The evolution of fissures and permeability associated with mining of the upper protective layer of the coal seam is crucial for pressure relief gas drainage of the underlying seam. To understand the influence of mining the upper protective layer on gas drainage within the underlying coal seam, this study utilized the M16 and M18 seams in the Qinglong Coal Mine in Guizhou. Theoretical analysis, discrete element numerical simulation, and field tests were used to characterize the evolution of fractures associated with mining of the upper protective layer and the effects of pressure relief gas drainage within the protected coal seam. The results show that mining-related stress changes controlled the development of fractures, altering the permeability values of coals. An analysis of the crack development in the coal mass caused by mining of the upper protective layer shows that during the initial stage of mining, the produced cracks exhibited a butterfly shape network. Yet, with further development of the mining, these cracks and the stress changes gradually produced an inverted butterfly shape network. According to simulations, the areas of maximum deformation via expansion in the protected coal seam were located near the open cut and the mining end line of the working face. The maximum deformation values were 29.06 and 26.68 mm, respectively, and the corresponding deformation rates were 9.37‰ and 8.61‰, which are greater than the required 3‰. The findings of this study provide a new reference for gas control in pressure relief coal seams under similar working conditions.

As a critical reservoir property, permeability governs both fluid transport dynamics in coal seams and consequent coalbed methane recovery rates. The pore-fracture structure evolution of soft, low-permeability coal under stress disturbance is complex, making permeability prediction challenging. There is an urgent need to establish a permeability prediction model for such coal. Based on nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of pore-fracture structures and permeability testing of variable-pressure saturated coal rock, fractal permeability prediction models (Sw-FPPM) K(Sw)T-C and K(Sw)SDR incorporating variable water saturation (Sw) were established to reveal the evolution characteristics of pore-fracture structures and permeability under variable-pressure saturated water conditions. The results indicate that variable-pressure water saturation significantly enhances the permeability of coal seams. At the maximum pressure of 9 MPa, the permeability increased by 7.2–51.38 times compared to the initial coal samples. Softer coal samples with lower firmness coefficients exhibited higher initial permeability but showed smaller permeability increments under higher water pressures. The fractal dimension (Ds) of seepage pores approached 3, indicating strong heterogeneity in the coal's pore-fracture structure. Ds slightly decreased with increasing water saturation pressure, while permeability significantly increased as Ds decreased. Additionally, pore shrinkage effects inhibit seepage, and the control exerted by small-aperture pores on permeability is commonly underestimated. The improved models K(Sw)T-C and K(Sw)SDR, incorporating Sw and Ds, demonstrated significantly enhanced accuracy by 61.09% and 53.84%, respectively. This provides an effective method for predicting permeability in soft, low-permeability coal seams.

The gas content and permeability of coal reservoirs are the main factors affecting the productivity of coalbed methane. To explore the law of gas content and permeability of coal reservoirs in the Zhijin area of Guizhou, taking No.16, No.27 and No.30 coal seams in Wenjiaba mining area of Guizhou as the engineering background, based on the relevant data of coalbed methane exploration in Wenjiaba block, the geological structure, coal seam thickness, coal quality characteristics,coal seam gas content and permeability of the area were studied utilizing geological exploration, analysis of coal components and methane adsorption test. The results show that the average thickness of coal seams in this area is between 1.32 and 1.85 m; the average buried depth of the coal seam is in the range of 301.3–384.2 m; the gas content of No.16 and No.27 coal seams is higher in the syncline core. The gas content of the No.30 coal seam forms a gas-rich center in the south of the mining area. The buried depth and gas content of coal seams in the study area show a strong positive correlation. Under the same pressure conditions, the adsorption capacity of dry ash-free basis is significantly higher than that of air-dried coal. The permeability decreases exponentially with the horizontal maximum principal stress and the horizontal minimum principal stress. The horizontal maximum primary stress and the flat minimum prominent stress increase with the increase of the buried depth of the coal seam. The permeability and coal seam burial depth decrease exponentially. This work can provide engineering reference and theoretical support for selecting high-yield target areas for CBM enrichment in the block.

Methane adsorption/desorption and permeability measurements are critical for evaluating reserves and production potential in coalbed methane (CBM) extraction. The varying temperature and stress in CBM wells have an impact on these characteristics. To understand these effects, take the Wenjiaba mining area and the Qinglong mining area in Guizhou, China, as the research objects, which are called WJB and QL for short. Characterizing the coal's surface area and pore structure using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption is essential for methane flow and storage. The coal's adsorptive capacity under in situ conditions was revealed by isothermal methane adsorption tests conducted at pressures ranging from 0 to 18 MPa at different temperatures. Triaxial stress-controlled adsorption experiments simulated the impact of effective stress on methane adsorption. Stress-permeability tests evaluated the stress sensitivity and its effect on the coal's methane transmission ability, a key factor in CBM well producibility. The results showed that increased temperature reduced adsorption capacity for WJB and QL coals by 14.2% and 16.3%, respectively, while desorption rates and diffusion coefficients increased, suggesting that higher temperatures enhance desorption and diffusion. However, higher coal ranks can hinder desorption. Effective stress application led to over a 90% decrease in both adsorption capacity and permeability, emphasizing the need for stress management in CBM extraction. These insights provide a theoretical framework for the interplay between coal's pore structure, adsorption/desorption properties, and permeability under different stress and temperature conditions, guiding the optimization of CBM extraction strategies for efficient and sustainable methane recovery.