The work is aimed at establishing the basic patterns of transformation of the porosity of the coal massif at different stages of catagenesis. Coal and sandstones of the Donetsk basin will be taken as a basis. It is also planned to conduct a comparative analysis of changes in the pore space of sandstones and coal of the Donetsk and Lviv-Volyn basins. Theoretical and experimental methods will be involved to solve the goal formulated in the work. As a result of the work, Recommendations on the forecast of sandstone emissions at coal mines will be developed and transferred to coal enterprises of Ukraine.