Review of coal and gas outburst in Australian underground coal mines

Outburst of coal and gas represents a significant risk to the health and safety of mine personnel working in development and longwall production face areas. There have been over 878 outburst events recorded in twenty-two Australian underground coal mines. Most outburst incidents have been associated with abnormal geological conditions.Details of Australian outburst incidents and mining experience in conditions where gas content was above current threshold levels are presented and discussed. Mining experience suggests that for gas content below 9.0 m³/t, mining in carbon dioxide (CO₂) rich seam gas conditions does not pose a greater risk of outburst than mining in CH₄ rich seam gas conditions. Mining experience also suggests that where no abnormal geological structures are present that mining in areas with gas content greater than the current accepted threshold levels can be undertaken with no discernible increase in outburst risk. The current approach to determining gas content threshold limits in Australian mines has been effective in preventing injury from outburst, however operational experience suggests the current method is overly conservative and in some cases the threshold limits are low to the point that they provide no significant reduction in outburst risk. Other factors that affect outburst risk, such as gas pressure, coal toughness and stress and geological structures are presently not incorporated into outburst threshold limits adopted in Australian mines. These factors and the development of an outburst risk index applicable to Australian underground coal mining conditions are the subject of ongoing research.     

Evaluation of the weakening behavior of gas on the coal strength and its quantitative influence on the coal deformation

The coal strength and deformation properties are key factors affecting safe coal mining and highefficiency coalbed methane(CBM) development. In this paper, reconstituted coal samples are chosen to investigate the weakening behavior of gas on coal strength, meanwhile, its effects on coal deformation are quantitatively evaluated. The results indicate that the weakening degree of gas on coal strength is closely related to the confining stress and gas pressure. Compared with non-gas-saturated coals, the maximum weakening ratios of adsorbed gas to coal strength are 10.58%, 18.12%, 8.55% and 14.65% under the conditions of confining stress CS = 3 MPa and gas pressure GP = 1 MPa, CS = 3 MPa and GP = 2 MPa, CS = 4 MPa and GP = 1 MPa, and CS = 4 MPa and GP = 2 MPa, respectively. Furthermore,the maximum weakening ratios of free gas to coal strength are 18.27%, 36.54%, 14.79% and 29.58%,respectively, under above four conditions. The maximum coal bulk strain decreases as particle sizes of coal powders increase, and it has a maximum value of 0.0227 and a minimum value of 0.0191 in particle size ranges of 0.01–0.041 and 0.5–1 mm. Under the same conditions, the coal bulk strain increases with increasing gas pressure, revealing that coal deformation properties can be enhanced by gas.     

Creep behaviour and constitutive model of coal filled with gas

Coal exhibits different creep behaviours when filled with different amounts of gas. Creep tests of coal filled with 0 and 0.5 MPa gas were performed, and strain under different axial stress was compared.The three creep constitutive models which were analysed using the method fitting experimental data for determining which creep model can reflect the creep process of the test best. The results show that the deformation of coal filled with 0.5 MPa gas is more higher than that of coal filled with 0 MPa gas under the same axial stress. Gas plays a positive effect on the deformation of coal process and will accelerate creep process. And gas will reduce coal intensity and change coal creep properties.Compared with Nishihara Model and Extensional Nishihara Model, Burgers Model can reflect the three stages of creep process of coal filled with gas better. The research results can contribute to reveal coal and gas outburst mechanism.     

Micro shape of coal particle and crushing energy

A large amount of energy is consumed in a coal and gas outburst since a mass of coal is pulverized and ejected, accompanying a great quantity of gas emitted, resulting in a major mining hazard in underground coal mining around the world. Understanding how potential energy stored in gassy coal seams dissipates in the process of outbursting may possibly be a key to clarify the mechanisms responsible for coal and gas outburst. The present study was aimed to evaluate energy for crushing coal to various size fractions in coal and gas outbursts through theoretical and experimental investigation into the shape of fine coal particles and their equivalent diameter. Theoretical analysis indicates that the shape of a particle has a significant impact both on its equivalent diameter and hence on its outer surface area.Microscopic observations demonstrate the particle fraction with diameters less than 0.075 mm, produced from crushing coal samples, mostly takes on a spherical or ellipsoidal shape, and experimental data also show this part of particles consists of 30%–50% surface area newly generated from crushing operation,though these fine coal accounts for only less than ten percentages by weight. Further, analysis of experimental data indicates that the total surface area of this particle size fraction varies exponentially with input crushing energy, and the specific area energy is not a constant but probably in association with physical properties and textures of material.     

Experimental study on the deformation behaviour,energy evolution law and failure mechanism of tectonic coal subjected to cyclic loads

Compared to intact coal, tectonic coal exhibits unique characteristics. The deformation behaviours under cyclic loading with different confining pressures and loading rates are monitored by MTS815 test system, and the mechanical and energy properties are analysed using experimental data. The results show that the stress–strain curve could be divided into four stages in a single cycle. The elastic strain and elastic energy density increase linearly with deviatoric stress and are proportional to the confining pressure and loading rate; irreversible strain and dissipated energy density increase exponentially with deviatoric stress, inversely proportional to the confining pressure and loading rate. The internal structure of tectonic coal is divided into three types, all of which are damaged under different deviatoric stress levels, thereby explaining the segmentation phenomenon of stress–strain curve of tectonic coal in the cyclic loading process. Tectonic coal exhibits nonlinear energy storage characteristics, which verifies why the tectonic coal is prone to coal and gas outburst from the principle of energy dissipation. In addition, the damage mechanism of tectonic coal is described from the point of energy distribution by introducing the concepts of crushing energy and friction energy.     

Effect of protective coal seam mining and gas extraction on gas transport in a coal seam

A gas–solid coupling model involving coal seam deformation,gas diffusion and seepage,gas adsorption and desorption was built to study the gas transport rule under the effect of protective coal seam mining.The research results indicate:(1) The depressurization effect changes the stress state of an overlying coal seam and causes its permeability to increase,thus gas in the protected coal seam will be desorbed and transported under the effect of a gas pressure gradient,which will cause a decrease in gas pressure.(2) Gas pressure can be further decreased by setting out gas extraction boreholes in the overlying coal seam,which can effectively reduce the coal and gas outburst risk.The research is of important engineering significance for studying the gas transport rule in protected coal seam and providing important reference for controlling coal and gas outbursts in deep mining in China.     

利民煤矿煤与瓦斯突出的地质构造条件研究

在对湖南利民煤矿煤与瓦斯弱突出区域、强突出区域和未突出区域的地质构造特征作详细分析后 ,发现煤层顶底板断 褶构造发育不协调、边界条件不一样 ,引起Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ各区的应力分布不均匀 ,构造复杂程度具一定的差异性 ;同时探讨了构造应力场和煤与瓦斯突出的关系 ,认为构造应力决定着突出强度的大小 ,进而控制煤与瓦斯突出的区域、密度、强度的差异性 .所得结论为矿区煤与瓦斯突出预测防治提供了理论依据 .     

Response characteristics of gas pressure under simultaneous static and dynamic load: Implication for coal and gas outburst mechanism

Coal and gas outbursts are dynamic disasters in which a large mass of gas and coal suddenly emerges in a mining space within a split second. The interaction between the gas pressure and stress environment is one of the key factors that induce coal and gas outbursts. In this study, first, the coupling relationship between the gas pressure in the coal body ahead of the working face and the dynamic load was investigated using experimental observations, numerical simulations, and mine-site investiga...     

Review of current method to determine outburst threshold limits in Australian underground coal mines

Desorption rate index (DRI) was presented to the Australian underground coal industry in 1995 as a means for determining outburst threshold limits for Australian coal seams. DRI is a measure of the gas volume released from a coal sample in the first 30 s of crushing during the Q3 stage of gas content testing, multiplied by the ratio between measured Q3 and QM. Relationships were identified between QM and DRI for both CO₂ and CH₄ rich coal samples collected from the Bulli Seam at West Cliff Colliery and that identified relationship was referred to as the Bulli Seam Benchmark. The outburst mining gas content threshold limit values specified for the Bulli Seam at that time, when applied to the QM-DRI Bulli Seam benchmark, was shown to closely align with a DRI value of 900 (DRI900), for both CO₂ and CH₄ rich seam gas conditions. The Australian coal industry adopted the DRI900 as the basis for determining outburst gas content TLV for Australian coal seams. Outburst mining experience in Australia has shown that gas content is not the only significant factor that impacts outburst risk, as all significant outburst events have been associated with abnormal geological conditions, such as faults and dykes. Therefore, assessing the potential application of additional outburst risk factors, to accurately define outburst risk zones, set safe mining threshold levels, and determine appropriate mining controls, warrants further investigation. Several Australian coal mines have implemented mining procedures enabling mining to continue in areas with gas content greater than the TLV determined using the DRI900 approach, without inducing an outburst. There is a broad lack of understanding among Australian coal mine operators as to the procedure and calculations used to determine DRI. Also, there has been growing concern regarding the accuracy and validity of the DRI900 method for determining outburst TLV. A comprehensive set of gas data has been collected from Australian coal seams, including the Bulli Seam, and this data has been used to investigate the DRI, Bulli Seam Benchmark, and the applicability of using DRI900 as the basis for assessing outburst risk and determining gas content TLV. The results are presented and discussed.     

Comparing potentials for gas outburst in a Chinese anthracite and an Australian bituminous coal mine

Gas outbursts in underground mining occur under conditions of high gas desorption rate and gas content, combined with high stress regime, low coal strength and high Young’s modulus. This combination of gas and stress factors occurs more often in deep mining. Hence, as the depth of mining increases, the potential for outburst increases. This study proposes a conceptual model to evaluate outburst potential in terms of an outburst indicator. The model was used to evaluate the potential for gas outburst in two mines, by comparing numerical simulations of gas flow behavior under typical stress regimes in an Australian gassy mine extracting a medium-volatile bituminous coal, and a Chinese gassy coal mine in Qinshui Basin (Shanxi province) extracting anthracite coal. We coupled the stress simulation program (FLAC3D) with the gas simulation program (SIMED II) to compute the stress and gas pressure and gas content distribution following development of a roadway into the targeted coal seams. The data from gas content and stress distribution were then used to quantify the intensity of energy release in the event of an outburst.     

Technical scheme and application of pressure-relief gas extraction in multi-coal seam mining region

A pressure relief gas extraction technical model of a typical mining area is proposed based on coal and gas simultaneous extraction theory. Flac3 Dwas employed to model vertical stress and displacement contour plot characteristics of non-outburst coal seam(No. 4) on top of outburst coal seam(No. 2) along strike and incline directions. Field investigations were also conducted to verify the scientific nature of the simulation. The results demonstrate that gas pressure in No. 2 coal seam dropped to approximately 0.55 MPa in the pressure relief multi-coal seam. The highest expansion rate of the coal mine reached up to 2.58%.The pressure-relief angle was 76° along the incline direction and 60° along the strike direction. As the expansion rate and pressure-relief angle increased and the gas pressure decreased, a large amount of gas flowed into the gob of No. 4 from No. 2 coal seam and was later discharged through specific gas pipes,which eliminated No. 2 outburst risks. This study resulted in positive outcomes in that gas extraction time was reduced by 13.5 days, due to pressure relief, and drilling work load was reduced by 0.1161 m/t coal. This method ensures that gas is discharged from the outburst coal seam quickly and safely,demonstrating that the proposed technical model of pressure-relief gas extraction is effective in a multi-coal seam region.     

两软一硬煤层突出控制因素与发生规律

针对两软一硬煤层特殊的瓦斯地质条件,以云盖山井田一矿二1煤层为例,探寻了两软一硬煤层煤与瓦斯突出的控制因素,分析了掘进工作面掘进期间突出预测指标的分布特征,总结归纳了"两软一硬"煤层煤与瓦斯突出发生规律.研究结果表明,由于地质构造变动,云盖山一矿二1煤层产状变化较大,煤层倾角发生急剧变化的地带,地应力集中;受层间滑动构造的影响,煤层厚度变化较大,具有突然增厚、变薄以至尖灭、挤灭现象;二1煤层构造软煤呈连续层状发育.因此,在煤层薄、厚交接处(煤层急剧变化带),小断层附近,应力集中,瓦斯积聚,煤体破坏严重,易发生突出.此项研究,可为地质条件类似矿井开展瓦斯地质研究和瓦斯灾害防治工作提供方法借鉴和理论指导.     

Effects of coal seam dip angle on the outburst in coal roadway excavation

The prevention and forecast of coal and gas outburst has always been one of the key issues in coal mining safety. By simulating the process of tunneling in coal seam with different dip angle through FLAC3D software, the dangerous zone in which outburst may occur and the probability of outburst near the working face were predicted through the distribution of stress, displacement and plastic zone. Then we discussed the size of unstable area in the surrounding rock through the distribution of stress and the variation curve of the displacement on the roadway wall. The results show that, with an increase of the coal seam dip angle, the risk of outburst in the working face rises gradually. And the dangerous areas in which may outburst occur moves to the upper part of coal seam. The size of unstable area in the surrounding rock increases with the increase of coal seam dip angle.     

Gas-solid coupling laws for deep high-gas coal seams

A better understanding of gas-solid coupling laws for deep, gassy coal seams is vital for preventing the compound dynamic disasters such as rock burst and gas outburst. In this paper, a gas-solid coupling theoretical model under the influence of ground stress, gas pressure, and mining depth is established and simulated by using COMSOL Multiphysics software. Research results indicate that under the influence of factors such as high ground stress and gas pressure, the mutual coupling interaction between coal and gas is much more significant, which leads to the emergence of new characteristics of gas compound dynamic disasters. Reducing the ground stress concentration in front of the working face can not only minimize the possibility of rock burst accidents, which are mainly caused by ground stress, but also can weaken the role of ground stress as a barrier to gas, thereby decreasing the number of outburst accidents whose dominant factor is gas. The results have a great theoretical and practical significance in terms of accident prevention, enhanced mine safety, disaster prevention system design, and improved accident emergency plans.     

Failure modes of coal containing gas and mechanism of gas outbursts

In order to explain the mechanism for gas outburst, the process of evolving fractures in coal seams is described using system dynamics with variable boundaries. We discuss the failure modes of coal containing gas and then established the flow rules after failure. The condition under which states of deformation convert is presented and the manner in which these convert is proposed. In the end, the process of gas outbursts is explained in detail. It shows that a gas outburst is a process in which the boundaries of coal seams are variable because of coal failure. If the fractures are not connected or even closed owing to coal/rock stress, fractured zones will retain a certain level of carrying capacity because of the self-sealing gas pressure. When the accumulation of gas energy reaches its limit, coal seams will become unstable and gas outbursts take place.     

承压煤岩低气压渗流灾变

为探索含低压瓦斯煤层的瓦斯异常涌出灾变成因与机理,对目前该领域的文献进行了分析与总结,并通过工程案例实证分析,证明了此种灾变的存在;在流固耦合实验系统上,按背景工程约束与加载条件开展含低气压煤样承压物理试验,得到了灾变全程应力-声发射-流量实验数据及试样外表破坏情况;用UDEC,按背景工程边界与加载条件开展气-固耦合离散元数值试验,得到了灾变全程应力-应变--流速-位移速率等实验数据及试样内部破裂情况.研究结果表明:3种研究方法获得了一致性较高的结果,0.4 MPa气体压力下,煤层承压过程应力-煤-气耦合作用,可以导致发生喷出气体的灾变,在煤矿现场多表现为瓦斯异常涌出超限;在单自由度边界条件下施加单向压载,承压煤岩弹性变形前期,气体沿原生裂隙和孔隙呈常速稳态渗流;弹性变形后期,原生裂隙和孔隙被压密,气体呈减速稳态渗流;屈服阶段,扩容新生裂隙产生,气体呈加速非稳态渗流;达到极限荷载或峰后不久,发生气体喷出灾变;采、掘作业面正常通风条件下,气流瓦斯浓度持续降低,是煤层发生瓦斯异常涌出的警示信息,应引起高度重视.     

构造煤及其对煤与瓦斯突出的控制作用

高空隙率、低透气性使构造煤能够保持较高的瓦斯压力 ;破碎性、“隔离”作用及“气垫”作用 ,使构造煤抵御外力作用的能力大大降低 ;构造煤变形幅度大的特性 ,为瓦斯的迅速解吸、放散和快速流动创造了条件 ;构造煤薄弱分层或“通道层”的存在 ,则为煤与瓦斯突出的初始激发和持续发展奠定了基础 ;上述因素的共同作用 ,影响和制约了煤与瓦斯突出的强度和分布 .尽管如此 ,一定厚度的构造煤的存在只是发生煤与瓦斯突出的必要条件和有利条件 ,而非充分条件 .     

Quick determination of gas pressure before uncovering coal in cross-cuts and shafts

The determination of gas pressure before uncovering coal in cross-cuts and in shafts is one of the important steps in predicting coal and gas outbursts. However, the time spent for testing gas pressure is, at present, very long, seriously affecting the application of outburst prediction techniques in opening coal seams in cross-cuts and shafts. In order to reduce the time needed in gas pressure tests and to improve the accuracy of tests, we analyzed the process of gas pressure tests and examined the effect of the length of boreholes in coal seams in tests. The result shows that 1) the shorter the borehole, the easier the real pressure value of gas can be obtained and 2) the main factors affecting the time spent in gas pressure tests are the length of the borehole in coal seams,the gas emission time after the borehole has been formed and the quality of the borehole-sealing. The longer the length of the borehole, the longer the gas emission time and the larger the pressure-relief circle formed around the borehole, the longer the time needed for pressure tests. By controlling the length of the borehole in a test case in the Huainan mining area, and adopting a quick sealing technique using a sticky liquid method, the sealing quality was clearly improved and the gas emission time as well as the amount of gas discharged greatly decreased. Before the method described, the time required for the gas pressure to increase during the pressure test process, was more than 10 days. With our new method the required time is only 5 hours. In addition, the accuracy of the gas pressure test is greatly improved.     

Coal seam drainage enhancement using borehole presplitting basting technology——A case study in Huainan

Xinji No. 2 underground coal mine extracts the coal seams #4 and #5. These two seams are highly gassy and gas drainage is required to control mine gas emission and reduce outburst risk. Because the seam permeability coefficient is very low and around 0.1 m~2/(MPa~2·d), a number of technologies have been trialled to enhance the seam permeability prior to gas drainage. Of these technologies trialled, the deep borehole presplitting blasting technology has been proven to be quite effective in increasing permeability. In Xinji No. 2 mine it doubled or sometimes tripled gas drainage volume. This paper describes the technology, its application in the enhancement of seam permeability in Xinji No. 2 coal mine, and its effect on gas drainage performance.     

煤与瓦斯突出的压力容器物理爆炸假说

根据掘进工作面前方支承压力分布特征,建立了掘进工作面前方煤体的压力容器模型．通过分析认为,该模型满足压力容器爆炸的2个条件：气体迅速膨胀和容器壁脆性断裂．进而,基于压力容器发生物理爆炸前的孕育、爆炸后的能量及破坏能力,解释了煤与瓦斯突出的预兆、基本特点和一般规律,并分析了石门自行突出等问题的原因．最后,基于压力容器物理爆炸条件,给出了煤与瓦斯突出的预测指标和防突施工的努力方向,并对已有防突措施进行分析和评价．煤与瓦斯突出的压力容器物理爆炸假说的提出,对揭示煤与瓦斯突出机理具有重要意义．