Experimental study for reducing gas inflow by use of thin spray-on liners in underground coal mines

This paper presents an investigation of the potential use of thin spray-on liners (TSLs) in underground coal mines as a gas management tool. The coal samples used were taken from a coal mine in Australia. Three different TSLs were examined. The experiments include single phase gas flow tests through intact and treated dry coal samples. Experimental observations indicate that TSLs can reduce gas permeability of coal by up to three orders of magnitude. However, the degree of the impact depends strongly on the type of TSLs. Further, the initial permeability of coal and TSL thickness also affect the efficiency of the process. There is a linear relation between the efficiency of the TSLs in controlling gas flow and their adhesion strength to the coal sample.