The paper discusses the problem of a reliable kinetic equation for the homogeneous oxidation of lean methane mixtures that could be used to simulate the combustion of methane occurring in coal-mine ventilation air. The results of simulation based on kinetic equations taken from various sources have been compared. Both the rate parameters (activation energy E and pre-exponential factor k(0)) and the results of simulation varied significantly depending on the kinetic equation used. However, despite this variation, the temperature range and conversion are acceptable from the practical standpoint.