One of the negative consequences of underground development of coal deposits is mine gas releases to the earth surface. These gases (primarily methane and carbon dioxide) can generate an explosive medium in poorly ventilated volumes of surface and underground facilities and have a toxic impact on flora and fauna.
Scientific studies of the problem have been carried out since the 1960s; overall, today the safety issues have been addressed. In particular, the mechanisms of mine gas releases to the earth surface have been investigated, methods of detecting hazardous areas, and methods of evaluating the current intensity of gas release have been developed, and measures to minimize threats have been substantiated. In order to ensure safety, a relevant regulatory framework has been established. Since the middle of the 20th century, monitoring of areas hazardous in terms of mine gas releases has been arranged in the territories of mining allotments of coal mines.
Despite the thorough research on the topic, however, the issue of long-term forecasting of such characteristics of hazardous areas as gas release intensity and the duration of mine gas release to the surface received little attention from the scientific society. Nevertheless, the information on these characteristics can be useful in both the design and construction of facilities and the operation of agricultural lands in the mine allotment territory.
The aim of the study is to develop methods of forecasting the intensity of mine gas release to the earth surface and the duration of existence of hazardous areas.
As a result of long-term gas monitoring of the Donbas territory, a comprehensive database associated with the topic has been accumulated, including information on the dynamics of mine gas release, dimensions of hazardous areas, and the duration of their functioning. This information combined with scientifically substantiated ideas on the mechanisms of mine gas penetration to the surface enabled to develop several methods allowing forecasting the intensity of gas release intensity to the earth surface and the general duration of the process for specific conditions with acceptable accuracy.
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