Mine Gas Emission Monitoring Following the Cessation of Mining Activities in a Hard Coal Region

This article provides an in-depth overview of mine gas emission monitoring practices in the Ostrava-Karviná Coalfield (OKR), one of the most significant regions in Central Europe affected by post-mining methane leakage. The study presents field measurement techniques, including atmogeochemical surveys, systematic methane screening in soil air, and surface emission rate monitoring using accumulation chambers. Over the course of several long-term projects, more than 43 km2 of land were surveyed, and risk classification maps were developed based on measured methane concentrations and surface release rates. These data support land-use planning, the design of degasification measures, and the verification of their effectiveness. Results confirm that methane emissions persist even decades after mine closures and vary depending on atmospheric pressure and local geological conditions. The OKR methodology was also compared to international practices in Poland, Canada, and China. The article concludes with future research directions focused on automation, integration of sensor networks, and predictive modeling of gas migration in post-mining environments.