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Understanding the interaction of CH 4 with kaolinite is significant for researchers in the fields of coalbed CH 4 and shale gas. The diffusion behaviors of CH 4 in kaolinite with water contents ranging from 0 to 5 wt% have been analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations. The results of the simulations indicate that CH 4 molecules can jump between adjacent holes in the kaolinite matrix. CH 4 diffusion coefficient was very low (3.28 9 10 -9 m 2 /s) and increased linearly with the increasing of water content. As the water content decreased, the value of radial distribution function first peak between CH 4 and oxygen was larger, meaning that with lower water content, the interaction energy between CH 4 and oxygen in kaolinite is stronger. The interaction between CH 4 and water is linearly positively correlated with water content, in contrast, the interaction energy between kaolinite and water as well as between kaolinite and CH 4 decreased linearly with increasing water content. On the other hand, the diffusion of CH 4 molecules adsorbed on the surfaces also can be accelerated by the fast diffusion of water molecules in the middle micropore of the kaolinite.