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.     

Investigations into the identification and control of outburst risk in Australian underground coal mines

Australian coal mines currently use gas content to assess outburst risk. The gas content threshold values for each mine are indirectly determined from measurement of gas volume liberated from 150 g coal samples during Q_3 residual gas content testing. It has been more than twenty years since this method, known as desorption rate index(DRI), was presented to the Australian coal industry, and in that time, there have been significant changes in mining conditions and the outburst threshold limits used at the benchmark Bulli seam mines. NSW Regulations list matters to be considered in developing control measures to manage the risk of gas outburst, and specifies that gas content, or DRI method, is used as the basis for determining outburst control zone. Whilst Queensland Regulations state that a coal or rock outburst is a high potential incident, there is no guidance provided to assist mine operators to define outburst prone conditions. A research project is planned at UOW to investigate the application of the DRI method and other potentially significant factors, such as gas pressure, coal toughness and permeability, which can be utilised by mine operators to assess outburst risk and determine appropriate outburst threshold limits and controls.     

新安煤田煤与瓦斯突出特征及控制因素分析

为了掌握煤与瓦斯突出的特征和控制因素,提高煤矿防突工作的针对性,本文通过统计分析了新安煤田内义煤集团的4个煤与瓦斯突出矿井近年来发生的瓦斯动力现象,综合分析得出新安煤田煤与瓦斯突出具有以小型突出为主、突出前有预兆并受作业方式诱导、突出点附近瓦斯质量体积和瓦斯压力高、易发生在掘进工作面和煤层变化带的特征;分析总结了埋藏深度、瓦斯赋存、地质构造、煤层厚度变化、构造软煤、作业工艺是控制新安煤田煤与瓦斯突出的主要因素,为该煤田防治煤与瓦斯突出提供了理论指导.     

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.     

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.     

Nitrogen enhanced drainage of CO_2 rich coal seams for mining

Coal seams with high CO_2 gas contents can be difficult to drain gas for outburst management. Coal has a high affinity for CO_2 with adsorption capacities typically twice that of CH_4. This paper presents an analysis of nitrogen injection into coal to enhance drainage of high CO_2 gas contents. Core flooding experiments were conducted where nitrogen was injected into coal core samples from two Australian coal mining basins with initial CO_2 gas contents and pressures that could be encountered during underground mining. Nitrogen effectively displaced the CO_2 with mass balance analysis finding there was only approximately 6%–7% of the original CO_2 gas content residual at the end of the core flood. Using a modified version of the SIMED II reservoir simulator, the core flooding experiments were history matched to determine the nitrogen and methane sorption times. It was found that a triple porosity model(a simple extension of the Warren and Root dual porosity model) was required to accurately describe the core flood observations. The estimated model properties were then used in reservoir simulation studies comparing enhanced drainage with conventional drainage with underground in seam boreholes. For the cases considered, underground in seam boreholes were found to provide shorter drainage lead times than enhanced drainage to meet a safe gas content for outburst management.     

Spatial context in the calculation of gas emissions for underground coal mines

The prediction of gas emissions arising from underground coal mining has been the subject of extensive research for several decades, however calculation techniques remain empirically based and are hence limited to the origin of calculation in both application and resolution. Quantification and management of risk associated with sudden gas release during mining(outbursts) and accumulation of noxious or combustible gases within the mining environment is reliant on such predictions, and unexplained variation correctly requires conservative management practices in response to risk. Over 2500 gas core samples from two southern Sydney basin mines producing metallurgical coal from the Bulli seam have been analysed in various geospatial context including relationships to hydrological features and geological structures. The results suggest variability and limitations associated with the present traditional approaches to gas emission prediction and design of gas management practices may be addressed using predictions derived from improved spatial datasets, and analysis techniques incorporating fundamental physical and energy related principles.     

Controlling the effect of a distant extremely thick igneous rock in overlying strata on coal mine disasters

Based on theoretical analysis, similarity simulation tests, numerical simulation analysis and field observations, we analyzed rock collapse and rules of fraction evolution of overlying rocks and studied the rules in controlling the effect of an extremely thick igneous rock, found above a main mining coal seam in an area prone to coal mine disasters in the Haizi Coal Mine. The results show that this igneous rock, called a "main key stratum", will not subside nor break for a long time, causing lower fractures and bed separations not to close. The presence of igneous rock plays an important role in rock bursts, mine floods, gas outburst and surface subsidence in coal mines. By analyzing the rules in controlling the effect of this igneous rock, we provide useful references for safety and high efficiency mining in coal mines under special geological conditions.     

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 .     

黄岩汇煤矿瓦斯赋存规律及突出危险区域研究

为了掌握黄岩汇煤矿15号煤层瓦斯赋存规律及其突出危险性,通过井下实测瓦斯含量,运用地质构造控制理论分析了15号煤层瓦斯赋存特征及其影响因素,得出埋藏深度是控制15号煤层瓦斯含量变化的主导因素,煤层围岩对瓦斯保存起到了积极作用,断层、褶皱和陷落柱等因素对局部瓦斯分布有所影响.并在此基础上对15号煤层进行突出危险区划分,结果表明,该矿井15号煤层埋藏深度大于321m的区域为突出危险区,为防治瓦斯突出和矿井的安全生产提供了科学依据.     

河北省煤矿区瓦斯赋存构造控制

通过对河北省7个煤与瓦斯突出矿井、12个高瓦斯矿井、32个低瓦斯矿井煤矿区瓦斯地质特征的研究,提出了河北省瓦斯赋存构造逐级控制理论,华北板块构造控制河北省瓦斯分布,区域构造控制各矿区瓦斯分布,矿井构造控制采区、采面瓦斯.厘定出开平煤田北西翼高突带、下花园八宝山高突带、邯邢煤田鼓山东侧深部高瓦斯带和兴隆-宽城-松树台高瓦斯带4个高瓦斯带.研究表明:河北省内煤矿区高突瓦斯矿井的分布受控于EW向燕山褶皱带和NNE太行山构造带两大构造带,具有分带特征,太行山东麓的瓦斯由于深大断裂和地下水的控制而呈现"西低东高,南小北大"的态势,燕山褶皱带受燕山期NW-SE向水平挤压作用发育有逆冲推覆构造,密集发育的逆断层造成煤层叠瓦式分布有利于瓦斯的保存,80%矿井含煤地层集中在石炭二叠系,石炭二叠系瓦斯突出危险性要比侏罗系煤层大.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from shallow uncovered coal seams

This study discusses a method of quantifying emissions from surface coal mining that has been trialled in Australia. The method is based on direct measurement of surface emissions from uncovered coal seams in mine pits, concurrent measurement of residual gas content of blasted coal in mine pits, and measurement of pre-mining gas content of the same seam from cores retrieved from exploration boreholes drilled away from active mining. The results from one of the mines studied are presented in this paper. In this mine, the pre-mining gas content of the target seam was measured using cores from an exploration borehole away from active mining. Gas content varied from 0.7 to 0.8 m³/t and gas composition varied from 16% to 21% CH₄ (84–79% CO₂). In-pit measurements included seam surface emissions and residual gas content of blasted and ripped coal. Residual gas content varied from 0.09 to 0.15 m³/t, less than twofold across the mine pit. Composition of the residual gas was in general 90% CO₂ and 10% CH₄, with slight variation between samples. Coal seam surface emissions varied from 1.03 to 7.50 mL of CO₂-e per minute and per square meter of the coal seam surface, a sevenfold variation across the mine pit.     

Green coal mining technique integrating mining-dressing-gas draining-backfilling-mining

Aiming to address the following major engineering issues faced by the Pingdingshan No. 12 mine:(1) difficulty in implementing auxiliary lifting because of its depth(i.e., beyond 1000 m);(2) highly gassy main coal seam with low permeability;(3) unstable overlying coal seam without suitable conditions for implementing conventional mining techniques for protective coal seam; and(4) predominant reliance on ‘‘under three" coal resources to ensure production output. This study proposes an integrated, closed-cycle mining-dressing-gas draining-backfilling-mining(MDGBM) technique. The proposed approach involves the mining of protective coal seam, underground dressing of coal and gangue(UDCG), pressure relief and gas drainage before extraction, and backfilling and mining of the protected coal seam. A system for draining gas and mining the protective seam in the rock stratum is designed and implemented based on the geological conditions. This system helps in realizing pressure relief and gas drainage from the protective seam before extraction. Accordingly, another system, which is connected to the existing production system, is established for the UDCG based on the dense medium-shallow trough process. The mixed mining workface is designed to accommodate both solid backfill and conventional fully mechanized coal mining, thereby facilitating coal mining, USCG, and backfilling. The results show that: The mixed mining workface length for the Ji15-31010 protected seam was 220 m with coal production capacity 1.2 million tons per year, while the backfill capacity of gangue was 0.5 million tons per year. The gas pressure decreased from 1.78 to 0.35 MPa, and the total amount of safely mined coal was 1.34 million tons. The process of simultaneously exploiting coal and draining gas was found to be safe, efficient, and green.This process also yielded significant economic benefits.     

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.     

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.     

淮南矿区井田小构造对煤与瓦斯突出的控制作用

井田小构造要素是控制煤与瓦斯突出的主要地质因素,它综合影响其他因素,会造成不同破坏程度的煤体结构.对淮南矿区煤与瓦斯突出点构造资料的统计表明,突出点受构造控制的占近64%,而煤、岩巷中的构造控制突出占近72%,突出点由小断层引起煤层产状及煤体结构强烈揉皱的占100%.淮南矿区煤与瓦斯突出点的构造组合形式分断层构造、断层与褶皱叠加和褶皱构造三类,其中断层组合又分地堑型、阶梯型、断层交汇型、挤压构造型和顺层断层型五种.小构造发育是造成煤与瓦斯突出平面分区性和空间分带性的主要原因,构造煤发育程度是造成煤与瓦斯突出发生的直接原因;必须进一步加强小构造对构造煤发育控制范围的研究,提高煤与瓦斯突出预测预报地质构造指标的可靠性.     

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.     

Research on Geological Structure Mark of Coal and Gas Outbursts in Pingdingshan Mining Area

Based on the study of regional displaying rules of coal and gas outburst controlled by geological structure in Pingdingshan mining area, the geological structure features in outburst sites were investigated emphatically. The combination type, orientation and least seam thickness in outburst sites were put forward. This research provides a geological mark for forecasting gas outbursts in deep mining.     

Characteristics and dominant controlling factors of gas outburst in Huaibei coalfield and its countermeasures

In order to master the main characteristics and controlling factors of gas disasters in Huaibei coalfield, based on data analysis, experimental determination and theoretical research, we analyzed the geological evolution and gas parameters in Huaibei mining area. The results show that Huaibei coalfield is located in Xu-Su arcuate tectonic circle, and the coal seam and gas occurrence took on bipolar-distribution. The dominant controlling factors of gas outburst were tectonic structures, tectonic stress, magma intrusion and mining depth. The geological conditions of Huaibei coalfield were very complicated, and almost all the outburst accidents occurred in tectonic structure zones. The horizontal tectonic stress played a dominant role in outburst accident. The thermal evolution and trap effect of magma intrusion controlled the physical characteristics of coal, gas occurrence and outburst. With the increase of mining depth, the possibility of gas outburst accidents increased significantly. After carrying out several effective regional measurements, the gas control effect was obvious and could ensure safety and high efficiency mining in outburst coal seams.     

Coal and gas outburst mechanism of the "Three Soft" coal seam in western Henan

Based on the particularities of gas outbursts,i.e.,low gas beating capacity and low gas pressure in the"Three Soft"coal seam in western Henan,we applied the theories of plate tectonics and regional structural evolution to investigate the mechanism of this seam and its impact on the coal seam gas formation.Our investigation revealed that coal and gas outbursts are distributed in a strip in a NW direction,with a number of high-penetration mines scattered towards the south side and low-gas mines largely located on the north side.We analyzed the statistics of 38 gas explosions and the rock-coal sturdiness number coefficient f of 167sampling sites in the region and found the gas outburst mechanism that features a"low indicator outburst phenomenon".The mechanism is characterized by structural coal as its core,a low gas bearing capacity,low gas pressure and sturdiness coefficient f mostly less than 0.3.Our research results provide a theoretical foundation for effective control of gas disasters.