This paper provides an overview of national experiences in developing coal bed methane over the years 2002-2012, and analyses the development of its utilisation in the US and Australia. The choice of these countries was supported by their scale of methane production and the development of production dynamics, as well as Australia's plans to export methane through its liquefaction (LNG). The remaining countries producing methane from coal beds on an industrial scale are China, Canada, and India. This paper arranges by name and characterizes the features of several types of methane recovered from coal. It reviews coal bed methane resources in Poland and compares these to global resources. The paper also presents techniques of gas development as well as their technological advancements. Also analysed is the relationship between the total volume of methane and the level of hard coal production in Poland, in addition to the amount of methane consumption used to produce electricity and heat. The mining firm JSW has the most experience in utilising methane for energy production. Other mining companies are also presented with details on their experience in the commercial development of methane (KW and KHW). Advances in coal bed methane utilisation have been estimated according to the support system introduced by the Act of January 8, 2010 on amending the Energy Law and on amending certain other acts. The summary considers the experiences of US oil companies over the past twenty years in terms of methane extraction which proved unsuccessful. It is therefore necessary to carry out further research and develop cooperation between companies and the scientific world, as well as to receive government support.