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Research on Coalbed Methane and Coal-Measure Gas: Exploration, Exploitation, and Utilization—2nd Edition

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 1901

Special Issue Editors

School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Interests: evaluation of coal measure reservoirs; hydraulic stimulation of coal seams; theory and technology of coalbed methane drainage
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Guest Editor
School of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: coal reservoir evaluation; drilling fluid and reservoir protection; hydraulic fracture propagation and process optimization; coal fine control; coal mine methane extraction and utilization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of coalbed methane (CBM) and coal-measure gas (CMG) represents a critical development in cleaner energy solutions. These unconventional gas reservoirs have immense potential to supplement traditional fossil fuels while significantly reducing environmental impacts. Harnessing coalbed methane and coal-measure gas involves advanced extraction techniques that not only uncover previously inaccessible energy sources but also promote energy security by diversifying fuel resources. Their development underscores a pivotal shift towards sustainable energy practices, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change by providing a cleaner, more environmentally friendly energy alternative. This Special Issue entitled "Research on Coalbed Methane and Coal-Measure Gas: Exploration, Exploitation, and Utilization—2nd Edition" is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovations in the field of coalbed methane and coal-measure gas.

Our primary aim is to provide a comprehensive platform for researchers, engineers, and practitioners to contribute to our understanding of geological and engineering aspects of coalbed methane and coal-measure gas. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses studies on exploration techniques, including advanced geophysical methods and remote sensing, to identify optimal reservoirs, alongside novel extraction technologies, reservoir engineering approaches, and sustainable utilization practices. We welcome both original research and review articles.

Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Characterization of coalbed methane and coal-measure gas reservoirs;
  • Evaluation methods and technologies for coalbed methane and coal-measure gas exploration;
  • Advances in coalbed methane and coal-measure gas drilling, fracturing, or drainage;
  • Chemical or biological developments for the enhanced recovery of coalbed methane and coal-measure gas;
  • Characterization of reservoir dynamics in coalbed methane and coal-measure gas production;
  • Enhanced gas recovery combined with CO2 geological storage;
  • Advances in coalbed methane and coal-measure gas utilization;
  • Coal mine methane extraction and utilization.

Dr. Rui Li
Dr. Shuaifeng Lyu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • coalbed methane
  • coal-measure gas
  • stimulation measures
  • enhanced gas recovery
  • methane extraction

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 679 KB  
Article
Economic Viability of a Pilot-Scale Catalytic Ventilation Air Methane Oxidation Plant Used in Coal Mines
by Robert Hildebrandt, Piotr Krawczyk, Marcin Smołka, Krzysztof Skrzypkowski and Roman J. Jędrzejczyk
Energies 2026, 19(5), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051290 - 4 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 479
Abstract
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP100) 27.9 times greater than that of CO2 when measured as carbon dioxide equivalent. Therefore, the development and implementation of effective methods for reducing methane emissions are crucial [...] Read more.
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP100) 27.9 times greater than that of CO2 when measured as carbon dioxide equivalent. Therefore, the development and implementation of effective methods for reducing methane emissions are crucial for environmental protection, especially when these methods also provide additional technical or economic benefits. This article presents the results of an economic efficiency analysis conducted for a pilot-scale installation developed to reduce climate hazards in coal mines, based on a reactor for the catalytic oxidation of ventilation air methane. The economic feasibility of this installation operating under real conditions in underground coal mines was evaluated, and the analysis is based on actual operational data. The analysis was performed using a differential financial model. The capital and operating expenditures of the pilot-scale installation were compared with the costs of purchasing, installing, and operating a standard MK-500 cooling unit commonly used in Polish coal mines. The following economic efficiency indicators were obtained for the determined cash flows: Net Present Value (NPV) of 1.66 m EUR and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 24.6%. The results indicate that the pilot-scale technology becomes economically viable solely through the avoidance of methane emission penalties. The analysis identified the cost and macroeconomic parameters necessary for the economic viability of the technologies studied and established the methane emission penalty threshold at which operating the catalytic methane oxidation reactor system becomes justified (EUR 638/Mg CH4). The paper presents the factors with the greatest and least impact on the economic efficiency of the analyzed pilot-scale installation. The proposed pilot-scale approach offers a realistic pathway for combining greenhouse gas mitigation with operational stability in underground mining. Full article
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Review

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25 pages, 4345 KB  
Review
Dynamics of Coal-Measure Gas Co-Accumulation
by Xiaoying Lin, Zhiheng Jiang, Haoze Zhang and Zhonghao Zhang
Energies 2026, 19(7), 1703; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19071703 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 539
Abstract
Given the extremely low proven rate of coal-measure gas (CMG) in China, this review treats CMG as an integrated whole to analyze its co-accumulation dynamics, building upon its fundamental differences from conventional oil and gas accumulation. It systematically evaluates the geological controls, dynamic [...] Read more.
Given the extremely low proven rate of coal-measure gas (CMG) in China, this review treats CMG as an integrated whole to analyze its co-accumulation dynamics, building upon its fundamental differences from conventional oil and gas accumulation. It systematically evaluates the geological controls, dynamic mechanisms, and qualitative and quantitative research methods of CMG co-accumulation reservoirs. Based on superimposition characteristics, CMG reservoirs are classified into three types. Relevant studies highlight that the CMG co-accumulation process is profoundly governed by extreme reservoir heterogeneity, leading to the formation of distinct diffusion and seepage pore systems within the porous media. Currently, although traditional qualitative analysis methods for CMG accumulation are relatively mature, quantitative research still holds significant room for advancement. In light of this, key future research directions are proposed, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for the efficient co-exploration and co-exploitation of CMG. Full article
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