Investigation of Gas Content in the Seams of the Karaganda Coal Basin Mines

In the mines of the Karaganda Basin, in addition to methane, there are instances of intense hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide emissions during coal seam extraction. Methane content in the extraction areas ranges from 25 to 38 m³/t. Consequently, degassing is applied in all extraction areas. Before degassing operations, methane is extracted from the unreleased coal seam. In seams exhibiting methane-hydrogen sulfide zones, the methane zone is prioritized for extraction, followed by the hydrogen sulfide zone. The aim of the article is to determine the specific content of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide in seams D6 and D10 during the extraction of hydrogen sulfide zones in the Karaganda Basin mines, identify the causes of gas abundance in the seams, and determine the factors influencing the intensity of sulfur-containing gas emissions. The article presents the results of research on the gas content of seams K10 and D6, based on a comparison of laboratory results obtained through coal sample analysis. It includes data on the natural gas content of seam K10, results from sampling and processing coal samples using DMT methodology, and actual gas emissions from seam K10 during its extraction at the Abai mine of ArcelorMittal Temirtaus coal department. For the first time in the Karaganda Basin, comprehensive studies of coal seam gas content and the impact of degassing on its magnitude have been conducted. Accurate knowledge of gas content is essential for designing seam extraction operations, including daily loads, ventilation parameters, degassing, and other factors dependent on methane content and its potential release during mining.