Application of pressure relief and permeability increased by slotting a coal seam with a rotary type cutter working across rock layers

Pressure relief to increase permeability significantly improves gas extraction efficiency from coal seams. In this paper we report results from simulations using FLAC^3D code to analyze changes in coal displacement and stress after special drill slots were formed. We investigated the mechanism of pressure relief and permeability increase in a high-gas and low-permeability coal seam through the modeling of gas flow. This allows the development of the technology. Slotting across rock layers in the coal seam with a rotary type cutter was then applied in the field. The results show that pressure relief and permeability increases from slotting the coal seam can increase the transport and the fracture of the coal. This expands the range of pressure relief from the drilling and increases the exposed area of the seam. The total quantity of gas extracted from slotted bore holes was three times that seen with ordinary drilling. The concentration of gas extracted from the slotted drills was from two to three times that seen using ordinary drills. The gas flow was stable at 80%. Improved permeability and more efficient gas extraction are the result of the slotting. The roadway development rate is increased by 30–50% after gas drainage. This technology diminishes the lag between longwall production and roadway development and effectively prevents coal and gas outburst, which offers the prospect of broad application.     

Induced drill-spray during hydraulic slotting of a coal seam and its influence on gas extraction

Hydraulic slotting can induce drill spray in a gassy, low permeability coal seam. This then influences subsequent gas extraction. This paper describes the drill spray phenomenon from a mechanical perspective and analyzes the effects of water jet damage during slotting. A simulation of the stresses around the drill hole and slot was prepared using FLAC-3D code. It helps explain the induction of drill spray during hydraulic slotting. The stress concentration around the bore increases as the diameter of the hole increases. As the hole enlarges the variation in stress also increases, which introduces an instability into the coal. This allows easy breaking and removal of the coal. Destruction of the coal structure by the water jet is the major factor causing drill spray. Energy stored as either strain or gas pressure is released by the water jet and this causes the coal to fracture and be expelled from the hole. Field tests showed the effect on gas extraction after slotting with drill spray. The concentration of gas increases after drilling. Compared to conventional techniques, the hydraulic slotted bore gives a gas concentration three times higher and has an effective range twice as far. This makes the gas extraction process more efficient and allows reduced construction effort.     

超高压水力割缝强化抽采瓦斯技术研究

水力割缝是一种重要的强化瓦斯抽采增透技术,现已开始在低透气性突出煤层应用。为了进一步考察其实际效果,选取新集二矿1煤组220112工作面底抽巷实施了100 MPa超高压水力割缝试验。试验结果表明:割缝后,瓦斯抽采纯量平均0.77 m3/min,是未割缝钻孔的瓦斯抽采纯量(0.34 m~3/min)的2.26倍;1煤层组瓦斯抽采钻孔抽采30、60天的抽采有效半径为5 m、7.5 m,极限抽采半径为8 m,相比水力冲孔、未割缝钻孔抽采有效半径显著增加,超高压水力割缝强化抽采瓦斯技术具有广泛的应用前景。     

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.     

煤层群煤与瓦斯安全高效共采体系及应用

提出了高瓦斯煤层群煤与瓦斯安全高效共采的概念：在煤层群开采条件下，首先开采瓦斯含量低、无突出危险的首采煤层，利用其采动影响使处在其上部和下部的煤层卸压，煤层透气性成百倍地增加，从而形成高效的瓦斯抽采条件．同时进行的卸压瓦斯高效抽采既解决了由卸压煤层向首采煤层涌出瓦斯问题，保障首采煤层实现安全高效开采，又大幅度地降低了卸压煤层的瓦斯含量，消除了煤与瓦斯突出危险性，为在卸压煤层内实施快速掘进与高效采煤方法提供了安全保障，从而实现了瓦斯与煤炭两种资源的安全高效共采．文中介绍了针对不同卸压瓦斯流动特点的近程、中程和远程卸压瓦斯抽采方法及工程应用实践，最后对高瓦斯煤层群煤与瓦斯安全高效共采体系的应用前景进行了分析．     

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.     

Progress on the hydraulic measures for grid slotting and fracking to enhance coal seam permeability

A method of hydraulic grid slotting and hydraulic fracturing was proposed to enhance the permeability of low permeability coal seam in China. Micro-structural development and strength characteristics of coal were analysed to set up the failure criterion of coal containing water and gas, which could describe the destruction rule of coal containing gas under the hydraulic measures more accurately. Based on the theory of transient flow and fluid grid, the numerical calculation model of turbulence formed by high pressure oscillating water jet was used. With the high speed photography test, dynamic evolution and pulsation characteristics of water jet water analysed which laid a foundation for mechanism analysis of rock damage under water jet. Wave equation of oscillating water jet slotting was established and the mechanism of coal damage by the impact stress wave under oscillation jet was revealed. These provide a new method to study the mechanism of porosity and crack damage under high pressure jet.Fracture criterion by jet slotting was established and mechanism of crack development controlled by crack zone between slots was found. The fractures were induced to extend along pre-set direction,instead of being controlled by original stress field. The model of gas migration through coal seams after the hydraulic measures for grid slotting and fracking was established. The key technology and equipment for grid slotting and fracking with high-pressure oscillating jet were developed and applied to coal mines in Chongqing and Henan in China. The results show that the gas permeability of coal seam is enhanced by three orders of magnitude, efficiency of roadway excavation and mining is improved by more than 57%and the cost of gas control is reduced by 50%.     

Principle and engineering application of pressure relief gas drainage in low permeability outburst coal seam

With the increase in mining depth, the danger of coal and gas outbursts increases. In order to drain coal gas effectively and to eliminate the risk of coal and gas outbursts, we used a specific number of penetration boreholes for draining of pressure relief gas. Based on the principle of overlying strata movement, deformation and pressure relief, a good effect of gas drainage was obtained. The practice in the Panyi coal mine has shown that, after mining the Cllcoal seam as the protective layer, the relative expansion deformation value of the protected layer C13 reached 2.63%, The permeability coefficient increased 2880 times, the gas drainage rate of the C13 coal seam increased to more than 60%, the amount of gas was reduced from 13.0 to 5.2 m3/t and the gas pressure declined from 4.4 to 0.4 MPa, which caused the danger the outbursts in the coal seams to be eliminated. The result was that we achieved a safe and highly efficient mining operation of the C 13 coal seam.     

保护层开采上覆煤岩变形移动及瓦斯抽采效果

根据潘三矿东四采区实际开采条件和回采工艺,运用数值模拟和现场试验相结合的方法,分析了近水平煤层保护层开采过程中被保护层应力、变形量、透气性系数在保护层开采过程中的演化机制。结果表明：保护层开采过程中,被保护层存在未受影响区（原始应力区）、增压区、过渡卸压区、稳定卸压区和重新压实区,被保护层边界区域附近过渡卸压区内的透气性系数为原始透气性系数的30倍左右,煤体应力下降,产生了一定的膨胀变形,大大提高了瓦斯抽采效果。     

Guiding-controlling technology of coal seam hydraulic fracturing fractures extension

Aiming at the uncontrollable problem of extension direction of coal seam hydraulic fracturing, this study analyzed the course of fractures variation around the boreholes in process of hydraulic fracturing, and carried out the numerical simulations to investigate the effect of artificial predetermined fractures on stress distribution around fractured holes. The simulation results show that partial coal mass occurs relatively strong shear failure and forms weak surfaces, and then fractures extended along the desired direction while predetermined fractures changed stress distribution. Directional fracturing makes the fractures link up and the pressure on coal mass is relieved within fractured regions. Combining deep hole controlling blasting with hydraulic fracturing was proposed to realize the extension guiding-controlling technology of coal seam fractures. Industrial experiments prove that this technology can avoid local stress concentration and dramatically widen the pressure relief scope of deep hole controlling blasting. The permeability of fractured coal seam increased significantly, and gas extraction was greatly improved. Besides, regional pressure relief and permeability increase was achieved in this study.     

Switching mechanism and optimisation research on a pressure-attitude adaptive adjusting coal seam water jet slotter

To investigate the attitude-switching mechanisms of existing jet slotters, which integrate drilling, punching and slotting operations, and to improve its fracture ability, we used the power bond diagram theory to analyse the dynamic flow pressure, and force of slotters. A mathematical model was developed for the dynamic characteristics of slotter systems. Furthermore, to study the effect of the main characteristic parameters on the ability of the nozzle to erode sandstone, multi-orthogonal experiments were carried out. And the optimised slots were applied in later practical operations. The research results show that the inlet fluid passed through the time-varying orifice to generate pressure differential thrust, which overcame the spring force, pushed the valve core to open the side nozzle, and closed the rear cavity channel thereby realising the switch of the slotter attitude. An optimal plan was established to balance the diameter, depth, and volume of punching, and a rock-breaking plan was developed for the slotter. Subsequently, the optimised water jet slotter was practically used in coal seam gas drainage. Compared with conventional dense drilling, water jet slotting technology significantly improves the ability, efficiency, and effect of increasing the permeability of the coal seam.     

影响割缝钻孔卸压效果因素的数值分析

通过对钻孔周围应力分布的研究,指出"瓶塞效应"是制约其影响范围的主要因素,割缝可以消除此效应;数值模拟表明割缝高度对缝槽上方煤体卸压影响不显著,考虑到蠕变等因素要求缝槽高度不低于16mm;缝槽深度对缝槽上方煤体卸压起到显著影响,当缝槽深度从0.227m增大到0.770m时,缝槽上部1.03m处煤体应力由6.2MPa降低到3.1MPa,通过增大缝槽深度以增加钻孔的影响范围是可行的;由于钻孔割缝后其影响范围增加,相邻钻孔间相互影响使得钻孔影响范围进一步增大,必须把多个钻孔当作一个整体来研究布孔情况.     

Pressure relief, gas drainage and deformation effects on an overlying coal seam induced by drilling an extra-thin protective coal seam

Numerical simulations and field tests were used to investigate the changes in ground stress and deformation of, and gas flow from, a protected coal seam under which an extra-thin coal seam was drilled. The geological conditions were: 0.5 meter min-ing height, 18.5 meter coal seam spacing and a hard limestone/fine sandstone inter-stratum. For these conditions we conclude: 1) the overlying coal-rock mass bends and sinks without the appearance of a caving zone, and 2) the protected coal seam is in the bending zone and undergoes expansion deformation in the stress-relaxed area. The deformation was 12 mm and the relative defor-mation was 0.15%. As mining proceeds, deformation in the protected layer begins as compression, then becomes a rapid expansion and, finally, reaches a stable value. A large number of bed separation crannies are created in the stress-relaxed area and the perme-ability coefficient of the coal seam was increased 403 fold. Grid penetration boreholes were evenly drilled toward the protected coal seam to affect pressure relief and gas drainage. This made the gas pressure decrease from 0.75 to 0.15 Mpa, the gas content de-crease from 13 to 4.66 m3/t and the gas drainage reach 64%.     

Hydraulic drill hole reaming technology with large flow and draining of coal mine gas

This paper takes Zhaozhuang mine in Shanxi province as an example to study the technology of hydraulic reaming drill hole for improving the gas extraction. The influence of the physical properties of coal seam on the hydraulic reaming drill holes and the draining of coal mine gas were analyzed and discussed for different coal structure areas, and the following conclusions were made. Hydraulic drill hole reaming has had a positive impact in Zhaozhuang Mine, and can improve the efficiency of gas extraction to different degrees. The water jet pressure used in hydraulic drill hole reaming mainly depends on the structure of the coal. When the coal seam basically becomes integrated, the critical water jet pressure increases, the discharge becomes relatively easy to achieve, the blocking effect on the gas extraction decreases, and the gas extraction significantly increases after the reaming process. When the coal seam is broken, the critical water jet pressure decreases, the discharge becomes difficult to achieve, the blocking effect on the gas extraction becomes obvious, and the gas extraction changes slightly after reaming.     

煤层注水促抽瓦斯及其影响因素的数值模拟

为有效预防煤矿瓦斯灾害,获取煤层注水促抽瓦斯的合理参数,以常村煤矿2103工作面为例,依据多相渗流理论,采用Fluent软件的VOF模型及多孔介质模型耦合求解,对煤层注水促抽瓦斯技术及其影响因素进行数值模拟,并将模拟结果应用于现场,对比分析数值模拟与现场实测数据,二者基本吻合.研究结果表明:煤层瓦斯含量以注水孔为中心径向逐步降低,以抽采孔为中心径向逐步升高;注水前抽采阶段,随着抽采时间的增加,抽采范围逐渐增大,抽采孔瓦斯流量先快速下降,后逐步缓慢降低;注水促抽阶段,随着注水时间的增加,注水范围逐渐增大,注水流量逐步降低,煤层瓦斯含量缓慢升高,抽采孔瓦斯流量逐渐增加;注水后抽采阶段,随着抽采时间的增加,压力水覆盖范围持续增大,煤层瓦斯含量逐渐降低,抽采孔瓦斯流量逐渐减小.注水时机、注水时间、注水压力、注水方式、布置方式及钻孔间距是影响煤层注水促抽瓦斯效果的6个主要因素.瓦斯正常抽采20 d后,按照一注一抽方式及5 m间距布置注抽钻孔,在8 MPa煤层注水压力下间歇注水10 d,煤层注水促抽瓦斯效果较好.     

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.     

Reservoir reconstruction technologies for coalbed methane recovery in deep and multiple seams

Multiple coal seams widely develop in the deep Chinese coal-bearing strata. Ground in situ stress and coal seam gas pressure increase continuously with the increase of the mining depth, and coal and gas outburst disasters become increasingly severe. When the coal is very deep, the gas content and pressure will elevate and thus coal seams tends to outburst-prone seams. The safety and economics of exploited firstmined coal seams are tremendously restricted. Meanwhile, the multiple seams occurrence conditions resulted in different methane pressure systems in the coal-bearing strata, which made the reservoir reconstruction of coal difficult. Given the characteristics of low saturation, low permeability, strong anisotropy and soft coal of Chinese coal seams, a single hydraulic fracturing surface well for reservoir reconstruction to pre-drain the coalbed methane(CBM) of multiple seams concurrently under the different gas pressure systems has not yet gained any breakthroughs. Based on analyses of the main features of deep CBM reservoirs in China, current gas control methods and the existing challenges in deep and multiple seams, we proposed a new technology for deep CBM reservoir reconstruction to realize simultaneous high-efficiency coal mining and gas extraction. In particular, we determined the first-mined seam according to the principles of effectiveness and economics, and used hydraulic fracturing surface well to reconstruct the first-mined seam which enlarges the selection range of the first-mined seam. During the process of mining first-mined seam, adjacent coal seams could be reconstructed under the mining effect which promoted high-efficiency pressure relief gas extraction by using spatial and comprehensive gas drainage methods(combination of underground and ground CBM extraction methods). A typical integrated reservoir reconstruction technology, ‘‘One well for triple use", was detailed introduced and successfully applied in the Luling coal mine. The application showed that the proposed technology could effectively promote coal mining safety and simultaneously high-efficiency gas extraction.     

基于卸压开采的下向穿层钻孔抽采瓦斯技术

为了实现下伏被保护层的卸压瓦斯抽采最大化,本文提出了保护层开采采用“Y”型通风沿空留巷技术,同时配合下向穿层钻孔的立体式抽采瓦斯技术,优化确定了下向钻孔的技术参数、施工时间、粉尘防治等工艺难题。工程实践表明,下向穿层钻孔单孔抽采瓦斯纯量可达0．2m^3/min,最大约0．45m^3/min,浓度高达60～90％,高效稳定时间约20～30d,可实现卸压瓦斯的抽采最大化。     

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.     

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.