Gas content: definitions &

standards
Dr Abouna Saghafi
ECBM Research Team Leader
CSIRO Energy Technology

Module overview
Main coal-gas parameters, and gas content
Definitions of gas content and where it is
used
Gas content in mine safety
Gas content in commercial CGS production
Gas content for GHG emissions estimate

Page 1

Main coal reservoir parameters

The main parameters are:

Gas content,
Gas composition,
Desorption rate (diffusivity)
Gas adsorption
Pore pressure,
Permeability and relative permeability,
Porosity.

Page 2

Gas content
Gas content is one of the most fundamental parameters
required in characterising a CSG reservoir.
Gas content is defined as the volume of gas contained
in a unit mass of carbonaceous material (coal, shale,
etc.).
Coal seam gas is often a mixture of various gases with
methane being the dominant gas in most coalfields.
Gas composition is also a primary parameter in
characterising a CSG reservoir.
Based on the use of gas content various definitions of
the components of gas content are presented.

Page 3

Gas content: free and adsorbed phases

Gas is stored in coal in
two ways:
Most gas is retained
in adsorbed phase
(Ca),
Depending on the
depth of coal seam
and space available
in coal, some gas is
also compressed in
pore space (Cf).

Gas content: is the

sum of free and
adsorbed gas
volumes?

C = Cf + Ca

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Definition of gas content based on desorption

properties of coal
Free gas is difficult to measure
and can only be estimated.
The gas which can be measured
is adsorbed gas.
Gas
desorbed
(cm3/g)

CO2

CH4

Cd

The volume of gas which

is released from coal
after long sufficient time
is desorbable gas: Cd
Time

Page 5

Residual gas content

Gas can still be present in
coal after long desorption.

Gas desorbed
(cm3/g)
Cr
Cd

This gas is called residual

gas content: Cr

Time

Page 6

Gas content based on adsorption properties and

measurement
Measurement
of gas content
is basically
measurement
of adsorbed
gas.
Cm
The gas
content
measured in
the lab is
called
measured gas
content, Cm

Adsorbed
gas volume

Cm = Cd + ..
Cm >Cd

15

(cm /g)

12
9
6

Absolute
pore gas
pressure
(kPa)

Cd

Seam
Pressure

0
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Atmospheric
Pressure

Page 7

900 1000

Measured gas content

Standards Australia define the gas content the gas
volume that can be measured. It is presented by Qm
(AS3980-1999)*.
Therefore, the definition is based on the capability to
measure the released gas from coal.

*Reference:
Australian Standard, AS 3980-1999, 1999. Guide to the determination of
gas content of coal seams - Direct Desorption Method, Published by
Standards Australia.

Page 8

Measurement based definition of gas content

Gas is desorbed from
coal following
desorption and diffusion
processes.
The quantity of gas
desorbed depends on
the gas composition,
diffusivity and the time
allowed for desorption.

Adsorbed gas
3

15

volume (cm /g)

12

Cm

Partial gas pressure (kPa)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

The measured gas

content, Cm, depends
on partial pressure of
gas components

Page 9

Gas content and purpose of determination

Gas content may defined slightly differently depending
on the industry or purpose of the measurement
Mine safety, gas content threshold
CBM, reserves estimation
Greenhouse gas emissions from mining

Page 10

Gas content according to the purpose of its

determination: Mine safety and outburst
12
Outburst prone

10

10

6
Safe mining

0
100

20

40

60

80

CH4 /[CH4+CO2] %

Page 11

Gas content (m3/t)

desorbable
gas content
must be
determined

12
Gas content (m3/t)

Mine safety,
gas content
should stay
below a
threshold
At least

Gas content according to the purpose of its

determination
Mine safety, gas content threshold
At least desorbable gas content is to be determined, gas
content should stay below a certain safety level for safe mining

CBM/CSG, reserves
Determination of desorbable gas + free gas gives the
estimation of reserves

Greenhouse gas emissions

total gas content needs to be determined: desorbable gas +
residual gas + free gas.

Page 12

Dr Abouna Saghafi
Division of Energy Technology
Senior Principle Research Scientist
Email: abouna.saghafi@csiro.au
Web: www.csiro.au/group

Thank you!
Contact Us
Phone: 1300 363 400 or +61 3 9545 2176
Email: enquiries@csiro.au Web: www.csiro.au
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