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”.

Analysis of the Risk of Water Breakout in the Bottom Plate of High-Intensity Mining of Extra-Thick Coal Seams

In order to clarify the danger of water breakout in the bottom plate of extra-thick coal seam mining, 2202 working face of a mine in the west is taken as the research object, and it is proposed to use the on-site monitoring means combining borehole peeping and microseismic monitoring, combined with the theoretical analysis to analyze the danger of water breakout in the bottom plate. The results show that: 1) the theoretically calculated maximum damage depth of the bottom plate is 27.5 m, and its layer is located above the Austrian ash aquifer, which has the danger of water breakout;2) the drill hole peeping at the bottom plate of the working face shows that the depth of the bottom plate fissure development reaches 26 m, and the integrity of the water barrier layer has been damaged, so there is the risk of water breakout;3) for the microseismic monitoring of the anomalous area, the bottom plate of the return air downstream channel occurs in the field with a one-week lag, which shows that microseismic monitoring events may reflect the water breakout of the underground. This shows that the microseismic monitoring events can reflect the changes of the underground flow field, which can provide a reference basis for the early warning of water breakout. The research results can provide reference for the prediction of sudden water hazard.

Behaviors of overlying strata in extra-thick coal seams using top-coalcaving method

Accidents such as support failure and excessive deformation of roadways due to drastic changes in strata behaviors are frequently reported when mining the extra-thick coal seams Nos.3e5 in Datong coal mine with top-coal caving method,which significantly hampers the mine's normal production.To understand the mechanism of strata failure,this paper presented a structure evolution model with respect to strata behaviors.Then the behaviors of strata overlying the extra-thick coal seams were studied with the combined method of theoretical analysis,physical simulation,and field measurement.The results show that the key strata,which are usually thick-hard strata,play an important role in overlying movement and may influence the mining-induced strata behaviors in the working face using top-coal caving method.The structural model of far-field key strata presents a 'masonry beam' type structure when'horizontal O-X' breakage type happens.The rotational motion of the block imposed radial compressive stress on the surrounding rock mass of the roadway.This can induce excessive deformation of roadway near the goaf.Besides,this paper proposed a pre-control technology for the hard roof based on fracture holes and underground roof pre-splitting.It could effectively reduce stress concentration and release the accumulated energy of the strata,when mining underground coal resources with top-coal caving method.

Soft–strong supporting mechanism of gob-side entry retaining in deep coal seams threatened by rockburst

When gob-side entry retaining is implemented in deep coal seams threatened by rockburst, the cementbased supporting body beside roadway will bear greater roof pressure and strong impact load. Then the supporting body may easily deform and fail because of its low strength in the early stage. This paper established the roadside support mechanical model of gob-side entry retaining. Based on this model,we proposed and used the soft–strong supporting body as roadside support in the gob-side entry retaining. In the early stage of roof movement, the soft–strong supporting body has a better compressibility, which can not only relieve roof pressure and strong impact load, but also reduce the supporting resistance and prevent the supporting body from being crushed. In the later stage, with the increase of the strength of the supporting body, it can better support the overlying roof. The numerical simulation results and industrial test show that the soft–strong supporting body as roadside support can be better applied into the gob-side entry retaining in deep coal seams threatened by rockburst.

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).

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.

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.

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.

煤层瓦斯含量测定技术及装备研究进展

瓦斯含量是煤与瓦斯突出危险预测、煤层瓦斯资源量估算、矿井瓦斯治理工程设计的重要参数。围绕如何在大区域准确快速测定煤层瓦斯含量,依托国家科技重大专项、国家自然科学基金和煤炭企业联合基金等项目科技攻关,在取样、测试方面取得了一定进展。主要表现在如下4个方面:①煤层瓦斯含量测定取样经历了孔口接样、岩心管定点取样、压力引射定点取样和密闭取样4个阶段,密闭取样装备保压能力达到11.5 MPa,煤心直径达到38 mm;②针对不同煤层地质条件,发展形成了顺煤层定向长钻孔密闭取样、底板穿层钻孔密闭取样和顶(底)板梳状定向长钻孔密闭取样3种取样技术;③在河南焦作和山西晋城矿区硬煤层中,顺层定向长钻孔取样深度达到516 m,密闭取样法测得煤层瓦斯含量较常规取样法分别平均提高了0.44倍和1.04倍。在安徽淮南矿区碎软煤层中,穿层钻孔密闭取样深度达到209 m,测得煤层瓦斯含量较常规取样法平均提高了0.26倍;在安徽淮北矿区碎软煤层中,顶(底)板梳状钻孔密闭取样深度达到484 m,测得煤层瓦斯含量较常规取样法平均提高了0.19倍,密闭取样法在煤层瓦斯含量测定精度、探测范围上优于常规取样法;④在瓦斯含量测试方面,除了传统解吸法测试,发展了系列煤矿井下瓦斯含量快速测试装备,可实现最快30 min内测得煤层瓦斯含量,一般用于百米孔内的瓦斯含量测试。提出了煤层瓦斯含量测定密闭取样装备需向小型化、轻量化的方向发展,并能实现随钻密闭取样。在测试上,应根据实际情况确定合理的解吸终止限,并将测试装备和密闭取样装备进一步结合,以实现深孔瓦斯含量快速准确测定。密闭取样技术已成为煤层瓦斯含量大区域精准勘查、预测的主要手段,是煤炭安全高效开采的重要技术保障。

松软厚煤层区段煤柱剪切滑块运动机理及协同控制技术

松软厚煤层区段煤柱高、煤壁暴露面积大,加之煤质松软、裂隙发育,强采动作用下极易造成煤柱失稳,巷道维护难度极大。以山西伏岩煤业3号煤层开采为工程背景,基于剪切滑块理论,探究采掘扰动下煤柱变形破坏机理,求解煤柱剪切滑块运动范围及应力分布规律,揭示煤柱侧帮剪切滑块运动机理,提出煤柱稳定性协同控制对策并在现场进行工程实践验证。结果表明:①采用极限平衡理论与叠加理论,确定了煤柱剪切滑块运动范围及煤柱垂直应力分布规律,阐明煤柱剪切滑块安全系数分布规律:0~1.26 m深度,煤柱上部安全系数较小;在1.26~3.95 m处,煤柱中线部分大面积安全系数较小,易受顶板来压破坏。②提出了1种以“注浆加固—锚索强化—切顶卸压”为主体的区段煤柱协同控制技术,煤柱侧裂隙较无支护条件及原支护条件分别减少62.89%和46.26%,巷道围岩完整性大幅提高,形成了强承载结构,有效控制了煤柱变形及底臌。③根据松软厚煤层区段煤柱条件,合理确定了协同控制设计参数,并对煤柱防控效果进行试验监测评估。现场试验结果表明,煤柱裂隙得到充分填充,注浆后煤体强度提高63%以上;巷道位移、锚杆索受力、离层等均在可控范围,表明协同控制技术明显提高了煤柱承载力,回采巷道围岩变形得到有效控制,为工作面安全高效开采提供了空间保障。

松软煤层钻进钻杆减重降阻机制及应用研究

施工瓦斯抽采钻孔是治理瓦斯危害的必要手段,针对松软煤层钻进因钻杆自重大引起的钻进阻力大、钻进效率低及劳动强度高等问题,提出了优化钻杆结构以减少自重并降低钻进阻力的研究思路,通过设置四翼内凹结构达到减小钻杆自重及降低钻进阻力的目的,并依此设计了四翼内凹刻槽钻杆,兼顾钻杆推进阻力和旋转扭矩损失,建立了钻杆钻进阻力模型,结合ANSYS数值模拟方法对四翼内凹刻槽钻杆进行强度校核分析与参数优化,研制了四翼内凹刻槽钻杆,并进行了现场工业性试验。研究表明:(1)对于100m钻孔深度,四翼内凹刻槽钻杆相对于圆状刻槽钻杆质量减轻了21.88%,在正常钻进时,四翼内凹刻槽钻杆与圆钻杆相比旋转扭矩损失降低了25.10%;与圆状刻槽钻杆相比降低了20.90%。在塌孔10m的情况下,四翼内凹刻槽钻杆钻进阻力相对于圆钻杆降低了51.44%,相对于圆状刻槽钻杆降低了43.65%。(2)对四翼内凹刻槽钻杆进行强度分析与参数优化,结果显示,在常规坑道钻机作用下,钻杆最大应力与内凹深度呈正相关,与壁厚呈负相关,壁厚对于应力的影响大于内凹深度的影响,且在内凹宽度为33mm、深度为4mm、壁厚为11.5mm时,安全系数为1.59。(3)现场工业性试验表明,四翼内凹刻槽钻杆排渣顺畅,强度可靠,钻进深度提高了18.18%,钻进效率提高了17.80%。在保证钻杆强度的前提下、通过钻杆结构创新有效降低钻杆质量,对于降低工人劳动强度、提高钻进效率和成孔率具有显著的效果,为推动复杂地层钻探技术发展提供了新的方法。

煤层顶板间接压裂裂缝扩展机制及影响因素

碎软低渗煤层在我国普遍发育,制约煤层气单井产气量提高和产业发展。间接压裂是通过在邻近层产生垂直裂缝沟通煤层进而实现煤层有效改造的一种压裂方式,可以有效应对钻井塌陷、煤粉产出、压裂液滤失和煤层厚度薄等不利因素。通过间接压裂物理模拟试验和扩展有限元数值模拟分析,揭示煤层顶板间接压裂裂缝扩展影响因素,明确裂缝扩展机制,以期为间接压裂技术提供指导。通过直接压裂煤层和不同起裂位置、垂向应力和施工排量影响下间接压裂试验表明,起裂压力高,更易产生长裂缝,且受原生裂缝影响程度减小;但起裂点距离煤层越远,起裂所需能量越大,高破裂压力会对煤层造成粉碎性破坏;大施工排量下,起裂压力对应升高,起裂时间变短,原生裂缝影响程度变小。考虑地应力、起裂位置、岩石力学和施工排量等参数的数值模拟结果显示,在模型参数设置条件下,最大水平主应力和垂向应力差在<4 MPa,煤层与顶板有效应力差>3 MPa、弹性模量差<15 GPa的地层和岩性组合适合间接压裂,起裂位置距离煤层最优距离为<6 m,施工排量需要根据力学性质、断裂能密度等参数确定最优范围。

四翼内凹刻槽钻杆高效排渣钻进技术研究

为解决松软煤层钻进钻孔排渣通道堵塞这一制约钻孔施工效果的关键难题,基于优化钻杆截面形状以增大排渣空间、预防钻孔堵塞这一理念,提出四翼内凹刻槽钻杆几何设计构想,通过孔内排渣阻力力学方程计算验证、钻杆排渣效果数值模拟,分析钻杆结构参数对排渣性能的影响,研制四翼内凹刻槽钻杆并在某矿进行工业性试验。研究结果表明:相较于传统圆状刻槽钻杆,四翼内凹刻槽钻杆在施工过程中具有更大的排渣空间,通过孔内沿程阻力计算对比,四翼内凹刻槽钻杆孔内沿程阻力较圆状刻槽钻杆低13%;数值模拟计算结果表明,当弧形内凹切槽对钻杆的圆心角α=35°、切入深度|EF|=4 mm时,渣体运移距离最大,平均运移速度最大,排渣性能最优;工业性试验表明,使用四翼内凹刻槽钻杆施工钻孔,班进尺长度和终孔深度得到显著提升。研究结果可为煤矿瓦斯抽采钻孔钻具设计提供参考。

深部顶板夹煤层巷道变形破坏分析及其控制

为了探究深部顶板夹煤层软岩巷道大变形破坏问题,以平煤六矿三水平戊二胶带运输巷为工程背景,开展夹煤层巷道围岩破坏分析及控制对策的研究。首先,构建原支护体系组合拱力学模型,推导出直墙半圆拱形巷道稳定判别式;其次,提出“锚网索-梁-注浆-组合砂浆锚索”联合返修控制对策,即沿戊8煤层顶板进行巷道扩刷,采用锚网索、梯子梁完成基本支护,对围岩进行深浅孔注浆加固、顶板及两帮关键部位布置组合砂浆锚索等加强支护,并通过数值模拟分析返修前后应力、位移场分布特征;最后,开展工业性试验,并监测矿压。结果表明:两帮及顶底板最大收敛量分别为93、112 mm,后期变形速率均低于1 mm/d,围岩变形得到有效控制,返修效果良好。

韩城区块煤层气井顶板控底重复压裂技术研究与应用

针对鄂尔多斯盆地韩城区块碎软煤层气老井采用常规重复压裂技术效果不佳的难题,以X井为研究对象,分析了初次压裂改造效果及剩余气产能特征,结合二次加砂与顶板压裂,提出顶板控底重复压裂技术。利用实验与数值模拟软件优化施工参数,优选100目石英砂控底并暂堵老缝、40/70目+20/40目石英砂支撑新缝的三级加砂工艺,优化射孔位置为距煤层顶部3~5 m,施工排量为9 m^(3)/min,平均加砂比例为9%,形成增大储层改造体积、提高储层动用程度的顶板控底重复压裂技术。在X井进行现场试验,重复压裂后新增产气量268.1万m^(3),累计应用18口井,平均单井日产气量增加1 210.42 m^(3),有效解决了碎软煤层气老井重复压裂改造效果差的问题,可以满足煤层气老井二次开发及压裂作业降本增效的需求,具有良好的推广应用价值。

厚煤层软岩定向预裂切顶自成巷技术

为解决厚煤层软岩巷道沿空留巷巷道变形量大,不能满足施工要求的问题,通过对工作面地质条件分析,采用类比法,确定预裂爆破采用双向聚能管,装药结构采用4-2-2-1-0方式,钻孔设计倾角15°,孔间距1 m,孔深9 m。通过矿压监测,在采用顶板定向预裂切顶等技术后,16011工作面周期来压平均压力减小1 490 kN,降低25.9%,沿空留巷段巷道成型较好,变形量较小,能够满足巷道施工要求。

碎软煤层钻进钻杆槽体结构优化与工程应用

高瓦斯碎软煤层具有煤体强度低、瓦斯含量高等特征,钻进过程中钻孔变形量大、易失稳破坏形成塌孔,导致钻孔深度浅、钻进效率低,进而影响了瓦斯抽采效率。为了提升刻槽钻杆在碎软煤层的应用效果,考虑螺旋槽体头数、螺距、槽深与槽宽等关键参数,采用EDEM与Fluent气固相间耦合的数值计算方法,构建刻槽钻杆钻进排渣模型,对比分析了刻槽钻杆的结构参数对排渣性能的影响。结果表明,增加螺旋槽体的头数,有利于增大排渣空间,提升钻杆的排渣效果;对于Ф50 mm的小直径刻槽钻杆,钻杆表面螺旋槽体设计为三头结构,相比单头和双头槽体,其排渣性能有明显提升;三螺旋刻槽钻杆螺距设计为252 mm、槽深为2.5 mm、槽宽为16 mm时,钻杆的排渣效果最优。通过现场工业性试验,钻进效果与煤矿使用的圆钻杆进行对比,三螺旋刻槽钻杆钻进深度提高11.5%,钻进效率提高35.4%,成孔率达到100%,在钻孔施工的过程中断钻、卡钻等打钻事故均未发生。

煤矿井下碎软煤层气动定向钻进技术与装备研究

【目的】我国煤层赋存地质条件复杂,碎软煤层分布广泛,高瓦斯和煤与瓦斯突出矿井众多,目前采用钻孔瓦斯抽采是防治瓦斯灾害的有效措施。碎软煤层常规回转钻进存在轨迹不可控、成孔深度浅、抽采盲区大,常规定向钻进卡埋钻事故多、成孔困难、钻进效率低等问题。【方法】系统阐述了煤矿井下碎软煤层钻进技术的发展历程与应用现状,研制了气动螺杆钻具、定向钻机、随钻测量系统、除尘泵车、空压机或制氮机、油雾润滑装置等组成的煤矿井下气动定向钻进装备,并配套开发了气动定向钻进工艺和筛管完孔技术等关键技术,解决碎软煤层定向钻进成孔难题,保障瓦斯抽采效果。利用该成套技术与装备在两淮、山西、贵州等地区煤矿进行的碎软煤层定向钻孔试验。【结果和结论】研究表明:(1)气动定向钻进技术是碎软煤层钻孔瓦斯治理的有效技术手段,其钻进深度普遍达到200 m以上,最大钻孔深度达607 m,且可有效控制钻孔轨迹在目标煤层中延伸,煤层钻遇率达90%以上。(2)现场试验表明,气动定向钻进成孔效果好、施工效率高,最大效率达到3 594 m/(台·月),有力推动气动定向钻进技术从小规模试验到大规模的工业化推广应用。结合此成套技术与装备的应用现状和煤矿安全高效生产对钻探技术装备的发展需求,提出煤矿井下气动定向钻进技术与装备的拓展应用方向以及向自动化、智能化和集约化方向发展的现实需求和必然趋势。