The study of pore characteristics in tectonic coal is essential for a deeper understanding of gas diffusion, seepage, and other transport processes within coal seams, and plays a crucial role in the development of coalbed methane resources. Based on low-temperature N2 and CO2 adsorption experiments, this study investigated the pore structure characteristics of four tectonic coal samples collected from the Hegang and Jixi basins in China. The results show that the mylonitic coal sample exhibits a clear capillary condensation and evaporation phenomenon around a relative pressure (P/P0) of 0.5. The degree of tectonic deformation in coal has a significant impact on its pore characteristics. As the degree of deformation increases, both the pore volume and specific surface area of the coal gradually increase. The pore volume and specific surface area of micropores are primarily concentrated in pores with diameters of 0.5–0.7 nm and 0.8–0.9 nm, while those of mesopores are mainly distributed in pores with diameters of 2.3–6.2 nm. The proportion of pore volume and specific surface area contributed by micropores is much greater than that of mesopores. The fractal dimension is positively correlated with the degree of tectonic deformation in coal. As the fractal dimension increases, the average pore diameter decreases, closely tied to the destruction and reconstruction of the coal’s pore structure under tectonic stress. These findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of the pore structure characteristics of tectonic coal and effectively advance coalbed methane development.
Addressing the challenge of efficient gas control in high-gas coal mines with ultra-long panels, this study focuses on the No. 8 coal seam in the Baode Mine. A multi-parameter integrated methodology was developed to establish a hierarchical classification system of Gas Geological Units (GGUs), aiming to identify regions suitable for large-scale gas extraction. The results indicate that the overall structure of the No. 8 coal seam is a simple monocline. Both gas content (ranging from 2.0 to 7.0 m3/t) and gas pressure (ranging from 0.2 to 0.65 MPa) generally increase with burial depth. However, local anomalies in these parameters, caused by geological structures and hydrogeological conditions, significantly limit the effectiveness of large-scale drainage using ultra-long boreholes. Based on key criteria, the seam was classified into three Grade I and ten Grade II GGUs, distinguishing anomalous zones from homogeneous units. Among the Grade II units, eight (II-i to II-viii) were identified as anomalous zones with distinct geological constraints, while two (II-ix and II-x) exhibited homogeneous gas geological parameters. Practical implementation of large-scale gas extraction strategies—including underground ultra-long boreholes and a U-shaped surface well—within the homogeneous Unit II-x demonstrated significantly improved gas drainage performance, characterized by higher methane concentration, greater flow rate, enhanced temporal stability, and more favorable decay characteristics compared to conventional boreholes. These findings confirm the critical role of GGU delineation in guiding efficient regional gas control and ensuring safe production in similar high-gas coal mines.