Studies of methane inflow from longwall floor into the mine atmosphere

¹ Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 111020, Russia
² Digital Technologies and Platforms, Moscow, 115054, Russia

Abstract

The results of studies assessing methane inflow from longwall floor are presented. Based on mine observation data, the facts of an increase in local gas release from the carbon massif caused by an increase in the reservoir properties of rocks have been confirmed. A conclusion is made about the random nature of the spatial distribution of local sources of methane emissions in the lava. Measurements of methane content near a local gas source showed a decrease in its concentration with increasing measurement altitude. An assumption has been made about the connection between this reduction in gas pollution and the high speed of air movement near the soil. A fresh stream of air dilutes methane directly at the point of its release, and therefore, it is difficult to obtain data on the contribution of this source of methane inflow to the gas balance of the excavation site. The task has been set to assess the flow of methane from its local sources. A prototype of a device for measuring the flow of gas released from local sources is presented. The need for chemical analysis of samples of released gases is shown.