The changes in the permeability of coal-bed reservoirs with methane, as associated with gas depletion, are the consequence of two opposing processes, namely geomechanical compaction that narrows down fractures, and matrix shrinkage, which, in turn, widens fractures. Many previous studies on the effects of these processes have emphasised, albeit not always, the circumstances and conditions that led to a greater coal permeability, with a natural decrease in the pore pressure of methane during its production, and, in consequence, to an increase in the cumulative volume of this gas. However, in some coal basins, there are beds where the methane production has failed to reach the appropriate level, whether in economic or engineering terms. This paper identifies some reasons for the failed attempts at well exploration of gas from such coal beds. Specifically, it describes seven parameters to be considered in relation to CBM, including geomechanical parameters such as Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and the initial porosity, which define coal cleat compressibility, a very important parameter, and parameters related to methane desorption, i.e., desorption-induced volumetric strain, the Langmuir pressure, and the initial pressure of gas within the bed. In addition to cleat compressibility, there are other, equally important parameters, such as the rebound pressure and recovery pressure, which are defined by the following parameters in order of importance: Young’s modulus, desorption-induced volumetric strain, initial pressure of methane, the Langmuir pressure, and Poisson’s ratio. To assess the impact of these parameters on changes in permeability, we used the Cui-Bastin model. The simulation results were analysed to allow us to present our findings.

This paper presents the results of the statistical analyses of rock mass seismicity associated with O/ZG Rudna exploitation and geomechanical analyses concerning the location and conditions of tremor occurrences in LGOM conditions, illustrated by the example of O/ZG Rudna. As part of the statistical analyses, the assessment of rock mass seismicity formation in O/ZG Rudna throughout the whole mine area in the years 2006–2015 is presented, the results of which were the basis for subsequent geo-mechanical analyses. Within the parameters of seismic activity, the analysis covered the number of recorded events, the total value of energy emission and the index of individual energy expenditure. The presented analyses also refer to the locations of tremor source epicentres in relation to the exploitation front, distinguished into low energy and high energy tremors located ahead of the exploitation front, in the area of opening-up works and gobs. These recent results were the starting point for research and calculations on geo-mechanical analyses. These numerical calculations using the finite element method (FEM) carried out the energy density distribution of elastic deformation in the vicinity of the exploitation front. FEM calculations were designed to establish the factors and conditions that determine the location of tremor sources and the mechanism of rock destruction. Both of these factors are directly related to the magnitude of the energy emitted during the tremor. Appropriate energy measurements of elastic deformation have been adopted to determine rock mass areas which are potentially threatened by tremor occurrences of varying energy. Measures of the energy density of shear and volumetric strain enable the determination of the nature of rock mass destruction in the vicinity of mine workings, which in turn gives the basis for linking these measurements with tremor energy and location relative to the exploitation front. The results of numerical computations were compared with the results of statistical analyses on the locations of tremor sources with different energies in relation to the exploitation front in O/ZG Rudna

Dilatancy understood as inelastic volume changes of rock under conditions of differential stress not only foreshadows brittle rock failure [1, 2, 3], preceding such phenomena as earthquakes or mining-induced rockbursts, but also defines the kinematics of rock deformation [4, 5]. This article shows that there is a quantitative relationship between the dilatancy occurring at different levels of rock load and the development of fracturing that accompanies the process of rock degradation. Based on the mechanical laboratory test results of Wustenzelleer fine-grained sandstone, the article presents analyses of plastic volume changes in rock samples and a certain measure of fracture development accompanying the process of their degradation. Thanks to the characteristics obtained through mechanical tests with unloading, the inelastic volumetric strain of the samples was established, and the scalar damage variable (CDM - continuum damage mechanics approach) was determined at various load levels. These results demonstrated the relationship between dilatancy and rock stiffness changes describing the development of fracturing. Three load intervals were determined, in which the nature of the analysed phenomena, i.e. dilatancy and damage describing the development of cracks, undergoes significant changes. The highest intensity of both phenomena was obtained in the post-critical load range, between the ultimate strength limit and the residual strength of the samples, in which rock samples undergo the process of degradation the most. Obtained dependencies allow the correlation to be taken into account in damage mechanics models describing the variable stiffness of rocks in the loading process.

The paper presents results of laboratory investigation and analysis of crack initiation threshold identification of dolomite samples. First, selected methods for determining crack initiation thresholds are briefly described with special attention paid to four methods: crack volume strain method [14], change in Poisson’s ratio [8], lateral strain response method [16], and dilatancy method [4]. The investigation performed on dolomite samples shows that for the uniaxial and conventional triaxial compression tests, the above mentioned methods give quite similar values, except for the crack volume strain method. Crack initiation threshold determined by this method has a distinctively lower value than that obtained by the other methods. The aim of the present paper was to review and assess these methods for identifying crack initiation threshold based on laboratory tests of dolomite samples.

This article concerns numerical modeling of the impact of mining operations on fault behavior, carried out on the basis of a calculation program based on the finite element method. The calculations and their graphic results related to the reactions of vertical discontinuity on the mining operations that run along its boundary under changing operating parameters, such as geometry of the field and direction of mining with respect to the fault, as well as the method of liquidation of the caving zone. The behavior of the fault was analyzed based on distributions in the plane of shear stress and slip, together with their range and energy dissipated due to friction. The results of numerical calculations made it possible to draw conclusions on the impact of faults and the impact of operating conditions of mining in their vicinity on the level of seismic hazard.

The paper presents the results of analyses on tendency of bedded rock mass towards rockburst, carried out on the basis of laboratory tests of rock samples and determined indices, as well as by means of numerical calculations. The first part of the paper discusses selected parameters evaluating the tendency of rocks towards burst, on the basis of which the analysis was carried out in order to assess rockburst hazard in selected complexes of strata in Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Rockburst hazard in bedded rock mass is also analyzed with the use of numerical methods and the results of calculations of rock damage development in the exploitation front during coal deposit extraction are presented. Burst hazard of rock mass is studied through the changes of intensiveness of damage process in the area of exploitation front.