Institute of Coal, Federal Research Center for Coal and Coal Chemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of
Sciences, Kemerovo, Russia:

O. V. Tailakov, Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, oleg2579@gmail.com

A. V. Gerasimov, Engineer

National University of Science and Technology MISIS, Moscow, Russia:
V. I. Efimov, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Uglemetan Service, Kemerovo, Russia:
V. O. Tailakov, Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

To improve efficiency of coalbed methane drainage and operation of ventilation systems based on true information on gas distribution in coal mine production and development drives, it was suggested to use the data on carbon-12 and carbon-13 stable isotope content of coalbed methane and mine air methane obtained using advanced gas analysis laboratory equipment. The content of the above mentioned isotopes in coal mine air was defined based on laboratory studies conducted using samples of methane–air mixtures taken directly from underground excavations in a few Kuzbass coal mines. The laboratory studies of carbon-12 and carbon-13 in coalbed methane were conducted using the direct absorption spectroscopy method, whereby the extracted coal was placed in sealed vessels and heated up to 70 °C, then methane was taken off and carbon isotopes content was registered. The studies allowed to determine that methane taken directly from coal samples had a higher carbon-13 content (δ¹³С = –26.3–38.6‰) as compared to methane contained in mine stopes and in goafs (δ¹³С = –46.0–56.32‰). Thus, coal methane can be described as gas formed as a result of thermogenic processes, and mine ventilation air methane — as a result of coal methane mixed with biogenic methane additionally coming in mine workings and/or goafs. The research findings may be of interest for clarifi cation of computational models describing interconnection of gas ventilation parameters complemented by the parameters describing carbon stable isotopes content in coal and in mine air. This would contribute to the improvement of measures aimed at removal and further utilization of coalbed methane and ventilation air methane.
This study has been supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Project No. 16-45-420916 р_а.

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