Role of closed porosity in formation of phase states of methane in coal seams

The aim of our study is to determine the physical properties of selected points of coal seams to predict potentially hazardous zones, in the vicinity of which it is necessary to apply additional technological solutions that guarantee the passage of these zones in a safe mode. Samples obtained in the mines of Donbass, Kuzbass and the Vorkuta coal basin were analyzed. Low-temperature nitrogen adsorption methods, microscopic methods, small-angle neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopy were used. When analyzing the data obtained for microand macroscopic scales, the concept of self-organized criticality was used. The results of the study allowed us to conclude that the combined use of geodynamic zoning methods and physical methods for analyzing the structural organization of coals at the micro level is effective in predicting the sources of origin and initiation of gas-dynamic phenomena. Small-angle neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopy methods have proven to be the most sensitive for characterizing the structural features and methane capacity of the pore space of coals extracted from coal seam sections with varying degrees of stress-strain state. Tectonically loaded zones differ from unloaded zones in the parameters of the fractal dimension, which characterizes the hierarchical (power) distribution of pores by size.

Vasilenko T. A., Kirillov A. K. Role of closed porosity in formation of phase states of methane in coal seams. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2024;(12-1):193-211. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2024_121_0_193.

T.A. Vasilenko, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Chief Researcher, Empress Catherine II Saint-Petersburg Mining University, 199106, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, e-mail: tvasilenko@mal.ru, Scopus Author ID: 57212244174, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4290-1520,
A.K. Kirillov, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Leading Researcher, International Intergovernmental Organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980, Dubna, Russia, e-mail: kirillov1953@inbox.ru, Scopus Author ID: 55116623400, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8727-2441.

T.A. Vasilenko, e-mail: tvasilenko@mail.ru.

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