A project of CO2 injection in the Ishikari coal basin (Yubari-shi, Hokkaido, Japan) since 2002 has shown that injection of CO2 into coal seams affected their permeability. Adsorption of CO2 caused swelling of the coal matrix and lowered the permeability of coal seams, probably because of closure of cleats and pores in the coal seams. However, a temporary recovery of permeability was observed after subsequent injection of N2, suggesting that some amount of adsorbed CO2 was replaced by N2 and the closure of cleats and pores were mitigated. However, the changes of mechanical properties of coal in the process are not yet fully understood. In this study, we injected CO2 and N2 into coal specimens recovered from the Ishikari coal basin and observed the changes of coal strength under hydrostatic pressure and temperatures typical of a coal basin. We conducted triaxial compressive strength tests on the coal specimens to clarify the effects of CO2 and N2 on the mechanical properties. Our results are summarized below.
1) We verified that swelling and shrinkage of the coal were associated with adsorption and desorption, respectively, of CO2.
2) The triaxial compressive strength tests showed that injection of CO2 caused decreases of peak strength and Young's modulus.
3) Both coal strength and Young's modulus recovered when previously injected CO2 was replaced by N2.
