Optimum location of surface wells for remote pressure relief coalbed methane drainage in mining areas

Based on engineering tests in the Huainan coal mining area,we studied alternative well location to improve the performance of surface wells for remote pressure relief of coalbed methane in mining areas.The key factors,affecting location and well gas production were analyzed by simulation tests for similar material.The exploitation results indicate that wells located in various positions on panels could achieve relatively better gas production in regions with thin Cenozoic layers,low mining heights and slow rate of longwall advancement,but their periods of gas production lasted less than 230 days,as opposed to wells in regions with thick Cenozoic layers,greater mining heights and fast rates of longwall advancement.Wells near panel margins achieved relatively better gas production and lasted longer than centerline wells.The rules of development of mining fractures in strata over panels control gas production of surface wells.Mining fractures located in areas determined by lines of compaction and the effect of mining are well developed and can be maintained for long periods of time.Placing the well at the end of panels and on the updip return airway side of panels,determined by lines of compaction and the effect of mining,would result in surface wells for remote pressure relief CBM obtaining their longest gas production periods and highest cumulative gas production.

Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risk Assessment of Abandoned Land in Coal Mining Areas in Xingren County

Total contents of heavy metals （ Pb, Cr, Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Zn, and Ni） in 68 soil samples were determined to evaluate the contamination level of soil from five coal mine areas in Xingren County, Guizhou province. The pollution levels of heavy metals were characterized by anthro- pogenic influence multiple, and the pollution of heavy metal in soil was evaluated using geo-accumulation index. Based on the health risk models recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency （ US EPA）, the health risks of heavy metals in the soils were assessed. The results showed that the abandoned land in the five coal mining areas were contaminated by heavy metals, and the order of pollution levels of eight heavy metals was As 〉 Pb 〉 Cu 〉 Hg 〉 Ni 〉 Cr 〉 Cd 〉 Zn. The soils suffered moderate-heavy pollution from As and Pb, and the contents of As and Pb in the soils were 13.16 and 4.76 times higher than the background values of Guizhou Province, followed by Cu, Hg and Ni , while soil pollution from Cr, Cd and Zn was mild. The order of non-caminogenic risks of the heavy metals in the soils was As 〉 Pb 〉 Cr 〉 Ni 〉 Cu 〉 Hg 〉 Cd 〉 Zn, and the non-carcinogenic dsk value of As was higher than that its threshold value 1, which indicated that As had a high potential health risk to adults and children. The order of carcinogen risks of the four heavy metals was As 〉 Cd 〉 Cr 〉 Ni, and the carcinogenic risk value of As was higher than its threshold value, indicating that As had a high carcinogenic risk to adults and children. The carcinogenic risk values of other three heavy metals （ Cd, Cr and Ni） were lower than the threshold value, so they had no carcinogenic risk to human health. Moreover, children were more sensitively affect- ed by heavy metals from the abandoned land. Therefore, the health of children in such areas should be paid more attention to. The HI value of the eight heavy metals to children was seven times higher than that to adults. The contribution rate of HQAs to HI was about 88%, and the contribution rate of CRA, to TCR was about 98%, so As was the most crucial factor influencing non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic dsk in the abandoned soils.

Determining areas in an inclined coal seam floor prone to water-inrush by micro-seismic monitoring

The failure depth of the coal seam floor is one important consideration that must be kept in mind when mining is carried out above a confined aquifer.Determining the floor failure depth is the essential precondition for predicting the water-resisting ability of the floor.We have used a high-precision microseismic monitoring technique to overcome the limited amount of data available from field measurements. The failure depth of a coal seam floor,especially an inclined coal seam floor,may be more accurately estimated by monitoring the continuous,dynamic failure of the floor.The monitoring results indicate the failure depth of the coal seam floor near the workface conveyance roadway（the lower crossheading） is deeper and that the failure range is wider here compared to the coal seam floor near the return airway（the upper crossheading）.The results of micro-seismic monitoring show that the dangerous area for water-inrush from the coal seam floor may be identified.This provides an important field measurement that helps ensure safe and highly efficient mining of the inclined coal seam above the confined aquifer at the Taoyuan Coal Mine.

Effect of coal resources development and compensation for damage to cultivated land in mining areas

The exploitation of coal resources inevitably affects, to different degrees, arable land resources and impacts the socio-economic development in mining areas. Therefore it is of great practical importance to probe the rules of the effect from coal resource exploration on arable land. Suitable and effective measures to compensate for damaged to and loss of arable land resources should be taken on the basis of carrying out green mining and reducing damage to limited arable land resources. We have used GIS in simulating the effect of coal resource exploration on arable land. In light of our simulation of the space-time spectrum, the effect is analyzed. Given the socio-economic development conditions of a mining area, specified rational amounts and opportunities for compensation to arable land in mining areas are explored. Finally, from a policy perspective, relevant proposals for rational arable land resource compensation are proposed to facilitate the coordinated development between coal resource exploitation and socio-economy development in mining areas.

Monte-Carlo Method for Coalbed Methane Resource Assessment in Key Coal Mining Areas of China

Monte-Carlo method is used for estimating coalbed methane （CBM） resources in key coal mining areas of China. Monte-Carlo method is shown to be superior to the traditional volumetric method with constant parameters in the calculation of CBM resources. The focus of the article is to introduce the main algorithm and the realization of functions estimated by Monte-Carlo method, including selection of parameters, determination of distribution function, generation of pseudo-random numbers, and evaluation of the parameters corresponding to pseudo-random numbers. A specified software on the basis of Monte-Carlo method is developed using Visual C＋＋ for the assessment of the CBM resources. A case study shows that calculation results using Monte-Carlo method have smaller error range in comparison with those using volumetric method.

Thermal recovery process of a backfilled open-pit in permafrost area at the Gulian strip coal mine in Northeast China

Timely and proper backfilling of open-pits in strip coal-mines has been an effective measurement for the recovery of the hydrothermal regimes and ecological environment in permafrost regions. In this study, numerical simulations and statistical regressions were applied for analyzing the recovery processes of the backfill and its major influencing factors for the thermal equilibrium in recently backfilled open pits at the Gulian strip coalmine in Mo'he, Northeast China. Results show that the thermal recovery time of backfilled areas is positively correlated to the backfill depth(BD) of the soils, the backfilled soil temperature(BST), and the mean annual ground surface temperature(MAGST); meanwhile, climate warming can impact on thermal regimes of the backfill area. The impact of climate warming on ground temperature of the backfill will show up significantly in about 50 years afterbackfilling(BD at 10.0 and 20.0 m, BST at 20.0°C) under the climate warming scenario(CWS) of 0.025°C·year ^(-1). Grey-relation analyses show that the sensitivity of the backfill recovery time declines in the order of the BD, BST and MAGST. On the basis of the abovementioned studies, the layer-by-layer backfilling in cold seasons is advised for more effective and more rapid recovery of thermal regimes of the backfilled open-pits in cold regions.

LAND RECLAMATION IS BASIC GUARANTEE OF REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN COAL MINING AREAS IN CHINA

Necessity of land reclamation is discussed, setting out viewpoint of sustainable development and land connotation and its attribute and combining destroyed forms and characteristics of land in coal mining areas. It is pointed out that land reclamation of coal mining areas is basic guarantee of solving contradiction between coal mining areas and countryside,raising life of resident and ensuring regional sustainable development.

The environment of coal mining areas and the economic evaluation of the land reclamation

The environment impact of the coal resources mining was analyzed. The method of economic evaluation for the coal mining was established to analyze land destruction. The opportunity cost method was used to quantitatively analyze and estimate the economic loss of the land destruction by coal mining. At the same time, the dump land reclamation of the Yuanbaoshan Open Pit was taken as an example to evaluate environmental and economical benefit with the method of economic evaluation for the coal mining areas land reclamation.

A rapid analysis of coal with furnace under controlled multiple temperature areas

A novel thermogravimetric analyzer system of furnace with multiple temperature controller was described,which mainly decreased the analysis cycle duration down to 20 min.Furthermore,the present C591 rapid analyzer system under software can monitor and control some coal physical and chemical properties like change of coal,control com- bustion regulation,operation of coal mixture,and improvement of the turnover rate of the transportation facilities as well.

Reflectivity forward modeling and a CSSI method seismic inversion study of igneous intrusive area,coked area,and gas-enriched area located within a coal seam

We applied the reflectivity method and the constrained sparse spike inverse modeling(CSSI) method to the interpretation of coal field lithologic seismic data.After introducing the principles of these two methods we discuss some parameters of a geological model involving possible gas enriched areas or intruded igneous rock.The geological model was constructed and a 60 Hz seismic response profile was obtained looking for igneous rock intrusion and coked areas of the coal seam using the reflectivity method.Starting from synthesized logging data from two wells and a synthesized seismic wavelet we calibrated the model to show accurate strata.Finally,we predicted the lithology within a 10 m igneous rock area,a 3 m coal seam area,and a coked area using the CSSI technique.The results show that the CSSI technique can identify hard to recognize lithologic features that normal profil-ing methods might miss.It can quantitatively analyze and evaluate the intrusive area,the coked area,and the gas-enriched area.

Soil heavy metal(loid)s and risk assessment in vicinity of a coal mining area from southwest Guizhou, China

Total concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, chromium, and copper in the soils from near a coal mine area in southwest Guizhou, China, were measured to evaluate the level of contamination, and the potential ecological risks posed by the heavy metals were quantitatively estimated. Results reveal that all heavy metals/metalloid exceeded the background values for soil environmental quality of heavy metals in Guizhou area. Geo-accumulation index(I_(geo)) showed that arsenic had the highest contamination level(I_(geo)=4) among the seven heavy metals/metalloid, and the contamination levels of mercury and lead were also relatively high(I_(geo)=3). Pearson correlation and cluster analysis identified that mercury, copper and arsenic had a relationship, and their presence might be mainly related to mining activity, coal and oil combustion, and vehicle emissions. Improved Nemerow index indicated that the overall level of heavy metal contamination in the studied area ranged from moderately–heavily contaminated to heavily contaminated level. Potential ecological risk index(R_I) analysis manifested that the whole ecological risk level ranged from high degree to very high degree(325.30≤R_I≤801.02) in the studied soil samples, and the potential ecological risk factors (E_r^i) of heavy metals/metalloid were as follows: Hg > As > Cd > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr, and the E_r^i of Hg and As reached very high risk grade.

Application of open-pit and underground mining technology for residual coal of end slopes

Given the conditions of residual coal from the boundary of a flat dipping open-pit mine,which uses strip areas mining and inner dumping with slope-covering,we propose an open-pit and underground integrated mining technology for residual coal of end slopes.In the proposal a conveyance road and ventilation conveyance near the slope are built,corresponding to the pit mining area and the surface coal mine dump,as well as an interval haulage tunnel and air-inlet tunnel.The outcome shows that such mining method may reduce the effect to slope stability from underground mining,it does not affect the dumping advance and has a high recovery rate of residual coal resources.The working face is timbered by single hydraulic props,transported by a scraper conveyor and supported by coal walls.This method of mining is one of layered top coal caving,with high resource recovery,low production cost where positive economic benefit can be realized.

Impact of coal gangue on the level of main trace elements in the shallow groundwater of a mine reclamation area

Coal gangue is the most used filling material during reclamation of areas suffering subsidence from min- ing. Main trace element levels (F, As, Hg, and Pb) in shallow groundwater in the reclamation area may be affected by leaching from the gangue. This can has an impact on the application of the water for agricul- tural irrigation or use as drinking water. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the effect coal gangue has on the shallow groundwater of a reclaimed area. We studied the effect of coal gangue on fluo- rine, arsenic, mercury, and lead levels in the shallow groundwater of a reclamation area by testing the water and the coal gangue. One well near the reclamation area was used as a control well and element levels in water from this well and from the soil next to the well were also measured. The results show that the levels of these elements are increasing in the reclamation area over time. The increase in fluorine, arsenic, mercury, and lead in monitor wells varies from 7.42% to 8.26%, from 7.13% to 7.90%, from 4.85% to 6.48%, and from 4.69% to 6.42%, respectively. Fluorine and arsenic levels are lower in monitor wells than in the control water. The other elements are found in greater concentration than in the control. The Nemerow index also indicates that the shallow groundwater in the reclamation area I is moderately affected by the back-filling coal gangue, while the shallow groundwater in the reclamation area II and III are slightly affected by the back-filling coal gangue. This shallow groundwater could be used for agri- cultural irrigation or for drinking.

Exploitation technology of pressure relief coalbed methane in vertical surface wells in the Huainan coal mining area

Exploitation technology of pressure relief coalbed methane in vertical surface wells is a new method for exploration of gas and coalbed methane exploitation in mining areas with high concentrations of gas, where tectonic coal developed. Studies on vertical surface well technology in the Huainan Coal Mining area play a role in demonstration in the use of clean, new energy resources, preventing and reducing coal mine gas accidents and protecting the environment. Based on the practice of gas drainage engineering of pressure relief coalbed methane in vertical surface wells and combined with relative geological and exploration en- gineering theories, the design principles of design and structure of wells of pressure relief coalbed methane in vertical surface wells are studied. The effects of extraction and their causes are discussed and the impact of geological conditions on gas production of the vertical surface wells are analyzed. The results indicate that in mining areas with high concentrations of gas, where tectonic coal developed, a success rate of pressure relief coalbed methane in surface vertical well is high and single well production usually great. But deformation due to coal exploitation could damage boreholes and cause breaks in the connection between aquifers and bore-holes, which could induce a decrease, even a complete halt in gas production of a single well. The design of well site location and wellbore configuration are the key for technology. The development of the geological conditions for coalbed methane have a significant effect on gas production of coalbed methane wells.

A Synergetic Study on Large-Scale Coal Mining and Eco-Environment Protection in Shendong Coal Mining Area

Based on the sharp contradiction between the economic benefits and adverse ecological impact of coal development in China's west,this paper establishes an evaluation model for the synergetic eco-environmental development in Shendong Coal Mining Area through using synergism of five laws and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The analysis on synergy between large-scale coal mining and the eco-environment protection in Shendong is also conducted,arriving at the conclusion that synergetics of Shendong 's eco-environment protection is"good". And thus,the result sheds light on the fact that while working to quench China's energy demand on its path towards a modernized large coal mine complex,Shendong,as part of Shenhua Group's mining operation,has applied innovative management concepts and models to improve eco-environment for harmony and win-win results between resource exploration and environmental protection.

Case study on the extraction of land cover information from the SAR image of a coal mining area

In this study,analyses are conducted on the information features of a construction site,a cornfield and subsidence seeper land in a coal mining area with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image of medium resolution. Based on features of land cover of the coal mining area,on texture feature extraction and a selection method of a gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) of the SAR image,we propose in this study that the optimum window size for computing the GLCM is an appropriate sized window that can effectively distinguish different types of land cover. Next,a band combination was carried out over the text feature images and the band-filtered SAR image to secure a new multi-band image. After the transformation of the new image with principal component analysis,a classification is conducted selectively on three principal component bands with the most information. Finally,through training and experimenting with the samples,a better three-layered BP neural network was established to classify the SAR image. The results show that,assisted by texture information,the neural network classification improved the accuracy of SAR image classification by 14.6%,compared with a classification by maximum likelihood estimation without texture information.

Impact of coal mining on groundwater of Luohe Formation in Binchang mining area

Groundwater of Luohe Formation is the main water source for industrial and agricultural and residential use in Binchang mining area,which is one of the key elements to water conservation coal mining.However,few studies are available to document the enrichment characteristics and influence of underground coal mining on groundwater for the Luohe Formation.This study evaluates the changes of groundwater levels and spring flow caused by mining activities to explore the influence mechanism of coal mining on groundwater by comparatively analysing existing mining data and survey data combined with a series of mapping methods.The results show that the aquifer of Luohe Formation are gradually thinning south-eastwards,disappeared at the mining boundary.In the vertical direction,the lithological structure is distinct,due to alternative sedimentation of meandering river facies and braided river facies.According to the yielding property,the aquifer is divided into three sections,namely,strong water-rich section,medium water-rich section,and weak water-rich section,which are located in northwest and central part,southwest,and the rest part of the mining area,respectively.Mining of Tingnan Coal Mine since 2004 has caused a 3.16 to 194.87 meters drop in groundwater level of Luohe Formation.Until 2015,70.10%of the mining area undergoes a groundwater level drop larger than 10.00 meters.Another influence of underground mining is that the total flow from 34 springs in 8 southern coal mines of the area has decreased by 286.48 L/s with a rate of decrease at 46.95%from 2007 to 2017.The areas that groundwater level falls or spring flow declines are manly located in the mine gob areas.Results also indicate that the ratio of the height of water conducted fracture zone to the mining height in Binchang mining area is between 16.85 and 27.92.This may increase ground water flow in vertical direction,causing a water level in the aquifer system to drop and ultimately decreasing the flow from the springs.The research results will provide data and theoretical support for the protection of groundwater resources and water conservation coal mining of Luohe Formation in Binchang mining area.

Composite active control system of roof and side truss cable for large section coal roadway in fold coal pillar area

In order to solve the surrounding rock control problem of large section gangue replacement roadway under complicated conditions, this paper analyzed the impact to the roadway controlling produced by the geological conditions such as high ground stress, folded structure tilted roof asymmetry and soft wall rock, and built the tilt layered roof structural mechanics model to clarify the increase span mechanism of the weak coal instability. Then, we proposed the combined control system including roof inclined truss cable, coal-side cable-channel steel and intensive bolt support. And then by building the structural mechanics model of roof inclined truss cable system, the support principle was described. Besides, according to this model, we deduced the calculation formula of cable anchoring force and its tensile stress. Finally surrounding rock control technology of large section roadway in fold coal pillar area was formed. Field practice shows that the greatest roof convergence of gangue replacement roadway is 158 mm and coal-side deformation is 243 mm. Roadway deformation is controlled effectively and technical support is provided for replacement mining.

A New Discovery on the Deformation Behavior of Shale Gas Reservoirs Affecting Pore Morphology in the Juhugeng Coal Mining Area of Qinghai Province, Northwest China

Objective The Juhugeng mining area in Qinghai Province of northwest China has attracted wide attention among geologists for it hosts typical coal measure gases.The shale gas reservoirs were reformed by intensive structural movements during geological periods,

Characteristics of soil enzymes and the dominant species of repair trees in the reclamation of coal mine area

In order to study the soil enzyme content at the mine reclamation area and choose a tree species with superior restoration capabilities, this paper takes Huainan Datong Mine as the study area, and five different enzymes under nine tree species as the study subject. The different enzyme activity indexes were measured, and the correlation analysis and the principal component analysis （PCA） method were applied to evaluate and screen the tree species with advanced restoration. The results demonstrate that there are some correlations among the different soil enzymes, including some very significant positive correlations among urease, phosphatase, invertase and protease. The best species in terms of repair is privet, and the worst is Haltong. This study provides a scientific basis for the selection of restoration-capable tree species in the reclamation area of the coal mine.