Theoretical analysis and engineering application of controllable shock wave technology for enhancing coalbed methane in soft and low‑permeability coal seams

Coalbed methane(CBM)is a significant factor in triggering coal and gas outburst disaster,while also serving as a clean fuel.With the increasing depth of mining operations,coal seams that exhibit high levels of gas content and low permeability have become increasingly prevalent.While controllable shockwave(CSW)technology has proven effective in enhancing CBM in laboratory settings,there is a lack of reports on its field applications in soft and low-permeability coal seams.This study establishes the governing equations for stress waves induced by CSW.Laplace numerical inversion was employed to analyse the dynamic response of the coal seam during CSW antireflection.Additionally,quantitative calculations were performed for the crushed zone,fracture zone,and effective CSW influence range,which guided the selection of field test parameters.The results of the field test unveiled a substantial improvement in the gas permeability coefficient,the average rate of pure methane flowrate,and the mean gas flowrate within a 10 m radius of the antireflection borehole.These enhancements were notable,showing increases of 3 times,13.72 times,and 11.48 times,respectively.Furthermore,the field test performed on the CSW antireflection gas extraction hole cluster demonstrated a noticeable improvement in CBM extraction.After antireflection,the maximum peak gas concentration and maximum peak pure methane flow reached 71.2%and 2.59 m^(3)/min,respectively.These findings will offer valuable guidance for the application of CSW antireflection technology in soft and low-permeability coal seams.

Theory,technology and application of grouted bolting in soft rock roadways of deep coal mines

The grouted bolt,combining rock bolting with grouting techniques,provides an effective solution for controlling the surrounding rock in deep soft rock and fractured roadways.It has been extensively applied in numerous deep mining areas characterized by soft rock roadways,where it has demonstrated remarkable control results.This article systematically explores the evolution of grouted bolting,covering its theoretical foundations,design methods,materials,construction processes,monitoring measures,and methods for assessing its effectiveness.The overview encompassed several key elements,delving into anchoring theory and grouting reinforcement theory.The new principle of high pretensioned high-pressure splitting grouted bolting collaborative active control is introduced.A fresh method for dynamic information design is also highlighted.The discussion touches on both conventional grouting rock bolts and cable bolts,as well as innovative grouted rock bolts and cables characterized by their high pretension,strength,and sealing hole pressure.An examination of the merits and demerits of standard inorganic and organic grouting materials versus the new inorganic–organic composite materials,including their specific application conditions,was conducted.Additionally,the article presents various methods and instruments to assess the support effect of grouting rock bolts,cable bolts,and grouting reinforcement.Furthermore,it provides a foundation for understanding the factors influencing decisions on grouted bolting timing,the sequence of grouting,the pressure applied,the volume of grout used,and the strategic arrangement of grouted rock bolts and cable bolts.The application of the high pretensioned high-pressure splitting grouted bolting collaborative control technology in a typical kilometer-deep soft rock mine in China—the soft coal seam and soft rock roadway in the Kouzidong coal mine,Huainan coal mining area,was introduced.Finally,the existing problems in grouted bolting control technology for deep soft rock roadways are analyzed,and the future development trend of grouted bolting control technology is anticipated.

Rockburst mechanism in soft coal seam within deep coal mines

A number of rockburst accidents occurring in soft coal seams have shown that the rockburst mechanism involved in soft coal seams is significantly different from that involved in hard coal seams. Therefore, the method used to evaluate rockburst in hard coal seams is not applicable to soft coal seams. This paper established an energy integral model for the rockburst-inducing area and a friction work calculation model for the plastic area. If the remaining energy after the coal seam is broken in the rockburstinducing area is greater than the friction work required for the coal to burst out, then a rockburst accident will occur. Mechanisms of ‘‘quaking without bursting" and ‘‘quaking and bursting" are clarified for soft coal seams and corresponding control measures are proposed as the optimization of roadway layouts and use of ‘‘three strong systems"(strong de-stressing, strong supporting, and strong monitoring).

Numerical Study on an Applicable Underground Mining Method for Soft Extra-Thick Coal Seams in Thailand

The EGAT Mae Moh Mine is the largest open pit lignite mine in Thailand and it produces lignite about 16 million tons annually. In the near future, the pit limit of the mine will be reached and underground mine will then be developed through the open pit in the depth of 400 - 600 m from the surface. However, due to the challenges for underground mining such as poor geological conditions, extra thickness (20 - 30 m) of coal seams, and weak mechanical properties of coal seams and the surrounding rock, the success possibility of underground mining and an applicable underground mining method is being investigated at the present. The paper discusses the applicability of multi-slice bord-and-pillar method for the soft extra thick coal seams in the Mae Moh mine by means of numerical analyses using the 3D finite difference code “FLAC3D”.

Macro and micro grouting process and the influence mechanism of cracks in soft coal seam

Grouting is an important method to reinforce soft coal roadway,and the presence of primary cracks in the coal body has an important influence on the grouting effect.With the discrete element simulation method,the grouting process of the soft coal seam was simulated.The mechanism of primary cracks on grouting was revealed,while the influence of fracture characteristics and grouting pressure on the grouting effect was analyzed.The results demonstrated that grouting in the soft coal seam involves the stages of seepage,rapid splitting,slow splitting,and stability.Due to the presence of primary cracks,the grouting diffusion radius increased significantly.Under the slurry pressure,the tensile stress concentration was formed at the crack tip,and the slurry split the coal once the splitting pressure was reached.In addition,the distribution characteristics of fractures are found to have a great influence on the grouting effect.It is observed that smaller fracture spacing is associated with a larger slurry diffusion radius and thus easier penetration of the primary crack tips.The fracture angle affects the direction of fracture propagation.The secondary fracture formed by splitting is a tensile fracture,which is more likely to extend along the direction parallel to the maximum principal stress.Overall,these simulation results have guiding significance for the setting of reasonable spacing of grouting holes in the practice of grouting engineering.

Outburst control in soft and outburst prone coal seam using the waterjet slotting technique from modeling to field work

The paper discussed a comprehensive numerical simulation and field work by the usage of waterjet slotting tech- nique to prevent the occurrence of outbursts in soft and outburst prone coal seams. This was based on the geological and ge- omechanical conditions of Jinjiachong Colliery, Guizhou Province, associated with varied waterjet slotting parameters such as slotting penetration, slotting thickness and slotting distance along the length of borehole. Also, to understand the variation of internal stress of coal seams after waterjet slotting application, the internal stress levels were compared with and without slot- ting application, and the results indicate that the internal effective stress levels can be reduced to 70% and 45% for the vertical and horizontal stresses, respectively, and the gas concentration can be increased up to 5 times when the waterjet slotting is ap- plied.

Constitutive model for methane desorption and diffusion based on pore structure differences between soft and hard coal

This paper aims to improve the accuracy and applicability of gas diffusion mathematical models from coal particles. Firstly, a new constitutive model for gas diffusion from coal particles with tri-disperse pore structure is constructed by considering the difference in characteristics between soft coal and hard coal.The analytical solution is then derived, that is, the quantitative relationship between gas diffusion rate(Qt/Q_∞) and diffusion time(t), The pore structure parameters of soft coal and hard coal from Juji coal mine are determined. Gas diffusion rules are numerically calculated and investigated by physical simulation methods. Lastly, the applicability of this model is verified. The results show that the homogeneous model only applies to the gas diffusion process of hard coal during the initial 10 min. The calculation results from this model and the physical experimental results of soft coal and hard coal are nearly identical during the initial 30 min.

Analysis of the Harmfulness of Water-Inrush from Coal Seam Floor Based on Seepage Instability Theory

A theory of seepage instability was used to estimate the harmfulness of water-inrush from a coal seam floor in a particular coal mine of the Mining Group,Xuzhou. Based on the stratum column chart in this coal mine,the distribu-tion of stress in mining floors when the long-wall mining was respectively pushed along to 100 m and to 150 m was simulated by using the numerical software (RFPA2D). The permeability parameters of the coal seam floor are described given the relationship between permeability parameters. Strain and the water-inrush-indices were calculated. The wa-ter-inrush-index was 67.2% when the working face was pushed to 100 m,showing that water-inrush is possible and it was 1630% when the working face was pushed to 150 m,showing that water-inrush is quite probable. The results show that as long-wall mining is pushed along,the failure zone is enlarged,the strain increased,and fissures developed cor-respondingly,resulting in the formation of water-inrush channels. Accompanied by the failure of the strata,the perme-ability increased exponentially. In contrast,the non-Darcy flow β factor and the acceleration coefficient decreased ex-ponentially,while the increase in the water-inrush-index was nearly exponential and the harmfulness of water-inrush in the coal mine increased accordingly.

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.

Development of multiple soft computing models for estimating organic and inorganic constituents in coal

The distribution of the various organic and inorganic constituents and their influences on the combustion of coal has been comprehensively studied.However,the combustion characteristics of pulverized coal depend not only on rank but also on the composition,distribution,and combination of the macerals.Unlike the proximate and ultimate analyses,determining the macerals in coal involves the use of sophisticated microscopic instrumentation and expertise.In this study,an attempt was made to predict the amount of macerals(vitrinite,inertinite,and liptinite)and total mineral matter from the Witbank Coalfields samples using the multiple input single output white-box artificial neural network(MISOWB-ANN),gene expression programming(GEP),multiple linear regression(MLR),and multiple nonlinear regression(MNLR).The predictive models obtained from the multiple soft computing models adopted are contrasted with one another using difference,efficiency,and composite statistical indicators to examine the appropriateness of the models.The MISOWB-ANN provides a more reliable predictive model than the other three models with the lowest difference and highest efficiency and composite statistical indicators.

Characteristics of compression fracture of ＂three soft＂ coal bed by perfusion and gas sucking technique

Against the particularity of stratum-structure in ＂three soft＂ mine areas, according to rock indoor test and on-site sucking experiment, discussed the characteristics of argillization, compression fracture and sucking technique of soft coal with low permeability. It is clearly pointed out that the gas can be highly effectively sucked only by compression fracture along the occurrence of the coal seam, creating inter-seams crack belt because of the difference of bulgy deformation. After the flooding experiment in the 24080 workface of Pingdingshan No. 10 mine, the average single-bore volume of gas increases from 77 m3 to 7 893 mS, while decay cycle extended from 7 days to 80-90 days. Also, the single-bore extracting rate of gas increases to 33%.

Study on the non-linear forecast method for water inrush from coal seam floor based on wavelet neural network

Directing at the non-linear dynamic characteristics of water inrush from coal seam floor and by the analysis of the shortages of current forecast methods for water inrush from coal seam floor, a new forecast method was raised based on wavelet neural network （WNN） that was a model combining wavelet function with artificial neural network. Firstly basic principle of WNN was described, then a forecast model for water inrush from coal seam floor based on WNN was established and analyzed, finally an example of forecasting the quantity of water inrush from coal floor was illustrated to verify the feasibility and superiority of this method. Conclusions show that the forecast result based on WNN is more precise and that using WNN model to forecast the quantity of water inrush from coal seam floor is feasible and practical.

Experimental analysis of pore structure and fractal characteristics of soft and hard coals with same coalifcation

Accurate and quantitative investigation of the physical structure and fractal geometry of coal has important theoretical and practical signifcance for coal bed methane(CBM)development and the prevention of dynamic disasters such as coal and gas outbursts.This study investigates the pore structure and fractal characteristics of soft and hard coals using nitrogen and carbon dioxide(N_(2)/CO_(2))adsorption.Coal samples from Pingdingshan Mine in Henan province of China were collected and pulverized to the required size(0.20–0.25 mm).N_(2)/CO_(2)adsorption tests were performed to evaluate the specifc surface area(SSA),pore size distribution(PSD),and pore volume(PV)using Braunuer-Emmett-Teller(BET),Barrett-Joyner-Halenda(BJH),and Density Functional Theory(DFT).The pore structure was characterized based on the theory of fractal dimensions.The results unveiled that the strength of coal has a signifcant infuence on pore structure and fractal dimensions.There are signifcant diferences in SSA and PV between both coals.The BJH-PV and BET-SSA obtained by N_(2)-adsorption for soft coal are 0.029–0.032 cm^(3)/g and 3.523–4.783 m^(2)/g.While the values of PV and SSA obtained by CO_(2)-adsorption are 0.037–0.039 cm^(3)/g and 106.016–111.870 m^(2)/g.Soft coal shows greater SSA and PV than hard coal,which is consistent with the adsorption capacity(VL).The fractal dimensions of soft and hard coal are respectively diferent.The Ding coal exhibits larger D1 and smaller D_(2),and the reverse for the Wu coal seam is observed.The greater the value of D1(complexity of pore surface)of soft coal is,the larger the pore surface roughness and gas adsorption capacity is.The results enable us to conclude that the characterization of pores and fractal dimensions of soft and hard coals is diferent,tending to diferent adsorption/desorption characteristics.In this regard,the results provide a reference for formulating corresponding coal and gas outburst prevention and control measures.

Influence of Water Injection Fracturing on Crack Damage in Soft Coal and Application in Gas Extraction

In order to study the hypotonic and rheological particularity of “three soft” coal seam in west Henan, China, this paper explored the stress and damage characteristics of crack in coal under condition of water injection fracturing based on ABAQUS platform;The cohesive element in T-P damage evolution criterion was used to describe the approximately linear relationship between crack width and extending distance in soft coal. The simulation results show that stress evolution and crack damage in soft coal is a gradually developing process under condition of water injection fracturing. When the static pressure is 4 - 10 MPa, and the injection time is about 1 - 2 hours, the damage range of crack in soft coal can basically reach an ideal data of 80 - 100 m, and then greatly improve the hypotonic performance of “three soft” coal seam.

A study on mixed coal simulation soft layer of gas adsorption

Based on the single coal adsorption gas, hard coal and soft coal of intake airway in Shanxi Heshun Tianchi Coal Mine were chosen to simulate the soft coal seams in coalbed as those in different qualities are mixed with delamination. Experiments on characteristics of adsorption gas of hard coal and soft coal in different quality ratios were done according to the Langmuir single molecule layer absorption theory. Gas constant mensuration instrument WY-98B was used during the experiments. Isothermal adsorption curves, adsorption constants a and b of the mixed coal samples in different quality ratios were established for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The relationship curves of adsorption quantity with changing pressure and variation equation of adsorption constants a, b with changing thickness ratio shows that the thickness of soft layer and hard coal approximately equal, thus resulting in outburst at greatest risk, then a theoretical base for the mechanism of coal and gas outburst has been put forward and a technical support scheme for engineering control of gas outburst is laid out.

Analysis of factors of top coal caving in fully mechanized sublevel caving face in soft coal and control

According to the analysis of the mechanism of top coal caving, the caving condition was pointed out, and many factors of caving were also determined. Then the relationship between factors and caving was studied. Based on the above research, one effective method by using field monitoring was brought forward to determine the controlling factor. Then some related key technologies were provided, such as keeping the integrality of the top-coal, raising the horizontal resistance of supports and decreasing the real end-face distance etc.. At last one application of this method was presented, and it was proved to be an effective method.

RESEARCH ON DEEP COAL SEAM MINING FLOOR STARTA WATER BURSTING INFLUENCED FACTORS BASED ON ANALYTIC HIERACHY PROCESS

Deep coal seam mining floor strata water bursting is a complicate nonlinear system, whose factors are coupling and influencing themselves. It built the analytic structure model for deep coal seam mining floor strata water bursting, the judgment matrix was found by the expert scoring method, the contribution weights of the influenced factors were given out by the equation analytic process. The thirteen controlling factors and five main controlling factors were put award by analyzing weights, so the result was basically conform to the field practice. The expert scoring method and analytic process can convert the objective fact to the subjective cognition, so it is a method that can turn the qualitative into the quantitative. This can be relative objectively and precisely to study the question of many factors and grey box.

Comprehensive evaluation of water-inrush risk from coal floors

Lower groups of coal seams are presently being mined from water-inrush from coal floors in order to have safe production in the Yanzhou coal mining area. We need to evaluate the risk in the lower groups of coal seams in mines. Based on a systematic collection of hydrogeological data and some data from mined working faces in these lower groups, we evaluated the factors affecting water-inrush from coal floors of the area by a method of dimensionless analysis. We obtained the order of the factors affecting water-inrush from coal floors and recalculated data on depths of destroyed floors by multiple linear regression analysis and obtained new empirical formulas. We also analyzed the water-inrush coefficient of mined working faces of the lower groups of coal seams and improved the evaluation standard of the water-inrush coefficient method. Finally, we made a comprehensive evaluation of water-inrush risks from coal floors by using the water-inrush coefficient method and a fuzzy clustering method. The evaluation results provide a solid foundation for preventing and controlling the damage caused by water of an Ordovician limestone aquifer in the lower group of coal seams in the mines of Yanzhou. It provides also important guidelines for lower groups of coal seams in other coal mines.

Roadway failure and support in a coal seam underlying a previously mined coal seam

The influence of an upper,mined coal seam on the stability of rock surrounding a roadway in a lower coal seam is examined.The technical problems of roadway control are discussed based on the geological conditions existing in the Liyazhuang Mine No.2 coal seam.The stress distribution and floor failure in the lower works after mining the upper coal is studied through numerical simulations.The failure mechanism of the roof and walls of a roadway located in the lower coal seam is described.The predicted deformation and failure of the roadway for different distances between the two coal seams are used to design two ways of supporting the lower structure.One is a combined support consisting of anchors with a joist steel tent and a combined anchor truss.A field test of the design was performed to good effect.The results have significance for the design of supports for roadways located in similar conditions.

Discussion of the indexes of nonoutburst coal seam upgrade and its corresponding critical values

In view of the measurement difficulties of indexes recommended by the 50Items Experience of Coal Mine Gas Prevention in the process of the nonoutburst coalseam upgrade, this paper took the No.8 coal seam of Huainan Mining Group as research object. Discussed the suitability of indexes and corresponding critical values, putforward method in determining the indexes and its critical values by analysis and investigation of the gas geological condition and the-spot tracking near position where anoutburst occurred combined with laboratory experiment, and established the indexesand its critical values of nonoutburst coal seam upgrade in No.8 coal seam of HuainanMining Group. The results show that it is suitable to take gas content and tectonic softcoal thickness easily to gain in routine production as primary upgrade indexes that itscritical values are 7.5 m^3/t and 0.8 m, respectively. In addition, takefvalue and Ap valueas auxiliary indexes.