Influence of biomethane genesis on gas balance in coal mines

The article describes the experimental studies on isotopic composition of carbon in methane using the present-day method of the resonance-enhanced spectroscopy. The test gas samples were from coal seams and from air in operating longwalls in coal mines in Kuzbass. The precision analysis of content of stable light carbon isotopes and later determination of an isotopic signature allowed an experimental confirmation of contribution of biogenic processes in total gas emission. It is found that some methane present in mine air has a biogenic nature. The statistical processing of the obtained data shows that 65% of the test samples of mine air contain methane generated as a result of activity of methanogens. A kinetic model is presented, which offers a quantitative evaluation of biogenic gas emission potential depending on geological and microbiological factors. It is demonstrated that continuous microbial methanogenesis in coal–rock mass and in mined-out space adds to the methane content of up to 1 m3 per ton of coal in longwalls. A feature of the process is its constant and long-term background effect. Unlike desorption being directly correlated with the rate of coal-face work, biogenic methane emission runs continuously and irrespective of the coal face advance rate. The research findings confirm the expediency of taking into account the biogenic component of the mine air gas content toward its more accurate prediction and for the enhanced efficiency of mining safety management. 

Tailakov O. V., Utkaev E. A., Tailakov A. A., Ryabtsev A. A. Influence of biomethane genesis on gas balance in coal mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(6):20-33. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_6_0_20.

The study was carried out within the framework of the state contract with the Federal Research Center for Coal and Coal Chemistry, SB RAS, Project FWEZ-2026-0002: Development of Methods for Integrated Application of Geophysical Prediction and Ground Control, and Prevention Technologies for Gas-Dynamic Phenomena, and Their Implementation Monitoring, Registration No. 1023032200092-2-1.5.1;2.7.5. 

O.V. Tailakov, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, General Director, Scientific Center VostNII for Industrial and Environmental Safety in Mining Industry, Kemerovo, Russia, e-mail: tailakov@nc-vostnii.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5046-0476,
E.A. Utkaev¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: utkaev@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8299-1327, 
A.A. Tailakov¹, Engineer, e-mail: Aleksandr.tailakov@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4593-5443,
A.A. Ryabtsev¹, Researcher, e-mail: iu@ficuuh.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6764-3607, 
¹ Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russia.

O.V. Tailakov, e-mail: tailakov@nc-vostnii.ru.

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