In-situ gas contents of a multi-section coal seam in Sydney basin for coal and gas outburst management

The gas content is crucial for evaluating coal and gas outburst potential in underground coal mining. This study focuses on investigating the in-situ coal seam gas content and gas sorption capacity in a representative coal seam with multiple sections (A1, A2, and A3) in the Sydney basin, where the CO_(2) composition exceeds 90%. The fast direct desorption method and associated devices were described in detail and employed to measure the in-situ gas components (Q_(1), Q_(2), and Q_(3)) of the coal seam. The results show that in-situ total gas content (Q_(T)) ranges from 9.48 m^(3)/t for the A2 section to 14.80 m^(3)/t for the A3 section, surpassing the Level 2 outburst threshold limit value, thereby necessitating gas drainage measures. Among the gas components, Q_(2) demonstrates the highest contribution to Q_(T), ranging between 55% and 70%. Furthermore, high-pressure isothermal gas sorption experiments were conducted on coal samples from each seam section to explore their gas sorption capacity. The Langmuir model accurately characterizes CO_(2) sorption behavior, with ft coefcients (R^(2)) greater than 0.99. Strong positive correlations are observed between in-situ gas content and Langmuir volume, as well as between residual gas content (Q_(3)) and sorption hysteresis. Notably, the A3 seam section is proved to have a higher outburst propensity due to its higher Q_(1) and Q_(2) gas contents, lower sorption hysteresis, and reduced coal toughness f value. The insights derived from the study can contribute to the development of efective gas management strategies and enhance the safety and efciency of coal mining operations.

Discussion on determination of gas content of coal and uncertainties of measurement

Gas content of coal is mostly determined using a direct method, particularly in coal mining where mine safety is of paramount importance. Direct method consists of measuring directly the volume of gas desorbed from coal in several steps, from solid then crushed coal. In mixed gas conditions the composition of the desorbed gas is also measured to account for contribution of various coal seam gas in the mix. The determination of gas content using the direct method is associated with errors of measurement of volume of gas but also the errors associated with measurement of composition of the desorbed gas. These errors lead to uncertainties in reporting the gas content and composition of in-situ seam gas. This paper discusses the current direct method practised in Australia and potential errors and uncertainty associated with this method. Generic methods of estimate of uncertainties are also developed and are to be included in reporting gas content of coal. A method of direct measurement of remaining gas in coal following the completion of standard gas content testing is also presented. The new method would allow the determination of volume of almost all gas in coal and therefore the value of total gas content. This method is being considered to be integrated into a new standard for gas content testing.

A rapid and accurate direct measurement method of underground coal seam gas content based on dynamic diffusion theory

Coal seam gas content is frequently measured in quantity during underground coal mining operation and coalbed methane(CBM)exploration as a significant basic parameter.Due to the calculation error of lost gas and residual gas in the direct method,the efficiency and accuracy of the current methods are not inadequate to the large area multi-point measurement of coal seam gas content.This paper firstly deduces a simplified theoretical dynamic model for calculating lost gas based on gas dynamic diffusion theory.Secondly,the effects of various factors on gas dynamic diffusion from coal particle are experimentally studied.And sampling procedure of representative coal particle is improved.Thirdly,a new estimation method of residual gas content based on excess adsorption and competitive adsorption theory is proposed.The results showed that the maximum error of calculating the losing gas content by using the new simplified model is only 4%.Considering the influence of particle size on gas diffusion law,the particle size of the collected coal sample is below 0.25 mm,which improves the measurement speed and reflects the safety representativeness of the sample.The determination time of gas content reduced from 36 to 3 h/piece.Moreover,the absolute error is 0.15–0.50 m^3/t,and the relative error is within 5%.A new engineering method for determining the coal seam gas content is developed according to the above research.

Influence of Ground Stress on Coal Seam Gas Pressure and Gas Content

The influence of ground stress was quantitatively analyzed on coal seam gas pressure and gas content in this paper.Mining activities in coal mine can result in stress concentration in the coal(rock)body around the mining space,but porosity of the coal seam would not change too much.Therefore,gas pressure and gas content in the coal seam are slightly affected.Studies showed that the free gas was gradually transformed into adsorbed gas,and the gas adsorption volume was small,and then gas pressure increases roughly linearly when the porosity decreased because of stress influence.Additionaly,when porosity of coal seam reduced to 40%,the amount of adsorbed gas accounted for no more than 10%of coal seam gas content,and the increase of gas pressure did not exceed 15%of the original gas pressure.

Calculation of gas content in coal seam influenced by in-situ stress grads and ground temperature

On the basis of the analysis of coal bed gas pressure in deep mine, and the coal bed permeability ( k ) and the characteristic of adsorption parameter ( b ) changing with temperature, the author puts forward a new calculating method of gas content in coal seam influenced by in situ stress grads and ground temperature. At the same time, the contrast of the measuring results of coal bed gas pressure with the computing results of coal bed gas pressure and gas content in coal seam in theory indicate that the computing method can well reflect the authenticity of gas content in coal seam,and will further perfect the computing method of gas content in coal seam in theory,and have important value in theory on analyzing gas content in coal seam and forecasting distribution law of gas content in coal seam in deep mine.

Comparing potentials for gas outburst in a Chinese anthracite and an Australian bituminous coal mine

Gas outbursts in underground mining occur under conditions of high gas desorption rate and gas content,combined with high stress regime, low coal strength and high Young's modulus. This combination of gas and stress factors occurs more often in deep mining. Hence, as the depth of mining increases, the potential for outburst increases. This study proposes a conceptual model to evaluate outburst potential in terms of an outburst indicator. The model was used to evaluate the potential for gas outburst in two mines, by comparing numerical simulations of gas flow behavior under typical stress regimes in an Australian gassy mine extracting a medium-volatile bituminous coal, and a Chinese gassy coal mine in Qinshui Basin(Shanxi province) extracting anthracite coal. We coupled the stress simulation program(FLAC3D) with the gas simulation program(SIMED II) to compute the stress and gas pressure and gas content distribution following development of a roadway into the targeted coal seams. The data from gas content and stress distribution were then used to quantify the intensity of energy release in the event of an outburst.

Advances in gas content based on outburst control technology in Huainan, China

The sudden and violent nature of coal and gas outbursts continues to pose a serious threat to coal mine safety in China. One of the key issues is to predict the occurrence of outbursts. Current methods that are used for predicting the outbursts in China are considered to be inadequate, inappropriate or impractical in some seam conditions. In recent years, Huainan Mining Industry Group(Huainan) in China and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation(CSIRO) in Australia have been jointly developing technology based on gas content in coal seams to predict the occurrence of outbursts in Huainan. Significant progresses in the technology development have been made, including the development of a more rapid and accurate system in determining gas content in coal seams, the invention of a sampling-while-drilling unit for fast and pointed coal sampling, and the coupling of DEM and LBM codes for advanced numerical simulation of outburst initiation and propagation. These advances are described in this paper.

A general solution and approximation for the diffusion of gas in a spherical coal sample

The square root relationship of gas release in the early stage of desorption is widely used to provide a simple and fast estimation of the lost gas in coal mines. However, questions arise as to how the relationship was theoretically derived, what are the assumptions and applicable conditions and how large the error will be. In this paper, the analytical solutions of gas concentration and fractional gas loss for the diffusion of gas in a spherical coal sample were given with detailed mathematical derivations based on the diffusion equation. The analytical solutions were approximated in case of small values of time and the error analyses associated with the approximation were also undertaken. The results indicate that the square root relationship of gas release is the first term of the approximation, and care must be taken in using the square root relationship as a significant error might be introduced with increase in the lost time and decrease in effective diameter of a spherical coal sample.

Determination of indices and critical values of gas parameters of the first gas outburst in a coal seam of the Xieqiao Mine

Based on the important role in mine safety played by parameters of the first gas outburst, we propose a method of combining historic data, theoretical analysis and experimental research for the purpose of crit- ical values of gas parameters of the first gas outburst in a coal seam of the Xieqiao Mine. According to a characteristic analysis and a summary of the rules of coal and gas outbursts in the No.8 coal seam of a Hua- inan mine, we have investigated their effect on coal and gas outbursts in terms such as ground stress, gas, and coal structure. We have selected gas parameters and determined the critical values of each of the fol- lowing indices： gas content as 7.7 m^3/t, tectonic coal as 0.8 m thick, the absolute gas emission as 2 m3/min, the rate of change as 0.7 m3/min, the gas desorption index of a drilling chip KI as 0.26 mL/（g min^1/2） and the values of desorption indexes Ah2 as 200 Pa. From a verification of the production, the results indicate that application of each index and their critical values significantly improve the level of safety in the pro- duction process, relieve the burden upon the mine, save much labor and bring clear economic benefits.

Gas diffusion in a cylindrical coal sample – A general solution,approximation and error analyses

The analytical mathematical solutions of gas concentration and fractional gas loss for the diffusion of gas in a cylindrical coal sample were given with detailed mathematical derivations by assuming that the diffusion of gas through the coal matrix is concentration gradient-driven and obeys the Fick’s Second Law of Diffusion.The analytical solutions were approximated in case of small values of time and the error analyses associated with the approximation were also undertaken.The results indicate that the square root relationship of gas release in the early stage of desorption,which is widely used to provide a simple and fast estimation of the lost gas,is the first term of the approximation,and care must be taken in using the square root relationship as a significant error might be introduced with increase in the lost time and decrease in effective diameter of a cylindrical coal sample.

Evaluation of coal bed methane content using BET adsorption isotherm equation

Coal bed methane is unconventional raw natural gas stored in coal seam with considerable reserves in China.In recent years,as the coal bed methane production,the safety and the use of resources have been paid more attentions.Evaluating coal bed methane content is an urgent problem.A BET adsorption isotherm equation is used to process the experimental data.The various parameters of BET equation under different temperatures are obtained;a theoretical gas content correction factor is proposed,and an evaluation method of actual coal bed methane is established.

STUDY ON THE THRESHOLD GAS PRESSURE IN COAL AND GAS OUTBURST

Based on the statistical data of 26 outburst prone coal seams in China, this paper presents the relationship among the threshold gas pressure in coal and gas outburst and the volatile content and hardness of coal by mathematical statistics. The threshold value of gas pressure for outburst pmin in MPa may be calculated by formula Pmin =5(0. 1+0. 07Kf), where / is the hardness and V the volatile content (%) of a soft bed. In China, the value of Pmin of some outburst prone coal seams ranges from 0. 57 to 0. 1 MPa.

Greenhouse gas emissions from shallow uncovered coal seams

This study discusses a method of quantifying emissions from surface coal mining that has been trialled in Australia. The method is based on direct measurement of surface emissions from uncovered coal seams in mine pits, concurrent measurement of residual gas content of blasted coal in mine pits, and measurement of pre-mining gas content of the same seam from cores retrieved from exploration boreholes drilled away from active mining. The results from one of the mines studied are presented in this paper. In this mine,the pre-mining gas content of the target seam was measured using cores from an exploration borehole away from active mining. Gas content varied from 0.7 to 0.8 m3/t and gas composition varied from16% to 21% CH4(84–79% CO2). In-pit measurements included seam surface emissions and residual gas content of blasted and ripped coal. Residual gas content varied from 0.09 to 0.15 m3/t, less than twofold across the mine pit. Composition of the residual gas was in general 90% CO2and 10% CH4, with slight variation between samples. Coal seam surface emissions varied from 1.03 to 7.50 mL of CO2-e per minute and per square meter of the coal seam surface, a sevenfold variation across the mine pit.

Critical Value of CO of Forecasting Coal Spontaneous Combustion

CO has been used widely in the production process of colliery as an index gas to predict spontaneous combustion of coal. But in some collieries there are CO gas in the upper corner of the face all the times, sometime CO gas even exceeds the regulated critical index. This phenomenon is much more obvious in the fully-mechanized longwall face and fully-mechanized longwall and top-coal caving face. Although many measures of fire-proof and fire-extinguishing have been adopted, the flowing amount of CO gas can be only decreasd, but can not be eliminated completely. Using the different kinds of coal, the experiment of coal oxidation was made at the low temperature. The experiment indicates that some kinds of coal can produce CO under the condition of normal temperature oxidation, sometime the CO consistency is very high, and the intension of CO can be decreased with oxidation time prolonging. Selecting rational critical value of CO is the kev to predicting spontaneous combustion of coal correctly and reliably. The problem of selecting retional critical value of CO was studied. Finally, the amount of CO gas released by different kinds of coal was obtained under normal temperature condition.

Discussion of the indexes of nonoutburst coal seam upgrade and its corresponding critical values

In view of the measurement difficulties of indexes recommended by the 50Items Experience of Coal Mine Gas Prevention in the process of the nonoutburst coalseam upgrade, this paper took the No.8 coal seam of Huainan Mining Group as research object. Discussed the suitability of indexes and corresponding critical values, putforward method in determining the indexes and its critical values by analysis and investigation of the gas geological condition and the-spot tracking near position where anoutburst occurred combined with laboratory experiment, and established the indexesand its critical values of nonoutburst coal seam upgrade in No.8 coal seam of HuainanMining Group. The results show that it is suitable to take gas content and tectonic softcoal thickness easily to gain in routine production as primary upgrade indexes that itscritical values are 7.5 m^3/t and 0.8 m, respectively. In addition, takefvalue and Ap valueas auxiliary indexes.

5E-MAC红外快速煤质分析仪在煤工业分析中的应用

通过试验用5E-MAC红外快速煤质分析仪进行煤的工业分析,并与GB212-91进行了对比。结果表明,这种仪器测试结果精度较高且测试速度较快,能够满足我公司的生产需求,并用于指导生产。

沁水盆地樊庄区块煤层含气量影响因素分析

煤层含气量是煤层气勘探和开发中评价煤层气资源的重要参数,但它的计算精度一直是困扰测井界的难题。沁水盆地樊庄区块煤层厚度大,含气量高,但现有的测井解释模型的计算精度不高。为此,从煤岩的变质程度、煤层结构和工业组分、煤的孔隙大小和形态、温度和压力、煤层的含水性、煤层厚度、煤层顶底板的封堵性等7个方面分析了煤层含气量的影响因素,尽可能地将这些影响因素用测井资料加以量化,并对沁水盆地樊庄区块现有的测井解释模型进行了优化,明显提高了煤层含气量的计算精度。