Rank of Kozlu Formation coals in the Zonguldak Basin: implications for coalbed gas

Carboniferous bituminous coals of the Zonguldak Basin have been mined for over a century. Due to underground mining activity, there have been several fatal incidents related to gas explosions. The gas content of the coals varies greatly in the basin mainly based on coal maturity (rank), increasing with increasing coal depth. In this study, we report a map for coal depth and coal rank in the Kozlu-uzulmez-Karadon districts of Zonguldak Basin with hope the that it would aid coal gas exploration/exploitation and also coal gas degassing efforts for safer underground mining production in the Zonguldak Basin.