Effect of various coal constitutive models on coupled thermo-mechanical modeling of underground coal gasification

Underground coal gasification (UCG) is an advanced method that can address the high energy demand in future by adding new resources to the proved reserves. The high temperature nature of the gasification reactions along with the formation of cavities within a coal seam necessitates a comprehensive analysis of mechanical and thermomechanical impacts on the UCG process. On the other hand, geomechanics plays a significant role in the efficiency of the UCG process by varying the reaction rates, porosity, and permeability in a flow model. More importantly, geomechanical modeling of UCG is necessary to mitigate the associated environmental hazards such as land subsidence and groundwater contamination.