“…Previous studies have shown that coal swells when exposed to N 2 , CH 4 , and CO 2 , with volumetric strain ranging from 0.1% to 15%, under pressures up to 20 MPa and temperatures up to 55°C (Cui et al, 2007;Day et al, 2008;Harpalani and Schraufnagel, 1990;Karacan, 2007;Kiyama et al, 2011;Levine, 1996;Mazumder and Wolf, 2008;Robertson and Christiansen, 2005;Seidle and Huitt, 1995;Wang et al, 2010a,b). Coal swelling strain increases with increasing pore pressure and strain induced by CO 2 is commonly larger than that induced by CH 4 .…”