Unveiling the Catastrophic Mechanism of Coal and Gas Outbursts: Strategies for Prevention and Control

In the realm of deep coal mining, a notable difficulty faced is the occurrence of methane gas and abrupt emissions of coal gas. This study scrutinizes coal gas outbursts via laboratory investigations. The study investigates the dynamics of coal gas outbursts, focusing on the analysis and mitigation of abrupt coal gas releases via laboratory experiments. Results suggest that the prevention of coal gas outbursts in the test sample is achievable by a 20% pressure reduction using degassing techniques.Drawing from engineering observations during the mining process, this study investigates the mechanism of coal gas outbursts using a specifically constructed test device. This study reveals that a gas outburst occurs when the boundaries of coal seams become unstable due to coal failure. In cases where fractures are not connected or are closed due to coal/rock stress, the fractured zones can maintain a certain level of carrying capacity due to self-sealing gas pressure. However, once the accumulated gas energy reaches a critical point, the coal seams become unstable, leading to gas outbursts. This study presents a laboratory analysis of coal gas outbursts, methane drainage, and methods for managing these events. Findings indicate that the outburst of coal gas can be effectively managed by lowering the tank pressure through gas drainage techniques.