METHOD OF DETERMINING METHANE CONTENT IN COAL BED Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC E21F5/00 

FIELD: mining.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to mining particularly to a method of determining methane content in the coal bed. For the purposes of the invention, a cavity is made in the section of a coal bed, pieces of coal are removed from the cavity and methane consumption is measured. At the same time content of the coal-volatile matter in the coal samples is measured as well as the content of microcomponents of fusinite and vitrinite, relation of changes in the intensity of reciprocal of the specific methane release from the cavity by time is defined, the coefficients of which are used to measure the numerical value of the initial specific methane release out of the coal seam into the cavity and its filtration rate and methane content in the coal bed is defined with regard for the coefficient of proportionality in its interrelation with the amount of the initial specific methane release.

EFFECT: invention enables to increase accuracy of determining methane content in the coal-bed, intensify degassing and reduce volume of gas in the mine workings, enhance control over the effectiveness of degassing and anti-rock outburst activities, afford safety of mining owing to reduction in chances of methane and coal dust explosions.

4 cl