Mining Science and Technology, 12 (1991) 1 - 1 5 1

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., A m s t e r d a m

Numerical simulation of time-dependent methane flow

I.G. Ediz and J.S. Edwards

Mining EngineeringDepartment, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
(Received January 12, 1990; accepted May 14, 1990)

ABSTRACT

Ediz, I.G. and Edwards, J.S., 1991. Numerical simulation of time dependent methane flow. Min. Sci. Technol., 12: 1-15.

A numerical method of solving the time-dependent gas flow equation with respect to a medium having variable,
anisotropic permeability is described. The approximate solutions for this equation are obtained using finite element analysis to
give time-dependent gas pressures. A finite element package called PAFEC'75 was used to facilitate gas pressure distributions,
simulation of boreholes and calculation of gas flow for a given boundary. The similarity between the gas flow and the heat
flow equation enables gas flow problems to be solved using thermal routines from the PAFEC'75 program suite, after suitable
modifications.

Introduction migration through coal and its surrounding

The release of methane from coal seams
and surrounding strata into mine workings
has been of great concern since the earliest
days of underground coal mining. The advent
of modem underground mining machinery
and mining methods, coupled with improved
environmental control techniques, has al-
lowed higher levels of production to be
achieved with faster rates of face advance.
These factors, combined with increasing de-
pth of working, have exacerbated the prob-
lems related to methane emission in under-
ground mining.
In the design of ventilation systems for
mines it is becoming increasingly important
to estimate the level of methane emission
from source beds to the mine workings.
Moreover, the potential for commercially re-
covering methane in advance of mining or
from unmineable coal has stimulated the de-
velopment of research methods incorporating
the analysis of methane desorption and
strata.
The flow of methane in and around work-
ing coal mines using mathematical models
has been investigated by various researchers
[1-6]. Recent studies on simulation of
methane flow using numerical methods have
three essential components:
(1) stress analysis;
(2) stress-permeability analysis;
(3) gas flow analysis.
The release of methane from coal and its
flow through strata towards the workings is
controlled mainly by the permeability of the
formations concerned. Stress disturbances
created by mining affect the permeability of
both the seam being worked and those in the
adjacent strata and therefore determine the
pattern of methane emission. As the coal is
extracted, stress conditions on a longwall
panel will be readjusted and, at some stage, a
new equilibrium will be reached. These
changes and the redistribution of stresses, to-
gether with postulated changes in coal seam

0167-9031/91/$03.50 1991 - Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

 2 I.G. EDIZ AND J.S. EDWARDS

120

110

100

90
-- x x very~
Very high \ X low \
80 - permeabiiity \ Xnermeabilit " \ ! Original seam permeability

- ..... ................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

70

60
\ \
50
-_._~~-~ ~o. ,\ ,\
40 - \ ' % \, ',
E
30

20 Overlying
seams
10 Oa,~ow " ~0o~,!
S Waste
Worked seam

0
i /'
-10

Gas flow , / I: / /
-20 9 ,, /
/ / / / I, ./ /
-30

/ /
- 40
/ J / 1 Underlying seams
f / / / I
-50

~- ' ~ / . . . j / ...- ..- ,

- 60

-70 I
- 80 I i i i i i i i I I i i i i II
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50

Horizontal distance from the face, m

F i g . 1. D i f f e r e n t permeability zones and suggested flow paths of methane around a working longwall face (after
D u r u c a n [7]).

permeability are shown in Fig. 1 [7]. The Fluid flow in porous permeable media
results of stress-permeability analysis are
crucial for a successful gas flow simulation as Before attempting any simulation of a
they are the main inputs to the governing practical problem, one should have a know-
mathematical equations. ledge of the physical principles relevant to the
NUMERICALSIMULATIONOFTIME-DEPENDENTMETHANEFLOW 3

conditions in question. The fundamental the- pendent gas flow equation for variable aniso-
ory of laminar flow through homogeneous tropic permeability being expressed as:
porous media is based on experiments origi-
~p - 1 [ ~ (ka~p2) + ~ ~p2)
nally performed by Darcy in 1856 [8]. He
conducted a series of experiments on the flow
of water through filter sands by varying the
different quantities involved and finally 3 (k3~P-~-t] (4)
-1-"~3 \ 3 ]]
arrived at the relationship:
Where:
Q = _K 'A p -- pressure;
T(h2-hl) (1)
t -- time;
/~ = viscosity of the gas;
where: k i = permeability in the i direction;
Q -- total volume of fluid flowing through the x = space coordinate;
filter sand in unit time; ~= porosity of the material.
A -- cross-sectional area of the filter sand; The following assumptions have been made
h 2 - h 1 -- difference in head of the fluid across in deriving eqn. (4):
the filter sand with length L; (1) flow is laminar;
K ' -- a constant depending on the properties (2) flow is single-phase;
of the fluid and of the porous medium. The (3) slip effects may be ignored;
negative sign indicates that flow is in the (4) isothermal flow conditions exist;
opposite direction to increasing L. (5) methane obeys the Perfect Gas law
For the case of non-compressible fluids, (shows no abnormal compressibility);
K/l~ can be substituted for K' where K rep- (6) Darcy's law is valid;
resents the permeability of the material and/z (7) the effect of adsorption may be ignored.
the fluid viscosity, respectively. Equation (1) For the steady-state situation, that is where
can then be written as [9]: pressure does not vary with time, eqn. (4)
takes the form given below, which is Laplace's
equation [1]:
Q= -zxe (2)
[ ~___O__[kOp2 0 2
and for compressible fluids: axe 1 1 0Xl ) -'[- -~2 (k2-~2)0p

KAAPP' + ~3 k3-~3 =0 (5)

Q2- t~LP2 (3)

Where:
Q2 ---volume flow measured at pressure P2;
P ' = mean pressure;
Ap = pressure difference.
Darcy's law in this form can be applied to
a bed with thickness L being percolated verti-
cally by a fluid. However, these forms of the
law have only a very restricted use. For more
general applications it is necessary to write
the equation in differential form; the time-de-
Possible methods for the solution of gas flow
equations
Solution of eqn. (4) is the key to a greater
understanding of strata gas flow around mine
workings. Two approaches can be considered,
namely "finite difference" and "finite ele-
ment". Fundamental to both methods is the
concept of discretization; where a mesh of
4 I.G. E D I Z A N D J.S. EDWARDS
points, which are termed nodes, is specified,
enabling a continuous domain to be repre-
sented as a number of contiguous sub-re-
gions. The finite difference method defines
approximations to a continuous solution at
isolated nodes, whereas the finite element
method is used to provide an approximate
solution over the entire domain [10]. Conse-
quently, when using the finite element
method, it is not necessary to apply ad-
ditional interpolation schemes to obtain a
solution at an arbitrary point in the domain.
Keen [2] used the finite difference method to
solve the gas flow equation, but several prob-
lems were encountered which were related to
the computational techniques required for the
solution process. In addition, there are a
number of other difficulties pertaining to the
inflexibility of the finite difference method,
and Keen concluded that the technique was
completely inadequate as a technique for
solving the gas flow equation.
The other technique, the finite element
method, is widely used for the solution of a
large number of engineering problems. Keen
[2] and O'Shaughnessy [3] were successful in
using the finite element method to solve the
gas flow equation and therefore, it was de-
cided to use finite element techniques for the
simulation of gas flow around a longwall
working.
Solution of the time-dependent gas flow equa-
tion
Equation (4) can be reduced to a linear
form with a variable change, ff = p2, for prob-
lems of practical interest:
- c-~- = 0 (6)
Where k x, ky, k z are functions of x, y and
z, and c is a constant. The general solution of
this type of differential equation is found by
using a variational principle valid over the
whole region. The correct solution minimizes
a functional, which is defined by an integra-
tion of a function of the unknown quantities
over the whole domain. The general func-
tional for eqn. (6), which will be minimized, is
given as:
= 0 /2 )2
+kz(~-~) +c~qb dxdydz (7)
The true minimization of X would require
that:
0X _ 0
0e:
If the field variable ~ is defined element by
element as given below:
O= (N)T((~} e (8)
where ( N } T is the shape function and {q~)e
is the listing of the nodal field values. Then,
differentiating eqn. (7) and employing eqn.
(8), the following set of minimizing equations
for the whole region is obtained [3]:
0X -
+ [M]{~) = (0} (9)
where [S] and [M] are matrices representing
spatially-dependent terms and field variables
respectively.
T h e PAFEC'75p r o g r a m p a c k a g e
Finite element programs have been written
by many researchers and it is common prac-
tice to use existing generalized routines for
the solution of equations, which, of course,
reduces the amount of work. The PAFECpro-
gram package contains thermal routines for
the solution of the time-dependent equation
for temperature distribution [11]:
~_~_[kOTl a (k aTI ~ ( k OT~ _ OT
ax ~ Ox J + -~-f k -~-f ] + Oz ~ Oz ] c at
=0 (10)
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TIME-DEPENDENT METHANE FLOW

This equation has certain similarities with which are specified by the package program
the time-dependent gas flow equation, eqn. itself. Having obtained (T }, the time depen-
(4), if ~ is set to T, the temperature, and dent temperature gradients, {T'} can be
kx=ky=k z to a constant k, the thermal calculated. If eqn. (11) is partitioned, the up-
conductivity. When the appropriate region has permost partition is:
been discretized there will be only one param- [Ma] {T~' } = (Qa} - [ s ~ ] {r~} - [ & ] { r e )
eter to be determined, namely the tempera-
ture, which is the equivalent of gas pressure -- [ MbI ( T; } (13)
in the gas flow equation. After minimizing Now, at time t = 0 the initial temperature
eqn. (10) the following system of equations is Ta
distribution { )t=0 and ( T~'}t=o
can be
obtained: found from eqns. (11) and (12). In the eAFEC'75
package the subsequent temperature distribu-
[ S l { T ) + [ M ] ( T ' ) = {Q} (11)
tions are found using the Crank-Nicholson
Where: finite difference scheme which makes the ap-
(T } = vector of temperatures for each node; proximations:
I S ] - - s q u a r e symmetric matrix containing
spatially-dependent terms; {T)=[ {T)t+(T)t+At
[M] = square symmetric thermal mass ma-
trix; {T'}=[ (T)t+At+
] A t(T)t
( T' } -- vector of temperature derivatives with
respect to time; where At is the time step. As noted previ-
(Q } = vector of heat fluxes which enter the ously, the square of the gas pressure (q, =p2)
structure at the nodes. obeys the same equation as the temperature
If ( T ) is partitioned to give: (T) and therefore the same scheme can be
used for gas pressure distribution with ap-
propriate mapping as given below:
p=+v~
a
in which (T } are the unknown temperatures
OT 0p 2
and { T0} are the known temperatures, and
since the time-dependent temperature deriva- 0t- 0t
T'
tives, { }, are constrained to zero in the OT 0p
0--7-= 2p 0t
steady-state case, eqn. (11) will become:
Substituting the above relationship into
[s](r)=(o) eqn. (6) and minimizing the appropriate func-
If [S] and { Q} are partitioned appropriately tional gives a system equation:
then the resultant system of equations be-
[S]{PZ} + [ M I { P ' ) = {0} (14)
come:
Pressure derivatives with respect to time
Oo other than t = 0 can be obtained by employ-
ing the Crank-Nicholson method, which
makes the approximation:
From the uppermost partition:
{e2}-=[ {P2}t+]{P2}t+At
2
(12)
To obtain the unknown temperatures, { T~ ), it {P')=[ (P}t+At+
] A t{P}t
is necessary to know the components of { Qa }
6 I.G. EDIZ AND J.S. EDWARDS
If the above approximations are sub-
stituted into the eqn. (14) we have:
+ +
-(t,},) = (0} (15)
Solution of this set of non-linear equations
can be computationally expensive, therefore a
simple alternative approach suggested by
O'Shaughnessy [3], can be used by employing
the following:
{e}={e},
(e'}= { _ ( e},At( }' ]
Incorporating the above equations into eqn.
(14) and rearranging we obtain:
[st]
2At ( P 2 } ' + a t
[st]
- 2At (PZ}t-(pT}t[S](p2}' (16)
From this equation (PZ)t+A t c a n be
evaluated to give the time-dependent pressure
distribution, after modification of the rele-
vant routines of the PAFEC'75package program.
In the solution process all output is obtained
in terms of temperature rather than gas pres-
sure, the pressure values being obtained by
taking the positive square root of the corre-
sponding temperature values. Similarly, when
supplying input data, known pressure values
are squared to ensure their correspondence
with the temperature values required for use
in the thermal routines of the PAFEC'75package
program.
The next consideration is that of time-de-
pendence in the boundary conditions. For the
purpose of steady-state simulation, gas pres-
sure in the source bed is assumed to be con-
stant. However, for a transient flow case, gas
pressure in the source bed should change with
respect to time. It is reasonable to assume
that the pressure in the source bed will gradu-
ally decrease as the gas migrates towards the
roadway, and that this process will continue
until a steady-state is reached, when the tem-
poral pressure gradient will be equal to zero.
Such a scheme can be applied through the use
of the "Thermal Shock" module of PAFEC'75
wherein a user may specify changes in
boundary conditions with respect to time [12].
The program also provides contour drawing
facilities for gas pressure distribution at any
desired time intervals together with a list of
gas pressure values at each node in the mesh.
These contour diagrams were found to be
very useful since they display the results more
clearly than the numerical values.
Variable permeabilities
As noted previously, for the simulation of
gas flow through strata adjacent to a longwall
coalface, PAFEC'75thermal routines were used in
which the time-dependent heat flow equation
is solved. In such solutions, the thermal con-
ductivity, k, which is the analogue of the
permeability in gas flow, remains constant
throughout the mesh. Solutions may therefore
be regarded as the solution of eqn. (4), with
constant permeability in an isotropic medium.
However, in a mining context this situation is
far from satisfactory since permeability, which
is the main parameter governing gas flow,
varies continuously throughout the strata
around the mine working. Therefore, element
routines have been modified so that they can
be used to solve the time-dependent gas flow
equation with variable permeability.
In order to model such a situation Keen [2]
designed more flexible elements which per-
mitted permeability variations between each
pair of its nodes. This method, further devel-
oped by O'Shaughnessy [3] to achieve an ade-
quate representation of permeability varia-
tions in the model, has been extended and
improved in the current research.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TIME-DEPENDENT METHANE FLOW 7

Stress analysis using finite element method

Before mining commences, underground

formations are loaded by the weight of the
overlying strata, and the stresses are thus
uniformly distributed. As coal is extracted,
stress conditions on the longwall panel are
readjusted and, at some stage, a new equi-
librium is reached in the form of "high" and
"low" pressure zones around a longwall face
[13]. The permeabilities of the seam being
worked and the surrounding strata, which are
the main controlling parameter for methane
flow, are affected by these stress conditions.
Therefore, an understanding of the stress-per-
meability behaviour of coal measure rocks lll - - spcncr0t
under these conditions will contribute greatly Great Row Seam
-,, CannelRow Seam
to the research concerning the flow of methane
in and around longwall faces [14, 15]. Fig. 2. Finite element mesh used for stress simulation.
The finite element method has been suc-
cessfully used to analyse stress distributions
around mining openings [16, 17]. The method of mining has been taken as 773 m and maxi-
is based on the representation of a continuous m u m and m i n i m u m stresses induced are rep-
medium with a framework of discrete ele- resented by stress contours. As these analyses
ments joined together at their nodes. When were carried out assuming elastic conditions,
this procedure is employed, induced stresses greater vertical stresses were obtained than
which are expected to be formed in the struc- would occur in practice; especially in the
ture may be calculated. For stress analysis, front abutment zone where failure takes place.
the same package program, PAFEC'75,has been In fact, if the amount of stress concentration
used. is higher than the strength of material, the
As a practical example of the use of these rock will fail in that area, forming a yield
numerical techniques the geology of Silver- zone [18]. Therefore, to obtain more realistic
dale Colliery has been modelled. Eight noded, stresses, the analysis should be carried out
rectangular and six noded, triangular element with plastic conditions for critical areas.
types were used in the analysis (Fig. 2). Verti- The results obtained from the stress
cal and horizontal stresses are generated by analyses are displayed as graphical outputs
using the "gravity" module which enables the (Figs. 3 and 4) and taken as a basis for
calculation of stresses as a function of depth assessing the permeability values of strata for
and material type defined by Poisson's ratio the gas flow analysis.
and density. Goaf material properties have a
profound effect on the calculation of stresses,
with even weak goal material generating un- Gas flow calculations
realistic stress concentrations. The best results
were obtained by assuming the goaf area to For a mathematical approach to flux calcu-
be open space and therefore unable to gener- lation, consider a plane element with rectan-
ate anomalous stress distributions. The depth gular boundaries. The mass flow rate across a
8 I.G. EDIZ AND J.S. EDWARDS

/108
A 0.59
B 0.53
C 0.47
D 0.41
E 0.35
F 0.28
G 0.22
H 0.16
I 0.10
J 0.03

Fig. 3. Maximum stress contours induced around the mining area.

given boundary can be expressed by the fol- m0 = the molecular weight of the gas;
lowing equation [3]: /~ = the viscosity of the gas;
R = the gas constant;
fyY2m d y = ~ m 0 jyl"y2_ 0~. y
tCX--ff-~cl (17) k x = permeability in the x-direction;
d~/dx = the pressure gradient.
Where: As can be seen from eqn. (17), in order to
m d y = the mass flow rate'of the gas across evaluate the mass flow rate of methane across
the boundary; a given boundary it is necessary to obtain the

MIN STRESS
/ 108
A 1.90
B 1.73
C 1.57
D 1.40
E 1.24
F 1.07
O 0.90
H 0.74
I 0.57
J 0.40

Fig. 4. Minimum stress contours induced around the mining area.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TIME-DEPENDENT METHANE FLOW

................. ~- 9;--:_.-::%'_-'_.~--/_; :..~ i..i.~:i..;.d..~.,.~

T E M P FIELD
/ 101
A 0.09
B 0.19
C 0.29
D 0.39
E 0.49
F 0.59
G 0.69
H 0.79
I 0.89
J 0.99

Fig. 5. Methane pressure distributionwith no drainage.

pressure gradient, deo/dx, and permeability
values at that boundary. The spatial tempera-
ture gradients (gas pressure) which are ob-
tained in the transient temperature calcula-
tion phase can be stored as arrays in a back-
ing store, which are then used to provide the
flux of methane at any node of the mesh in
an axial direction together with permeability
values defined for the relevant nodes. Finally,
the flux of methane across a given boundary
(this may be either a roadway or a borehole,
or both), can then be found using the method
of trapezoidal integration for intervals of un-
equal length using eqn, (17).
In this modelling technique the nodes which
represent a roadway boundary have atmo-
spheric pressure values throughout the calcu-
lations. Similarly, the nodes at the borehole
boundary may have any pressure value less
than atmospheric to represent applied suc-
tion. The resultant values are given as k g / s if
all other parameters are supplied in SI units.

~
TEMP FIELD
r = r =
/ 101
A - 0.09
B - 0.19
C - 0,29
D - 0.39
E - 0.49
FG " 0.59 :
0-69 i
iH 0.791
0.89 /
~t~ . . . . . . . . . . ~ ~ ; ;;~a 7 J 0_99~

Fig. 6. Methane pressure distributionwith two roof boreholes.

TEMP H E L D
/101
A 0.09
B 0,19
C 0,29
D 0,39
E 0.49
F 0.59
G 0.69
H 0,79
I 0.89
J 0,99

Fig. 7. Methane pressure distribution with two roof and two floor boreholes.
10 I.G. ED1Z A N D J.S. E D W A RD S

50

40

o"

30

20

10

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Distance from the face into the goaf, m.

Fig. 8. Methane emission rates from roof and floor strata with no drainage.

30

20

o
V,

10

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 lo0

Distance from the face into the goal, m.

Fig. 9. Methane emission rates from roof and floor strata with two roof boreholes.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TIME-DEPENDENT METHANE FLOW ]~

I.a
e~
O

Z~

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Distance from the face into the goaf, m.

Fig. 10. Methane emission rates from roof and floor strata with two roof boreholes and floor boreholes.

e-,
O

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Distance from the face into the goaf, m.

Fig. 11. Comparison of methane emission rates to the goaf as a function of drainage.
 12 I.G. E D I Z A N D J.S. E D W A R D S

60

50

,-.w

4o

"~ 30
.)

z0

10

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

D i s t a n c e from the face into the goal, m.

Fig. 12. Reduction in the total methane emission rates to the goaf. Case 1: no drainage; Case 2: two roof boreholes;
Case 3: two roof and two floor boreholes.

*** M E T H A N E P R E D I C T I O N SUMMARY *** 30 0.0008 0.8236

40 0.0017 1.6657
50 0.0019 1.8775
*** T H I S IS A R E T R E A T FACE *** 60 0.0021 2.0776
70 0.0021 2.1293
TOTAL PREDICTED METHANE FLOW INTO ROADWAY 80 0.0021 2.0768
FROM " ROOF " STRATA 90 0.0021 2.0563
******** 0.0200 M3/S 2 0 . 0 3 8 8 L/S) ******* 100 0.0021 2.0534
TOTAL PREDICTED METHANE FLOW INTO ROADWAY
FROM " FLOOR " STRATA THE CUMMULATIVE FLOW RATE OF METHANE FROM " ROOF "
******** 0.0162 M3/S 1 6 . 1 5 2 1 L/S) ******* S T R A T A I N T O T H E R O A D W A Y A T 10 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS
TOTAL PREDICTED METHANE FLOW INTO ROADWAY C A L C U L A T E D A N D T H E O U T P U T IS G I V E N B E L O W
FROM " ROOF " AND " FLOOR " STRATA DISTANCE FROM CUM FLOW INTO CUM FLOW INTO
******** 0.0362 M3/S 3 6 . 1 9 1 0 L/S) ******* THE FACE, M ROADWAY, M3/S ROADWAY, L/S
TOTAL PREDICTED METHANE FLOW INTO GOAF 10 0.0047 4.6997
FROM " ROOF " STRATA 20 0.0053 5.2787
******** 0.1399 M3/S 1 3 9 . 9 1 8 1 L/S) ******* 30 0.0061 6.1023
TOTAL PREDICTED METHANE FLOW INTO GOAF 40 0.0078 7.7679
FROM " FLOOR " STRATA 50 0.0096 9.6454
******** 0.0597 M3/S 5 9 . 7 1 7 8 L/S) ******* 60 0.0117 ii.7230
TOTAL PREDICTED METHANE FLOW INTO GOAF 70 0.0139 13.8523
FROM " ROOF " AND " FLOOR " STRATA 80 0.0159 15.9291
******** 0.1996 M3/S 1 9 9 . 6 3 5 9 L/S) ******* 90 0.0180 17.9854
T O T A L P R E D I C T E D M E T H A N E F L O W R A T E IN R E T U R N E N D 100 0.0200 20.0388
FROM " ROOF-FLOOR " STRATA AND " GOAF "
******** 0.2358 M3/S ( 235.8268 L/S) *******
THE FLOW RATE OF METHANE FROM " FLOOR " STRATA INTO THE
R O A D W A Y A T 10 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS C A L C U L A T E D A N D T H E
TEE FLOW RATE OF METHANE FROM " ROOF " STRATA INTO O U T P U T IS G I V E N B E L O W
T H E R O A D W A Y A T 10 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS C A L C U L A T E D A N D DISTANCE FROM FLOW INTO FLOW INTO
T E E O U T P U T IS G I V E N B E L O W T H E FACE, M ROADWAY, M3/S ROADWAY, L/S
DISTANCE FROM FLOW INTO FLOW INTO 10 0.0011 1.0526
T H E FACE, M ROADWAY, M3/S ROADWAY, L/S 20 0.0004 0.4459
10 0.0047 4.6997 30 0.0009 0.8608
20 0.0006 0.5790 40 0.0016 1.5861

Fig. 13. An example of a methane drainage summary.

 N U M E R I C A L S I M U L A T I O N OF T I M E - D E P E N D E N T M E T H A N E FLOW 13

50 0.0019 1.8779
60 0.0021 2.0554
70 0.0021 2.0915 30 0.0250 2 ~ 0156
80 0.0021 2.0696 40 0.0311 31.1178
90 0.0021 2.0570 50 0.0400 39.9639
100 0.0021 2.0554 60 0.0536 53.5734
70 0.0722 72.2115
T E E CL~R4ULATIVE F L O W R A T E OF M E T H A N E FROM " FLOOR " 80 0.0942 94.1886
S T R A T A INTO T H E R O A D W A Y AT i0 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS 90 0.1173 117.2945
C A L C U L A T E D A N D T H E O U T P U T IS G I V E N B E L O W i00 0.1399 139.9181
DISTANCE FROM C U M F L O W INTO C U M F L O W INTO
T H E FACE, M ROADWAY, M 3 / S ROADWAY, L/S T H E FLOW R A T E OF M E T H A N E FROM " F L O O R " S T R A T A INTO THE
i0 0.0011 1.0526 G O A F AT 10 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS C A L C U L A T E D AND THE O U T P U T
20 0.0015 1.4985 IS G I V E N B E L O W
30 0.0024 2.3593 D I S T A N C E FROM F L O W INTO F L O W INTO
40 0.0039 3.9454 T H E FACE, M ROADWAY, M 3 / S ROADWAY, L/S
50 0.0058 5.8233 10 0.0024 2.3838
60 0.0079 7.8787 20 0.0030 2.9721
70 0.0100 9.9702 30 0.0041 4.0966
80 0.0120 12.0398 40 0.0057 5.6672
90 0.0141 14.0968 50 0.0074 7.3674
100 0.0162 16.1521 60 0.0083 8.3091
70 0.0083 8.2758
T H E FLOW R A T E OF M E T H A N E FROM " R O O F " S T R A T A INTO T H E 80 0.0077 7.6896
G O A F AT i0 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS C A L C U L A T E D A N D T E E O U T P U T 90 0.0069 6.8547
IS G I V E N B E L O W 100 0.0061 6.1015
DISTANCE FROM F L O W INTO F L O W INTO
T H E FACE, M ROADWAY, M3/S ROADWAY, L/S T H E C U M M U L A T I V E F L O W R A T E OF M E T H A N E FROM " FLOOR "
10 0.0098 9.8100 S T R A T A INTO THE G O A F AT 10 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS
20 0.0088 8.7660 C A L C U L A T E D A N D T E E O U T P U T IS G I V E N B E L O W
30 0.0064 6.4396 DISTANCE FROM C U M F L O W INTO C U M FLOW INTO
40 0.0061 6.1022 THE FACE, M ROADWAY, M 3 / S ROADWAY, L/S
50 0.0088 8.8460 10 0.0024 2.3838
60 0.0136 13.6096 20 0.0054 5.3558
70 0.0186 18.6381 30 0.0095 9.4524
80 0.0220 21.9771 40 0.0151 15.1197
90 0.0231 23.1060 50 0.0225 22.4870
100 0.0226 22.6236 60 0.0308 30.7962
70 0.0391 39.0719
T H E C U M M U L A T I V E F L O W R A T E OF M E T H A N E FROM " ROOF " 80 0.0468 46.7615
S T R A T A INTO T H E G O A F AT l0 M E T R E I N T E R V A L S IS 90 0.0536 53.6163
C A L C U L A T E D A N D T H E O U T P U T IS G I V E N B E L O W 100 0.0597 59.7178
DISTANCE FROM C U M F L O W INTO CUM FLOW INTO
T H E FACE, M ROADWAY, M3/S R O A D W A Y , L/S *** END OF M E T H A N E PREDICTION SUMMARy ***
10 0.0098 9.8100
20 0.0186 18.5760
*** M E T H A N E DRAINAGE SUMMARY ***

ROOF B O R E H O L E AT 96.67 M E T R E S F R O M F A C E , D R A I N S 0.0725 M3/S ( 72.5133 L/S

ROOF B O R E H O L E AT 76.67 M E T R E S F R O M F A C E , D R A I N S 0.0517 M3/S ( 51.7480 L/S
T H E T O T A L D R A I N A G E OF T H E 2 ROOF BOREHOLES = 0.1243 M3/S ( 124.2613 L/S

F L O O R B O R E H O L E AT 66.00 M E T R E S F R O M F A C E , D R A I N S 0.0307 M3/S ( 30.7437 L/S

F L O O R B O R E H O L E AT 46.00 M E T R E S F R O M F A C E , D R A I N S 0.0173 M3/S ( 17.3264 L/S
T H E T O T A L D R A I N A G E OF T H E 2 FLOOR BOREHOLES = 0.0481 M3/S ( 48.0701 L/S

THE TOTAL DRAINAGE OF T H E 4 SYSTEM BOREHOLES = 0.1723 M3/S ( 172.3314 L/S

*** END OF M E T H A N E DRAINAGE SUMMARY ***

Fig. 13 (continued).

These values should then be divided by the boundaries and devising routines to perform
density of methane, 0.7168 k g / m 3, so as to gas flow calculations. These routines have
obtain methane flow as m3/s, which is the been so arranged that they can simulate both
usual way of defining methane flows in min- retreating and advancing mining systems to-
ing. gether with different borehole configurations
A gas flow simulation model has been made for the two-dimensional case. Three drainage
by applying this procedure to particular borehole configurations have been investi-
14
gated for a retreat coal face:
(1) no boreholes;
(2) two roof boreholes;
(3) two roof and two floor boreholes.
The results are given graphically in Figs.
5-12 together with an example of the com-
puter output (Fig. 13).
Results
The model discussed in this paper can be
summarized by giving a general time-depen-
dent gas flow equation for anisotropic media
with variable permeability using Darcy's law
as the basis, and stating the approximate
solutions to the e q u a t i o n b y using the finite
element method. A numerical model for simu-
lation of gas flow through a porous permea-
ble medium, as applied to longwall mining
(advance or retreat type) has been achieved
by devising modifications and additions to a
finite element program for thermal calcula-
tions originally written by PAFEC Ltd. The
model has been extended to facilitate the
simulation of methane emission through a
roadway in advance or retreat mining.
Routines were also developed to perform flow
calculations for boreholes crossing different
types of strata and drilled at variable angles
above and below the worked seam.
The results obtained from the tests have
shown good agreement with those anticipated
from physical considerations. However, the
reliability of the model would be improved if
better field data were available. It is widely
believed that methane flow through strata is
mainly controlled by the permeability of the
formations concerned, which results from
stress disturbances caused by mining activi-
ties. Therefore, it is important to note that the
stress permeability behaviour of coal or coal
measure strata is the key to any simulation
attempt at methane flow which requires a link
between the disciplines of mine ventilation
and rock mechanics. If such a link were
I.G. E D I Z A N D J.S. E D W A R D S
achieved it would provide a better overall
understanding of the physical events related
to longwall mining.
References
1 Sowier, T.S., Steady-state and non steady-state flows
of compressible fluids through sorptive porous
media. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Nottingham (1973).
2 Keen, T.F., The simulation of methane flow in
Carboniferous strata. Ph.D. Thesis Univ. Not-
tingham (1977).
30'Shaughnessy, S.M., The computer simulation of
methane flow through strata adjacent to working
longwall coal faces. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Not-
tingham, (1980).
4 Vorozhtsov, E.V., Gorbachev, A.T. and Fedorov,
A.V., Calculation of the motions of gas in a coal
seam with a quasi linear law of filtration. Fiz. Tekh.
Probl. Razrab. Polenzn. Iskop., July-August (1975):
381-388. (In Polish.)
5 Ertekin, T. and King, G.R., Numerical simulation of
the transient behaviour of coal seam degasification
wells. SPE Symp. of Reservoir Simulation, 7th (San
Francisco) Pap. SPE 12258 (1983).
6 Boyer, C.M., Morrison, H.L., Pavone, A.M. and
Schwerer, F.C., Methane modelling--predicting the
inflow of methane gas into coal mines. Annu. Rep.
Dep. Environ. PC/30123-T4, Feb. (1982).
7 Durucan, S., An investigation into the stress-per-
meability relationship of coals and flow patterns
around working longwall faces. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ.
Nottingham (1981).
8 Hubbert, M.K., Darcy's law and the field equations
of the flow of underground fluids. Trans. Am. Inst.
Mech. Eng., Pet. Branch, 207 (1956): 222-239.
9 Nutting, P.G., Physical analyses of Oil Sands. Bull
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., 14 (1930): 1337-1349.
10 Pinder, G.F. and Gray, W.G., Finite Element Simu-
lation in Surface and Subsurface Hydrology.
Academic Press, New York (1977).
11 PAFEC Ltd, PAFEC'75 Theory and Results.
PAFEC Ltd., StreUey, Nottingham (1975).
12 PAFEC Ltd, PAFEC'75 Data Preparation. PAFEC
Ltd., Strelley, Nottingham (1978).
13 Whittaker, B.N., An appraisal of strata control prac-
tice. Trans. Inst. Min. Eng., 166 (1974): 9-24.
14 Durucan, S. and Edwards, J.S., The effects of stress
and fracturing on permeability of coal. Min. Sci.
Technol., 3 (1986): 205-216.
15 Edwards, J.S., Durucan, S. and Riley, P.A., Pre-
liminary report on methane drainage enhancement
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TIME-DEPENDENT METHANE FLOW
at Silverdale Colliery. British Coal Interim Rep.
(1987).
16 Whittaker, B.N. and Reddish, D.J., Mining Subsi-
dence, Occurence, Prediction and Control. Develop-
ments in Geotechnical Engineering, 56. Elsevier Sci-
ence Publishers Amsterdam (1989) 528 pp.
15
17 Reddish, D.J., The modelling of rock behaviour over
large excavations using non-linear finite element
techniques. Min. Dep. Mag. Univ. Nottingham., 41
(1989): 93-102.
18 Unver, B., Closure in longwall access roadways.
Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Nottingham (1988).