On the state of methane in coal seams

Investigation in the “coal seam gas” physical-chemical system existing in gas-containing coal seams is one of the most important problems in mining science. The fact that the combination of methane with the coal seam and the influence of the seam development conditions upon gas transfer in the coal seam have not been sufficiently investigated, hinders the development of coal deposits and a wide utilization of methane from those deposits for energy. In particular, the problems of methane sorption process thermodynamics in the microporous structure of coal; gas-containing coal seam deformation mechanics; the nature of coal and gas outbursts; and the intensity of methane extract from coal deposits remain unsolved.

Any advance in the development of methane resources is impossible without understanding of the problems of the methane state in gas containing coal seams.