ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Open Cut

Top of Coal Detection in a Rotary Air Blast Drill Rig

Open Cut » Geology

Published: May 17Project Number: C24064

Get ReportAuthor: Enver Bajram, Long Giang, Joel Kok and Daniel Hudson | Mining3

Accurately detecting the approaching top of a coal seam prior to blasting is fundamental to efficient coal recovery.  Previous investigations by member mining companies reported a 66% reduction in coal dilution through disciplined and detailed overburden drilling and blasting practices.

With support from the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), Mining3 has developed a novel concept for detecting Top of Coal (TOC) whilst drilling in Rotary air blast over-burden blast-hole drill rig.

The method of detecting TOC while drilling brings significant benefits to surface mining operations, including the:

· Reliable indication of the approach to TOC enabling drilling to be stopped before touching coal or at a minimum standoff distance;

· Increased production by reducing damage to coal from blasting;

· Providing strata recognition and mapping during routine blast hole drilling.

The project was guided by a steering committee, including appointed industry monitors Kirk Henderson (Peabody Coal), Vishwa Bhushan (RTCA) Steve Simmons (AAMC) and Andrew Denman (BHP). The enthusiastic and generous contribution of both Hughes Drilling and Jellinbah East mine in north Queensland which provided assistance, support, equipment and a site for a field trial is acknowledged and greatly appreciated.

The aim of the TOC detection project is to demonstrate a prototype Measurement While Drilling system that can detect approaching TOC while performing routine drilling of blast holes in a Rotary air blast drill rig. Benefits of the system are:

· Increased production by reducing damage and dilution to coal from blasting;

· Increased knowledge of overburden strata to inform better blast design;

· Improved productivity, time savings and expense of drilling and/or logging holes just to map the top of coal if the same or better information is produced during production drilling;

· Provide information that will assist with drill automation; and

· Enable other coal dilution technologies such as blast-hole slotting.

The ability to detect approaching Top of Coal would revolutionize blast hole drilling, leading to a significant reduction in coal loss and dilution.

Related previous ACARP project reports, also available from the ACARP website, are C19023 and C21005.

 

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Recently Completed Projects

C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

C29052Autonomous Water Pressure Sensors For Spoil Dumps And Dams

The geotechnical integrity and stability of a mine spoil dump or tai...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC