Safety analysis of stability of surface gas drainage boreholes above goaf areas

As longwall caving mining method prevails rapidly in China coal mines, amount of gas emission from longwall faces and goaf area increased significantly. Using traditional gas drainage methods, such as drilling upward holes to roof strata in tailgate or drilling inseam and cross-measure boreholes, could not meet methane drainage requirements in a gassy mine. The alternative is to drill boreholes from surface down to the Iongwall goaf area to drain the gas out. As soon as a coal seam is extracted out, the upper rock strata above the goaf start to collapse or become fractured depending upon the rock characteristics and the height above the coal seam. During overlying rock strata being fractured, boreholes in the area may be damaged due to ground movement after the passage of the Iongwall face. The sudden damage of a borehole may cause a Iongwall production halt or even a serious mine accident. A theoretical calculation of the stability of surface boreholes in mining affected area is introduced along with an example of determination of borehole and casing diameters is given for demonstration. By using this method for the drilling design, the damage of surface boreholes caused by excessive mining induced displacement can be effectively reduced if not totally avoided. Borehole and casing diameters as well as characteristics of filling materials can be determined using the proposed method by calculating the horizontal movement and vertical stain at different borehole depths.

GPS and Google Earth based 3D assisted driving system for trucks in surface mines

In order to reduce the number of surface mining accidents related to low visibility conditions and blind spots of trucks and to provide 3D information for truck drivers and real time monitored truck information for the remote dispatcher, a 3D assisted driving system (3D-ADS) based on the GPS, mesh-wireless networks and the Google-Earth engine as the graphic interface and mine-mapping server, was developed at Virginia Tech. The research results indicate that this 3D-ADS system has the potential to increase reliability and reduce uncertainty in open pit mining operations by customizing the local 3D digital mining map, con-structing 3D truck models, tracking vehicles in real time using a 3D interface and indicating available escape routes for driver safety.

Looking ahead to significant improvements in mining safety and health through innovative research and effective diffusion into the industry

Mining safety and health improvements over the past decades are remarkable by many metrics, and yet the expectation of society, and the goal of the mining industry, is zero harm. If we examine the underlying enablers for the significant gains that have been achieved, the key role that research to help understand the causes of problems and to develop lasting solutions is clear. Many of the remaining challenges have been resistant to solutions by various approaches. Some, such as fatalities and injuries from ground control or powered haulage are prominent year after year. Different approaches are indicated and new solutions will be required if we are to achieve a goal of zero harm. These will originate with research, but into which topics, and what are some of these different approaches? This paper examines the current state of mine safety in the United States and highlights areas of significant opportunity for research that will lead to solutions. The likely direction of research that will enable realization of the ‘‘zero harm'' goal is described in terms of evolutionary and revolutionary approaches. Both are important, but the author's view is that some of the largest gains will be made with trans-disciplinary approaches that break from the past. Topical areas of research are suggested and several research questions are given to illustrate the direction of future research in mining safety and health.

The safety mining theory studying for coal resource in China

The coal resource has an important role in the energy development strategy in China. Because the coal resources are a kind of non-renewable resources, a Kind of ex-hausting resource, which is limited in quantity, and the exploitation of the recourses are not economized now, so how to realize the sustainable development for coal resource in China is very important. In this paper, two parts were researched to optimize the coal mining. In order to optimize the mining order of different mining areas, the fuzzy logic evaluation was used to build the evaluation system. The economic control theory model was built to realize the proper period to explore the coal recourses for the same mining areas.

Comparison of large deformation failure control method in a deep gob-side roadway: A theoretical analysis and field investigation

Under the dual influence of the mining disturbance of the previous working face and the advanced mining of the working face,the roadway is prone to large deformation,failure,and rockburst.Roadway stabilization has always significantly influenced deep mining safety.In this article we used the research background of the large deformation failure roadway of Fa-er Coal Mine in Guizhou Province of China to propose two control methods:bolt-cable-mesh+concrete blocks+directional energy-gathering blasting(BCM-CBDE method)and 1st Generation-Negative Poisson’s Ratio(1G NPR)cable+directional energy-gathering blasting+dynamic pressure stage support(πgirder+single hydraulic prop+retractable U steel)(NPR-DEDP method).Meantime,we compared the validity of the large deformation failure control method in a deep gob-side roadway based on theoretical analysis,numerical simulations,and field experiments.The results show that directional energy-gathering blasting can weaken the pressure acting on the concrete blocks.However,the vertical stress of the surrounding rock of the roadway is still concentrated in the entity coal side and the concrete blocks,showing a’bimodal’distribution.BCM-CBDE method cannot effectively control the stability of the roadway.NPR-DEDP method removed the concrete blocks.It shows using the 1G NPR cable with periodic slipping-sticking characteristics can adapt to repeated mining disturbances.The peak value of the vertical stress of the roadway is reduced and transferred to the deep part of the surrounding rock mass,which promotes the collapse of the gangue in the goaf and fills the goaf.The pressure of the roadway roof is reduced,and the gob-side roadway is fundamentally protected.Meantime,the dynamic pressure stage support method withπgirder+single hydraulic prop+retractable U steel as the core effectively protects the roadway from dynamic pressure impact when the main roof is periodically broken.After the on-site implementation of NPR-DEDP method,the deformation of the roadway is reduced by more than 45%,and the deformation rate is reduced by more than 50%.

Controlling mine pressure by subjecting high-level hard rock strata to ground fracturing

When mining extra-thick coal seams,the main cause of strong ground pressure are the high-level thick and hard strata,but as yet there is no active and effective control technology.This paper proposes the method of subjecting hard roofs to ground fracturing,and physical simulation is used to study the control effect of ground fracturing on the strata structure and energy release.The results show that ground fracturing changes the structural characteristics of the strata and reduces the energy release intensity and the spatial extent of overburden movement,thereby exerting significant control on the ground pressure.The Datong mining area in China is selected as the engineering background.An engineering test was conducted on site by ground horizontal well fracturing,and a 20-m-thick hard rock layer located 110 m vertically above the coal seam was targeted as the fracturing layer.On-site microseismic monitoring shows that the crack propagation length is up to 216 m and the height is up to 50 m.On-site mine pressure monitoring shows that(1)the roadway deformation is reduced to 100 mm,(2)the periodic weighting characteristics of the hydraulic supports are not obvious,and(3)the ground pressure in the working face is controlled significantly,thereby showing that the ground fracturing is successful.Ground fracturing changed the breaking characteristics of the high-level hard strata,thereby helping to ameliorate the stress concentration in the stope and providing an effective control approach for hard rock.

Model test of the overburden deformation and failure law in close distance multi-seam mining

Based on characteristic of the associated mining of multi-coal seam and the engineering geological characteristics of overburden,the mining impact pattern of multi- seam mining and the dynamic fracture mechanism of overburden were characterized by applying the engineering geological mechanical model test.The related strata movement parameters and influence area of multi-seam mining were obtained,the strike boundary angle is 61°,the full extraction coefficient is 0.93,the greatest subsidence angle is 81°,the horizontal movement factor is 0.38,the deviation of inflection point/mining deep is 0.11. The development height of caving zone and water flowing fractured zone of multi-seam mining were calculated,is 32 m and 81.5 m separatly.The assess of influence degree of coal layer safety mining is that,there exists the possibility of water and sand inflow when mining,some messures for mine water prevention and control should be used,and the mining thickness should be local strictly limit.

Longwall automation: Delivering enabling technology to achieve safer and more productive underground mining

The ongoing need to deliver improved safety, productivity and environmental benefit in coal mining presents an open challenge as well as a powerful incentive to develop new and improved solutions. This paper assesses the critical role that enabling technologies have played in the delivery of remote and automated capability for longwall mining. A brief historical account is given to highlight key technical contributions which have influenced the direction and development of present-day longwall technology. The current state of longwall automation is discussed with particular attention drawn to the technologies that enable automated capability. Outcomes are presented from an independently conducted case study that assessed the impact that CSIRO＇s LASC longwall automation research has made to the longwall mining industry in Australia. Importantly, this study reveals how uptake of this innova- tive technology has significantly benefitted coal mine productivity, improved working conditions for personnel and enhanced environmental outcomes. These benefits have been widely adopted with CSIRO automation technology being used in 60 per cent of all Australian underground operations. International deployment of the technology is also emerging. The paper concludes with future challenges and opportunities to highfight the ongoing scope for longwall automation research and development.

Method for designing the optimal sealing depth in methane drainage boreholes to realize efficient drainage

The purpose of underground methane drainage technology is to prevent methane disasters and enable the efficient use of coal mine methane(CMM),and the sealing depth is a key factor that affects the performance of underground methane drainage.In this work,the layouts of in-seam and crossing boreholes are considered to analyze the stress distribution and failure characteristics of roadway surrounding rock through a numerical simulation and field stress investigation to determine a reasonable sealing depth.The results show that the depths of the plastic and elastic zones in two experimental coal mines are 16 and 20 m respectively.Borehole sealing minimizes the air leakage through the fractures around the roadway when the sealing material covers the failure and plastic zones,and the field test results for CMM drainage at different sealing depths indicate that the CMM drainage efficiency increases with increasing sealing depth but does not change once the sealing depth exceeds the plastic zone.Moreover,sealing in the high-permeability roadway surrounding rock does not have a strong influence on the borehole sealing performance.Considering these findings,a new CMM drainage system for key sealing in the low-permeability zone was developed that is effective for improving the CMM drainage efficiency and prolonging the high-concentration CMM drainage period.The proposed approach offers a valuable quantitative analysis method for selecting the optimum sealing parameters for underground methane drainage,thereby improving considerably the drainage and utilization rates of CMM.

Mining seismicity, gas outburst and the sig-nificance of their relationship in the study of physics of earthquake source

This paper presents an overview of mining seismicity, gas outburst and their origin. The internal relation of mining seismicity and gas outburst in the dynamic process is studied on the basis of the fact that these disasters sometimes occur simultaneously. The examples show a close relationship between mining seismicity and gas outburst in high gassy coal mines. It is proposed that strong mine shocks plus the response of low value and delay time are early warning signals. The mechanism of the relationship between mining seismicity and gas outburst is analyzed by using the location of mining shocks, focus mechanism, cause of mining shocks and conditions of gas outburst. The trigger action of gas fluid on mining shocks, especially the effect of the anomalous property of supercritical fluid on the preparation and occurrence of mining shocks is discussed. According to the similarity between mining-induced earthquakes and tectonic earthquakes in terms of mechanism, the significance of the above results in the study of physics of earthquake source is also discussed.

Effect of the computer fuzzy control on coal seam injection

To enhance the technology and efficiency of strata injection is a problem to be solved urgently. Because of effected by the rough and poor production conditions of mining and the changeable bearing condition of strata, the technological process of injection can not be controlled automatically.The fuzzy controlling technology of the coal strata injection is applied. This is the good way to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of coal strata injection and to solve the current problems of production and safety in mining industry.

Experimental study on stability control technology of surrounding rock of deep roadways in coal mine

In order to solve effectively the problems of deep mining with safety and high efficiency, the multi- pie factors influencing the stability of deep rock roadway and technical problems are analyzed in the light of the severe situation of effective mining for deep coal resource, and the stability control methods for deep rock road- way are provided, which are based on the idea of combined support with separated steps and integral control of surrounding rock of deep rock roadway. The suggested methods were applied to a deep rock roadway with -648 m depth in Gubei coal mine of Huainan area. The field test was carried out and the in-situ monitoring was imple- mented, and the support scheme was optimized and adjusted to improve the stability of the surrounding rock of the roadway based on the feedback analysis. The results showed that the stability can be improved greatly by the provided control methods tbr deep roadway. The present methods lbr stability control of deep rock roadway can be used to other deep rock roadways with the similar conditions.