Grouting of large karstic caverns in dobrogea Coalfield,Bulgaria

The paper describes the results of an experimental grouting programme carried out by the Spetstamponazhgeologia association at the Dobrogea coalfield in Bulgaria. The anticipated water inflow into a shaft at this deposit totals 8 m³/s at a pressure of 12 MPa, from a cavity size equal or exceeding 3 metres. Grouting operations made it possible to cut down water inflow by a factor of more than one thousand. The success of this investigation has enabled the author to design an exprrimental shaft sinking project through the valange formation at Dobrogea mine.