Methane Extraction from Abandoned Mines by Surface Vertical Wells: A Case Study in China

Abstract

Considerable methane resources exist in abandoned coal mines. However, methane extraction from abandoned mines in China is still in the exploratory stage. This study presents technologies and engineering practices suitable for the extraction of gob methane fromabandoned mines using surface vertical wells, includingmethane drainage systems, well bottomlocations, and an intermittent drainage method. Seven surface wells in the Yongan abandoned mine in China were selected for gob methane extraction. Field results showed that the methane volumetric flow rate of a well whose bottomwas close to the gob bottomwas 2.5 times greater than that of awell with a bottomlocated in the gob fractured zone.Moreover, intermittent extraction can enable awell to extractmethane cyclically at a high volumetric flow rate. A well drilled mistakenly into a coal pillar can be reused through hydraulic fracturing. The overall maximum methane volumetric flow rate, average concentration, and extraction span were 210m3/h, 83%, and 1100 days, respectively.