Oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: Swelling and solubilisation behaviour of unconfined coal particles in oxidants

For the situation of in situ application, it remains unclear if the net effect of coal swelling and coal solubilisation will increase or decrease permeability. In addition, coal breakage may lead to void space or new cracks in the coal matrix, which could have the potential to increase the coal permeability. Confined core-flooding tests that simulate in situ conditions are required to elucidate this behaviour.