Numerical simulation of gas flow process in mining-induced crack network

The exploitation of coal bed methane or coal gas is one of the most effective solutions of the problem of coal gas hazard. A better understanding of gas flow in mining-induced cracks plays an important role in comprehensive development and utilization of coal gas as well as prevention of coal gas hazard. This paper presents a case study of gas flow in mining-induced crack network regarding the situation of low permeability of coal seam. A two-dimensional physical model is constructed on the basis of geological background of mining face No. 1122(1) in coal seam No. 11-2, Zhangji Coal Mine, Huainan Mining Group Corporation. The mining-induced stress and cracks in overburden rocks are obtained by simulating an extraction in physical model. An evolution of mining-induced cracks in the process of advancing of coal mining face is characterized and three typical crack networks are taken from digital photos by means of image analysis. Moreover, the numerical software named COMSOL Multiphysics is employed to simulate the process of gas flow in three representative crack networks. Isograms of gas pressure at various times in mining-induced crack networks are plotted, suggesting a shape and dimension of gas accumulation area.     

岩层采动裂隙分布在绿色开采中的应用

岩层采动裂隙分布的研究与水体下和承压水上采煤、卸压瓦斯抽放、离层区充填与开采沉陷控制等工程问题紧密相关，通过试验与理论分析，对岩层移动过程中的覆岩采动裂隙动态发育特征及其影响因素进行了深入研究，结果证明：覆岩关键层对离层及裂隙的产生、发展与时空分布起控制作用．基于关键层破断前后采动裂隙动态发育特性与差异，提出了“覆岩离层分区隔离充填减沉法”和卸压瓦斯抽放的“O”形圈理论，并分别应用于我国不迁村采煤试验和卸压煤层气开采实践。     

Overburden fracture evolution laws and water-controlling technologies in mining very thick coal seam under water-rich roof

Considering the danger of water inrush in mining very thick coal seam under water-rich roof in Majialiang Coal Mine, the universal discrete element (UDEC) software was used to simulate the overburden fracture evolution laws when mining 4# coal seam. Besides, this study researched on the influence of face advancing length, speed and mining height on the height of the water flowing fractured zones (HWFFZ), and analyzed the correlation of face advancing length and change rules of aquifer water levels and goaf water inflow. Based on those mentioned above, this research proposed the following water-controlling technologies: draining the roof water before mining, draining goaf water, reasonable advancing speed and mining thickness. These water-controlling technologies were successfully used in the field, thus ensured safely mining the very thick coal seam under water-rich roof.     

Evolution of a mining induced fracture network in the overburden strata of an inclined coal seam

The geological conditions of the Pingdingshan coal mining group were used to construct a physical model used to study the distribution and evolution of mining induced cracks in the overburden strata. Digital graphics technology and fractal theory are introduced to characterize the distribution and growth of the mining induced fractures in the overburden strata of an inclined coal seam. A relationship between fractal dimension of the fracture network and the pressure in the overburden strata is suggested. Mining induced fractures spread dynamically to the mining face and up into the roof as the length of advance increases. Moreover, the fractal dimension of the fracture network increases with increased mining length, in general, but decreases during a period from overburden strata separation until the main roof collapses. It is a1so shown that overburden strata pressure plays an important role in the evolution of mining induced fractures and that the fractal dimension of the fractures increases with the pressure of the overburden.     

Fractal characterization for the mining crack evolution process of overlying strata based on microseismic monitoring technology

In order to study the evolution laws during the development process of the coal face overburden rock mining-induced fissure,we studied the process of evolution of overburden rock mining-induced fissures and dynamically quantitatively described its fractal laws,based on the high-precision microseismic monitoring method and the nonlinear Fractal Geometry Theory.The results show that:the overburden rock mining-induced fissure fractal dimension experiences two periodic change processes with the coal face advance,namely a Small→ Big→ Small process,which tends to be stable;the functional relationship between the extraction step distance and the overburden rock mining-induced fissure fractal dimension is a cubic curve.The results suggest that the fractal dimension reflects the evolution characteristics of the overburden rock mining-induced fissure,which can be used as an evaluation index of the stability of the overburden rock strata,and it provides theoretical guidance for stability analysis of the overburden rock strata,goaf roof control and the support movements in the mining face.     

A case study of gas drainage to low permeability coal seam

Gas drainage at low gas permeability coal seam is a main barrier affecting safety and efficient production in coal mines. Therefore, the research and application of drainage technology at low permeability coal seam is a key factor for gas control of coal mine. In order to improve the drainage effect, this paper establishes a three-dimensional solid-gas-liquid coupling numerical model, and the gas drainage amounts of different schemes are examined inside the overburden material around the goaf. The Yangquan mine area is selected for the case study, and the gas movement regularity and emission characteristics are analyzed in detail, as well as the stress and fissure variation regularity. Also examinations are the released gas movement, enrichment range and movement regularity during coal extraction. Moreover, the gas drainage technology and drainage parameters for the current coal seam are studied. After measuring the gas drainage flow in-situ, it is concluded that the technology can achieve notable drainage results, with gas drainage rate increase by 30%–40% in a low permeability coal seam.     

Fracture evolution and pressure relief gas drainage from distant protected coal seams under an extremely thick key stratum

When an extremely thick rock bed exists above a protected coal seam in the bending zone given the condition of a mining protective seam, this extremely thick rock bed controls the movement of the entire overlying stratum. This extremely thick rock bed, called a "main key stratum", will not subside nor break for a long time, causing lower fractures and bed separations not to close and gas can migrate to the bed separation areas along the fractures. These bed separations become gas enrichment areas. By analyzing the rule of fracture evolution and gas migration under the main key stratum after the deep protective coal seam has been mined, we propose a new gas drainage method which uses bore holes, drilled through rock and coal seams at great depths for draining pressure relief gas. In this method, the bores are located at a high level suction roadway (we can also drill them in the drilling field located high in an air gateway). Given the practice in the Halzi mine, the gas drainage rate can reach 73% in the middie coal group, with a gas drainage radius over 100 m.     

高瓦斯综采工作面瓦斯涌出预测与立体防治技术研究

针对高瓦斯低渗透煤层工作面瓦斯抽采与灾害控制难题,以土城矿15311综采工作面为研究对象,首先,初步分析了工作面瓦斯涌出来源,运用分源预测法预测了其瓦斯涌出含量,接着针对性地在3#煤层运用了顺层钻孔、底抽巷穿层钻孔、高位钻场以及采空区埋管等多种抽采方法,并联合工作面配风提出了立体瓦斯防治技术。最后,通过施工底抽巷截留钻孔对底抽巷溢出瓦斯进行截留抽放,考察了抽采效果。结果表明:15311综采工作面瓦斯来源主要为3#煤层和下邻近层,瓦斯抽采总量为45.4 m3/min,瓦斯抽采率为85.33%,回风流中瓦斯浓度未超过1%,瓦斯抽采达标,有效地控制了工作面高瓦斯的涌出。     

保护层开采卸压增透效应研究及其定量表征方法探索（研究生论坛稿件）

保护层开采是高突矿井瓦斯治理地主要方式及开采方法,保护层开采的卸压增透效果当前无法量化表征的,缺乏评价体系。以平板流体模型增透率理论为基础,结合平煤十矿地质条件,通过离散单元法建立保护层开采数值模型,获得保护层开采不同距离时采空区下方的增透率图谱及被保护层的应力分布。研究结果表明：保护层开采过程中,采面前方15 m处支撑压力会出现应力峰值,随着采面的推进,增透率与现场瓦斯流量呈现正相关关系;在采空区下方,被保护层卸压以及增透效应明显,且卸压区范围与增透率分布集中区域基本一致,均随着采空区范围的扩大而增大。该研究成果证实了增透率理论可以作为保护层开采卸压增透指标,对现场保护层回采设计、瓦斯抽采设计范围的确定提供了更加科学的依据。     

突出矿井深部新水平开采瓦斯综合治理模式研究

针对矿井浅部瓦斯治理模式已不能保障深部采区安全高效生产的现状,提出一种适宜矿井深部新水平开采的瓦斯综合治理模式.工作面消突采用底板岩巷穿层钻孔预抽煤巷条带瓦斯;底板岩巷布置“一巷多用”,在工作面回采工程中可兼做回风巷、尾抽巷、措施巷;回采工作面采用沿空留巷Y型通风综合治理瓦斯.其中,顺层钻孔预抽本煤层瓦斯,高位钻场顶板走向钻孔抽采裂隙带瓦斯,上隅角、尾巷埋管抽采采空区瓦斯,形成矿井三维立体瓦斯抽采体系.     

Hydraulic support crushed mechanism for the shallow seam mining face under the roadway pillars of room mining goaf

While the fully-mechanized longwall mining technology was employed in a shallow seam under a room mining goaf and overlained by thin bedrock and thick loose sands, the roadway pillars in the abandoned room mining goaf were in a stress-concentrated state, which may cause abnormal roof weighting, violent ground pressure behaviours, even roof fall and hydraulic support crushed(HSC) accidents. In this case,longwall mining safety and efficiency were seriously challenged. Based on the HSC accidents occurred during the longwall mining of 3-1-2 seam, which locates under the intersection zone of roadway pillars in the room mining goaf of 3-1-1 seam, this paper employed ground rock mechanics to analyse the overlying strata structure movement rules and presented the main influence factors and determination methods for the hydraulic support working resistance. The FLAC3 D software was used to simulate the overlying strata stress and plastic zone distribution characteristics. Field observation was implemented to contrastively analyse the hydraulic support working resistance distribution rules under the roadway pillars in strike direction, normal room mining goaf, roadway pillars in dip direction and intersection zone of roadway pillars. The results indicate that the key strata break along with rotations and reactions of the coal pillars deliver a larger concentrated load to the hydraulic support under intersection zone of roadway pillars than other conditions. The ‘‘overburden strata-key strata-roadway pillars-immediate roof" integrated load has exceeded the yield load that leads to HSC accidents. Findings in HSC mechanism provide a reasonable basis for shallow seam mining, and have important significance for the implementation of safe and efficient mining.     

Experimental research of overburden movement and subsurface water seeping in shallow seam mining

Shallow seam coal field has the largest coal reserve in China. Mining in shallow depth causes serious problems, and sub- surface dewatering is a major issue. In this paper, the physical simulating models were prepared to study overburden movement and aquiclude stability in the shallow seam mining of Yushuwan Coalfield, China. According to the characteristic of clay aquiclude and bedrock in the overburden, the proper simulation materials for simulating the plastic clay aquiclude layers and brittle bedrock layers were determined by the stress-strain tests and hydrophilic tests. The physical simulating models of solid medium and two phases of solid-liquid medium were carried out to simulate the failure and caving process of the roof and overburden, as well as the subsurface water seeping. Based on the simulation, it was found that the movement of clay aquiclude follows the movement of the underlying bedrock layers. The stability of aquiclude is mainly affected by cracks in fracture zone. The tests also showed that the best way to control the stability of aquiclude is to reduce the subsiding gradient, and there is a possibility of ground water conservation under longwall mining in Yushuwan Mine. This research provides a foundation for further study on mining dewatering and water conserva- tion.     

厚煤层全煤巷采区巷道布置关键技术研究

在分析煤矿开采过程中大量矸石排放造成矿区土地资源浪费、水资源破坏和大气污染现状的基础上，根据采煤技术发展现状，提出了厚煤层采区全煤巷布置系统，并对厚煤层采区煤层上山(或煤层大巷)的维护、采空区排水和防灭火等关键技术进行了研究，以实现厚煤层矿井的安全、高效、洁净开采。     

简易放顶煤工作面瓦斯综合治理技术

不稳定煤层采用单体液压支柱放顶煤开采技术,无疑是一种高效采煤方法。由于工作面采高大、单产高,且底层落煤与顶层放煤同时进行或工序间隔时间短,相应的采煤工作面瓦斯涌出量明显增大,采空区上部和工作面上方顶煤裂隙中易形成瓦斯积聚,从而严重威胁工作面的安全生产。本文通过分析简易放顶煤采煤工作面各生产工艺中瓦斯涌出规律,提出并实施有效的针对性综合瓦斯治理技术措施,实现了工作面的安全生产。     

中国采煤工作面瓦斯涌出规律及其控制研究

将采煤工作面瓦斯来源划分为煤壁、采落煤和采空区３部分,并给出了各部分瓦斯涌出量的计算公式,研究了回采过程,煤层群不同的开采顺序以及厚煤层分层开采时的瓦斯涌出 述了中国煤矿采矿工作面采用不同的通风系统、脉冲通风以及瓦斯抽放等控制瓦斯涌出的原理与技术的新成果,介绍了瓦斯涌出量达１５０ｍ＾３／ｍｉｎ的综采放顶煤工作面瓦斯控制技术实例。     

Fissure evolution and evaluation of pressure-relief gas drainage in the exploitation of super-remote protected seams

Based on nonlinearity contact theory and the geological structure of the Xieqiao Coal Mine in the newly developed Huainan coal field, rock movements, mining fissures and deformation of overlying strata were simulated by using the interface unit of FLAC3D to evaluate the pressure-relief gas drainage in the exploitation of super-remote protected seams. The simulation indicates that the height of the water flowing fractured zone is 54 m in the overlying strata above the protective layer. The maximum relative swelling deformation of the C 13 coal seam is 0.232%,while the mining height is 3.0 m and the distance from the B8 roof to the C13 floor is 129 m, which provides good agreement with a similar experiment and in situ results. The feasibility of exploitation of a super-remote protective coal seam and the performance of the pressure-relief gas drainage in a super-remote protected layer are evaluated by comparisons with practice projects. It demonstrates that the relieved gas in the super-remote protected layers could be better drained and it is feasible to exploit the B8 coal seam before the C13 super-remote protected coal seam. The method is applicable for the study of rock movements, mining fissures and deformation of the overburden, using the interface unit to analyze the contact problems in coal mines.     

Regional gas drainage techniques in Chinese coal mines

China’s rapid economic development has increased the demand for coal. These results in Chinese coal mines being extended to deeper levels. The eastern Chinese, more economical developed, regions have a long history of coal mining and many coal mines have now started deep mining at a depth from 800 to 1500 m. This increase in mining depth, geostresses, pressures, and gas content of the coal seam complicates geologic construction conditions. Lower permeability and softer coal contribute to increasing numbers of coal and gas outburst, and gas explosion, disasters. A search on effective methods of preventing gas disasters has been provided funds from the Chinese government since 1998. The National Engineering Research Center of Coal Gas Control and the Huainan and Huaibei Mining Group have conducted theoretical and experimental research on a regional gas extraction technology. The results included two important findings. First, grouped coal seams allow adoption of a method where a first, key protective layer is mined to protect upper and lower coal seams by increasing permeability from 400 to 3000 times. Desorption of gas and gas extraction in the protected coal seam of up to 60%, or more, may be achieved in this way. Second, a single seam may be protected by using a dense network of extraction boreholes consisting of cross and along-bed holes. Combined with this is increased use of water that increases extraction of coal seam gas by up to 50%. Engineering practice showed that regional gas drainage technology eliminates regional coal and gas outburst and also enables mining under low gas conditions. These research results have been adopted into the national safety codes of production technology. This paper systematically introduces the principles of the technology, the engineering methods and techniques, and the parameters of regional gas drainage. Engineering applications are discussed.     

煤层开采过程中上覆岩层裂隙演化规律研究

以淮南煤矿典型工作面为例,采用离散元数值软件UDEC(universal distinct element code)对工作面回采过程中上下煤岩体内应力场的变化及直接顶冒落过程进行了模拟,分析了上覆煤岩体裂隙产生、发展的形成过程,得到了上覆煤岩裂隙演化规律。研究结果表明,倾向方向工作面回采后,上覆煤岩体内产生冒落、裂隙带和离层带,在工作面内上角位置产生O型圈裂隙带,裂隙发育最大高度为45m。煤层走向回采方向得到了初期来压步距约50m,周期来压步距约20m,上覆煤岩体裂隙在采空区上方约呈45°角发展,并随工作面的前进由下向上、由后往前依次演变。该结果对于煤与瓦斯共采中瓦斯抽放钻孔方位的布置具有工程指导意义。     

地面群孔瓦斯抽采技术应用研究

为保证新集一矿突出煤层13-1煤北中央采区的安全开采,先后开采131103、131105等11-2煤层工作面作为保护层。首先在上述两个工作面共布置了6个地面钻孔,建立了地面群孔瓦斯抽采系统,预抽采动区被保护层13-1煤瓦斯。接下来对地面钻孔抽采瓦斯参数进行了考察,主要包括基于示踪技术考察了131105工作面采动卸压地面钻孔走向及倾向瓦斯抽采半径,统计分析被保护层瓦斯抽采率,同时就地面群孔与井下底板巷穿层钻孔瓦斯抽采两种方法进行了抽采率、工程费用等方面的对比。研究结果表明：新集一矿的地层条件下地面钻孔抽采煤层卸压瓦斯沿煤层倾向和走向的抽采半径分别不小于160m和240m;采动区地面群孔瓦斯抽采率达35%以上;地面钻孔相对比井下底板巷,在抽采瓦斯方面具有技术上可靠、安全、经济等优点。     

厚煤层大采高采场煤壁的破坏规律与失稳机理

基于大采高采场煤壁稳定性控制需要,在现场实测基础上,采用数值模拟分析了煤层采动裂隙的发展演化规律,并用滑移线理论分析了煤壁失稳的力学过程.研究表明:仅含层理煤层的采动剪切破坏面由倾向相反的共轭面组成;含节理煤层中,硬煤的采动破坏面为剪切破坏面与节理张裂面组成的倾向相反的共轭面,软煤采动破坏面为倾向采空区的单向平面;超前塑性区内硬煤的后继剪切破坏面仍为倾向相反的共轭面,软煤内则为倾向煤壁的单向平面.采用塑性滑移线确定了煤壁片帮的危险范围,影响煤壁失稳的主要因素为端面距与砌体梁结构的回转变形压力.