ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Underground

Gas Management and Risk Mitigation Strategies for Longwalls

Underground » Ventilation, Gas Drainage and Monitoring

Published: March 19Project Number: C25066

Get ReportAuthor: Rao Balusu, Krishna Tanguturi and Qingdong Qu | CSIRO

The main objective of this project was to develop optimum goaf gas management and risk mitigation strategies for highly gassy longwall mines. The project aimed to obtain a fundamental understanding of the effect of various parameters on goaf gas distribution patterns and investigate the performance of novel goaf gas drainage concepts, designs and strategies in order to develop effective goaf gas management strategies for highly gassy mines. Work involved modelling investigations, field studies, data analyses and demonstration of optimum gas management technologies and strategies at highly gassy mines. The project also aimed to provide greater insights into goaf gas migration patterns under different scenarios of main fans failure, large barometric pressure variations and major goaf falls, and an assessment of the risk of irrespirable atmosphere prevailing on the longwall face through transient modelling analyses.

A number of modelling studies were carried out to obtain a fundamental understanding of the goaf gas flow distribution patterns under different mining and operational conditions. Analyses of the results indicated that the oxygen distribution pattern in the longwall panels with steep gradients would be entirely different from the oxygen distribution pattern in the longwall panels with flat seam gradients. Results indicated that oxygen ingress would be high on both sides of the panel under flat seam gradients when compared with high oxygen ingress only on the maingate (MG) side of the panel under steep seam conditions. These goaf gas distribution patterns would have significant effect on goaf gas drainage efficiency and strategies.

Based on the analyses of the results of simulations, risk mitigation strategies have been developed to minimise the risks associated with fans and goaf plants failure, barometric pressure changes, and goaf falls. High goaf gas drainage rates and deep goaf gas drainage strategies would assist in minimising the impact of barometric pressure changes, fans and goaf plants failure, and goaf falls in highly gassy mines. Goaf gas drainage rates should be maintained at highest level possible through implementation of the recommended goaf gas drainage strategies to achieve total goaf gas drainage/ capture efficiencies of more than 80%. Longwall face ventilation/airflow should be maintained at higher flow rates to minimise the risks associated with fans and goaf plants failure, goaf falls, and barometric pressure changes.

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34007Evaluating Toxicity Of Different Types Of Respirable Crystalline Silica Particles To Lung Cells And Tissues

Silica dust represents one of the most significant occupational haza...

C29010In-Situ Stress Measurement Using Non-Destructive Techniques (Ndts)

Rock in depth is subjected to stresses due to overlaying burden and ...

C33029Review Longwall Face Ventilation To Mitigate Goaf Gas Emissions Onto Walkways And Tailgate End

As longwall mining increasingly targets deeper coal seams, managing ...

Underground

Open Cut

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

Recently Completed Projects

C35029Renewable Energy As Post-Mining Land Use

In 2020, the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), in partnership with...

C33036Radar Tyre Monitor System

This project focussed on trialling a radar sensing technology design...

C26020Preventing Fatigue Cracking Via Proactive Surface Dressing

Fatigue cracking of plant and equipment presents a significant chall...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C28061Quantitative Based Structural Integrity Evaluations Using Modal Parameters Estimation

This project focused on the development and implementation of a quan...

C34039Development Of A Soft Sensor For Predicting Dense Medium Cyclones Performance

This project details the development of a DMC soft sensor for modell...

C34041A Coal Spiral For The 2020S

The objective of this project is to develop an enhanced coal process...

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C35039Impact Of Coal Grain Composition And Macerals Association On Fluidity Development In Australian Coals

The coke quality prediction models use thermoplastic terms as key ex...

C36004Physical And Chemical Structure Characterisation Of Biomass For Biocoke Production

Partial substitution of coking coal with renewable biomass is identi...

C35037Examination Of Contraction Pre And Post Resolidification Using A High Temperature Dilatation Rig

This project examined the contraction of coking coal samples, both p...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C34066Safe Operation Of Catalytic Reactors For The Oxidation Of VAM Operating Under Abnormal Reaction Conditions

The catalyst Pd/TS-1 has shown excellent activity in oxidising venti...

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...

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