other damage to the operation. The company announced in December 2006 that it would idle the mine on December 6, laying off 455 workers.[9] In February 2007 the mine was re-opened. Two other incidents in June, one causing damage to an underground wall and one, a lightning strike which injured five workers, prompted brief closures.[10]
- MSHA ID: 102901
- Operator: Drummond Company
- Owner: Drummond Company
- Location: 8488 Nancy Ann Bend Rd, Adger, AL 35006-2232
- GPS coordinates: 33.486937,-87.265563
- Production: 1.3 million tons (2007)
- Type of coal: Medium-volatile, low-sulfur metallurgical coal
- Mine type: Underground
- Equipment: Longwall and continuous mining operations
- Number of employees: 360
Contact Information
Drummond Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 10246
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
Tel: (205) 945-6300
Coal Mine Boundaries and Methane Sources
Global Energy Monitor researchers have identified coal mine boundary/boundaries and potential sources of coal mine methane (CMM) for this mine. These research results can be used to drive CMM attribution and mitigation efforts, particularly when combined with remotely sensed methane plume locations and mine ownership data. Explore the results with the embedded map at the top of this page by clicking on the mine boundary polygon or the CMM placemarkers to reveal more details. A detailed description of this research can be found in Coal Mine Boundaries and Methane Sources. This data is also available as a downloadable companion dataset to the Global Coal Mine Tracker and the Global Methane Emitters Tracker.
Table SMP1: Coal mine boundaries and methane sources data
| ID | Mine feature category | Mine feature subcategory | Description | Coordinates precision | Data source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1068.B1 | mine boundary | underground | Shoal Creek coal mine boundary | extracted | 2022-02-18 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P1 | other | mine entrance or exit | Camp creek portal/hoist | extracted | Figure 15-1 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 10/2024 |
| M1068.P2 | other | coal storage | clean coal stockpile | extracted | Figure 14-2 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 1/2023 |
| M1068.P3 | other | preparation plant | coal preparation plant | extracted | Figure 14-2 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 1/2023 |
| M1068.P4 | ventilation system | shaft | intake shaft | extracted | Figure 15-1 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 10/2024 |
| M1068.P5 | ventilation system | shaft | No. 1 fan shaft | extracted | Figure 14-2 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 1/2023 |
| M1068.P6 | other | coal storage | raw coal stockpile | extracted | Figure 14-2 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 1/2023 |
| M1068.P7 | other | slope access or production shaft | slope mouth and transfer house | extracted | Figure 14-2 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 1/2023 |
| M1068.P8 | ventilation system | shaft | No. 8 fan shaft | extracted | Figure 15-1 2/2022 and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery 10/2024 |
| M1068.P9 | degasification system | drainage station | possible gas drainage infrastructure | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P10 | degasification system | drainage station | possible mine gas drainage infrastructure | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P11 | degasification system | drainage station | possible mine gas drainage infrastructure | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P12 | degasification system | drainage station | possible mine gas drainage infrastructure | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P13 | ventilation system | vent | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P14 | ventilation system | vent | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P15 | ventilation system | shaft | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P16 | ventilation system | shaft | ventilation shaft (possibly sealed or abandoned) | extracted | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P17 | ventilation system | shaft | ventilation shaft (possibly sealed or abandoned) | extracted | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P18 | ventilation system | shaft | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P19 | ventilation system | shaft | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P20 | ventilation system | shaft | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P21 | ventilation system | shaft | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P22 | ventilation system | vent | ventilation shaft | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P23 | other | not coal mine related | very likely Southern Natural Gas Pipeline infrastructure | extracted | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 |
| M1068.P24 | other | not coal mine related | very likely Southern Natural Gas Pipeline infrastructure | extracted | 2024-10-01 00:00:00 |
Table SMP2: Coal mine boundaries and methane sources data (continued)
| ID | Notes |
|---|---|
| M1068.B1 | Section 1.2 Property Description of the Shoal Creek Mine Technical Report Summary S-K 1300 from Feb 18 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm : "Shoal Creek controls the majority of the coal within the boundary through coal leases from a variety of private leaseholders and government entities."; and Section 3.2 Property Rights: "The Shoal Creek mineral property boundary encompasses a total of 32,666 acres. Shoal Creek has a total of 14 private mineral leases, 1 federal mineral lease, 2 state mineral leases, and 2 surface rights agreements. The majority of this mineral control acreage is primarily through lease agreements from RGGS Land and Minerals Ltd, L.P. The sum of the RGGS leases contains 28,517 total mineral acres. The remainder of the mineral lease control is with the United States of America (1,618 acres leased from the Bureau of Land Management), the Alabama State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (362 acres under the Black Warrior River), and private property leases (1,250 acres from individuals, families, and/or trusts). The remaining 919 acres designated as Not Under Control (NUC) are all located outside of the projected reserve area. The estimated resource areas have three perimeter tracts that are NUC, however based on the previous history with owners, leases to these NUC acres should be obtainable.". Table 3-3. Mineral & Surface Leases and Figure 3-2. Mineral Property Map shows details of these leases. Figure 3-2. Mineral Property Map and Figure 3-3. Surface Property Map both show the Lease Boundary, which is referred to as the 'Property boundary' in Figure 7-1. Exploration Drill Hole Location Map from which this boundary was extracted.
The area of the extracted boundary is 32,143 acres (130 sq km) which is very close to the reported 32,666 acres. |
| M1068.P1 | Reported in Figure 15-1 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm |
| M1068.P2 | Extracted using Figure 14-2 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm and Google Earth Pro satellite imagery |
| M1068.P3 | Extracted using Figure 14-2 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm |
| M1068.P4 | Extracted using Figure 14-2 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm |
| M1068.P5 | Extracted using Figure 14-2 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm |
| M1068.P6 | Extracted using Figure 14-2 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm |
| M1068.P7 | Extracted using Figure 14-2 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm |
| M1068.P8 | Extracted using Figure 14-2 of https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1064728/000106472822000008/btu_20211231xex962.htm |
| M1068.P9 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P10 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P11 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P12 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P13 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P14 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P15 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P16 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P17 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P18 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P19 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P20 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P21 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P22 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P23 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M1068.P24 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
Associated Coal Mine Methane Mitigation Projects
Some coal mines have installed infrastructure which can use and/or destroy some methane emissions associated with mining. In 2024, the Global Methane Initiative reported that this mine had a mitigation project associated with it. This methodology page describes how GEM classified these projects and linked them with coal mines in the Global Coal Mine Tracker.
Table MM1: Methane mitigation projects
| Mitigation Project Name | Project Type | GMI Reported Status | GMI Reported Start Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek Mine Gas Sales to Pipeline Project - United States | utilization | Shut down | 1990 |
| Shoal Creek Mine Methane Incineration Project - United States | Flaring | Operational | – |
Methane Plumes Detected Nearby
Global Energy Monitor researchers analyze satellite-detected methane plumes in order to determine whether they have been observed at or near the site of GEM energy assets. The satellite data provider creates imagery of individual methane plumes and estimates their emission rates at the time of observation. GEM has reviewed many of these plume detections against Google Earth imagery and GEM’s own energy infrastructure tracker data. The following table lists methane plumes which are associated with the energy asset or facility based on distance and manual review. (A full description of the analysis process is available in the Global Methane Emitters Tracker methodology wiki page.)
Table M1: Plume details
| Observation date | Satellite data provider | Location of plume origin | Methane emissions rate | Additional plume information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-04-19T17:04:08+00 | CarbonMapper, GAO20220419t170408p0000-A | 33.51076, -87.2877[11] | 991.1122 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2022-04-19, 19 |
| 2022-04-22T16:28:54+00 | CarbonMapper, GAO20220422t162854p0000-A | 33.51062, -87.2877[11] | 883.5379 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2022-04-22, 17 |
| 2022-04-22T16:42:12+00 | CarbonMapper, GAO20220422t164212p0000-A | 33.54399, -87.3082[11] | 1108.824 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2022-04-22, 18 |
| 2022-04-22T16:54:46+00 | CarbonMapper, GAO20220422t165446p0000-A | 33.54399, -87.3083[11] | 1688.94 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2022-04-22, 19 |
| 2022-09-23T17:42:01+00 | CarbonMapper, GAO20220923t174201p0000-B | 33.51088, -87.2879[11] | –[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2022-09-23, 12 |
| 2022-09-23T17:42:01+00 | CarbonMapper, GAO20220923t174201p0000-A | 33.54414, -87.3083[11] | –[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2022-09-23, 13 |
| 2024-10-12T16:48:46+00 | CarbonMapper, tan20241012t164846c00s4001-L | 33.5105, -87.2877[11] | 320.0434 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2024-10-12, 8 |
| 2024-10-12T16:48:46+00 | CarbonMapper, tan20241012t164846c00s4001-E | 33.52751, -87.3489[11] | 1390.587 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2024-10-12, 9 |
| 2024-12-02T16:29:13+00 | CarbonMapper, emi20241202t162913p11026-E | 33.52874, -87.3485[11] | 1535.048 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2024-12-02, 5 |
| 2025-02-02T16:52:33+00 | CarbonMapper, tan20250202t165233c00s4001-H | 33.51061, -87.2876[11] | 1062.016 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2025-02-02, 7 |
| 2025-03-02T16:51:45+00 | CarbonMapper, tan20250302t165145c00s4001-J | 33.51066, -87.2877[11] | 398.6128 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2025-03-02, 8 |
| 2025-06-29T17:07:10+00 | CarbonMapper, tan20250629t170710c58s4001-C | 33.54411, -87.3081[11] | 247.7667 kg/hr[11] | Alabama State Methane Observation 2025-06-29, 5 |
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of world coal mines, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Mine Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 https://web.archive.org/web/20240717193400/https://www.msha.gov/data-and-reports/mine-data-retrieval-system. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20260701051244/https://www.msha.gov/data-and-reports/statistics/mine-employment-and-coal-production. Archived from the original on 01 July 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20250313053828/https://www.peabodyenergy.com/Peabody/media/MediaLibrary/Investor%2520Info/Corporate%2520Governance/10K-Year-Ended-12-31-2024.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-03-13.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.peabodyenergy.com/Operations/U-S-Mining/Southeastern-Mining/Shoal-Creek-Mine.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://data.epa.gov/efservice/ghg/SUBPART%20FF%20-%20UNDERGROUND%20COAL%20MINES/FF_SUMMARY_SOURCE/CSV/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Operations: Coal: Shoal Creek" Drummond Company website, November 2009
- ↑ "Shoal Creek Mine" BhamWiki, November 2009
- ↑ Patrick Rupinski, "Alabama miners nervous about the future of coal", "Tuscaloosa News", May 17, 2009.
- ↑ "Drummond Co. to idle Shoal Creek Mine, lay off 455 union workers." Birmingham Business Journal, December 4, 2006
- ↑ Bob Sims, "Updated: Lightning strike at Shoal Creek mine injures 6" The Birmingham News, June 27, 2007
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 url=https://data.carbonmapper.org/
