Underground

Automated Structural Mapping in Underground Mines using Mobile Laser Scanning Technology

This project evaluated an off-the-shelf mobile laser scanner (ZebRevo) for automated mapping of structural discontinuities and other geotechnical features in underground coal mines.

The data collected in handheld mode incurred low mapping drift over a medium scale (≈ 500 m) and ....  read more

Improving coal seam model accuracy for longwall automation by in-seam borehole radar imaging and data integration

Longwall automation depends on the development of automatic coal seam (horizon) tracking and lateral guidance systems to maintain mining only the coal seam while steering towards the desired target. It requires spatial accuracy for local changes in a horizon's depth in the order of 10 cm, ....  read more

Longwall Geological Risk Minimisation Using Advanced Electromagnetic and Sonic Technologies

The primary objective of this project was to compare geophysical data from two different technologies, the Radio Imaging Method (RIM) and In-Seam Seismic (ISS), with a view to minimising geological risk in a longwall operation. Conceptually, data from an electromagnetic technology (RIM) should ....  read more

Seismic Diffraction Imaging for Improved Structural Detection in Complex Geological Environments

Rather than ignoring or suppressing seismic diffraction data, they can be retained as they are valuable for identifying small geological discontinuities such as faults, dykes and other features that cause small scatters in the subsurface. Through previous projects C22016 Enhancing Fault ....  read more

In-seam Wireless Drill String Project - Phase 2

This report presents the research for a wireless survey tool that provides high data-rate, bi-directional wireless communication between the borehole assembly and the drill rig in the hazardous conditions of underground in-seam (UIS) drilling.

Phase1 (C21019) involved the research ....  read more

Automatic Determination of Lithology Boundaries from Downhole Geophysical Logs

Coal geologists undertake drilling to assist them in estimating both the lateral and vertical extents and quality of their coal.   

When coal geologists drill a borehole, they usually collect two types of data:

• Geological logs recording the chips or core samples

Use of Core Scanning and Hand Held X-ray Fluorescence Analysis in Coal Quality Assessment

This project was aimed at developing and validating new technologies for detailed non-destructive chemical analysis of cored and in-situ coal seams for the Australian coal industry, using both a laboratory-based core-scanning system (Itrax core scanner) and a hand-held field-portable X-ray ....  read more

Advanced Logging Tool Phase II

The aim of the Advanced Logging Tool project was to develop a suite of Measurement Whilst Drilling (MWD) tools for the Underground In-Seam (UIS) drilling industry that can facilitate faster and more reliable holes to be drilled by providing accurate Coal Interface Detection (CID) for ....  read more

Coal Quality from Geophysical Logs for Enhanced Resource Estimation

Coal quality parameters such as ash content, density, volatile matter and specific energy are important to the coal mining industry from mine planning, design, extraction and beneficiation through to utilisation. These parameters are traditionally obtained through laboratory analysis conducted ....  read more

Enhancing Fault Detection by Seismic Diffraction Imaging

Faults cause breaks in continuity of seismic horizons and at these discontinuities, diffraction patterns in seismic waves are generated. This is a well understood phenomenon but modern seismic acquisition and processing techniques are mainly directed towards providing high resolution images of ....  read more

Borehole Data Standard for the Australian Coal Industry

The outcomes of this project are available free of charge from www.ausimm.com

Before CoalLog, approximately 30 different data formats and over 100 different data code translation tables were ....  read more

In Seam Wireless Communication System

CRCMining is developing a system called In Seam Wireless Drill String (ISWDS) for providing high data rate, bidirectional wireless communication between the BHA and the drill rig in the hazardous conditions of Underground In-Seam (UIS) drilling. This report details the work conducted in Phase 1 ....  read more

Coal Quality Data eXchange (CQDX) Laboratory to Customer Data Transfer

The project was commissioned in recognition of an industry wide need to improve the transfer of coal laboratory instructions and coal quality results between coal laboratories and their clients. The project was conducted as a joint venture between ACARP, acQuire Technology Solutions, SGS and ....  read more

Improving Reflection Seismic Success Through Ground Truthing

Seismic surveying, especially by the 3D method, is widely used throughout the Sydney and Bowen basins in order to delineate geological structures with the potential to affect underground coal mining. While use of the technique continues to grow, its performance has not been systematically ....  read more

CoalLog Manual - Borehole Data Standard For The Australian Coal Industry

The outcomes of this project are available free of charge from www.ausimm.com

Before CoalLog, approximately 30 different data formats and over 100 different data code translation tables were being used in the capture of geological and geotechnical data throughout the Australian ....  read more

Design, Certification and Manufacture of an IS Geophone for Underground Coal Mining

Two geophone assemblies have been developed and accredited as intrinsically safe (Ex ia) under the IEC scheme. The first geophone is a single element uni-axial geophone and the second is a three-element tri-axial geophone, both of which are suitable for deployment in Australian and ....  read more

Imaging Coal Seam Structures under Basalt Cover

In Australian coal mining areas, basalt flows can occur at or near the ground surface. These flows are usually of Tertiary age and are thickest where they have flowed down pre-existing river channels. Multiple flows may be present with unconsolidated sediments lying between. The basalts may be ....  read more

From Resources to Reserves through Quantitative Risk Assessment: Decision Support for JORC Compliance

The uncertainties and risks associated with the JORC code modifying factors have a significant impact on the conversion of coal resources to reserves. These factors include geological, geotechnical, metallurgical, mining, environmental, marketing, legal, social and governmental variables.

Application of the Geophysical Strata Rating in Production Settings

Through previous ACARP projects C11037 (Hatherly et. al, 2003) and C15019 (Hatherly et al., 2008) a new methodology for rating rock masses was introduced. Termed the Geophysical Strata Rating (GSR), this empirical scheme was developed for the clastic rocks typically found in the coal mining ....  read more

Imaging Systems for Geotechnical Boreholes

The objective of this project was to develop a new system for evaluating geotechnical boreholes in underground mining.  This approach was predicated on the demonstration of a commercial prototype imaging system (the Slim Borehole Scanner (SBS)) which is designed to be suitable for ....  read more

Detailed Geological Characterisation from Seismic Data

The use of seismic reflection surveying continues to grow within Australia's underground coal mining regions of the Sydney and Bowen Basins. 3D seismic surveys aimed at providing detailed information on the structures with the potential to affect longwall operations are now being routinely ....  read more

Geophysical Strata Rating

The Geophysical Strata Rating (GSR) is a means of empirically estimating the quality of rock masses through an analysis of geophysical logging data. It is based mainly on sonic log data and it recognises that in clastic sedimentary rocks, sonic velocity varies with both the rock type and the ....  read more

Intelligent Drilling Systems

Inseam directional drilling plays an important role in Australian underground coal mining for coal seam degasification purposes. The path of an inseam borehole is also of interest from an exploration perspective but too often the geological data from inseam boreholes remains ambiguous ....  read more

Integrated P-wave / PS-wave Seismic Imaging for Improved Geological Characterisation of Coal Environ

Converted-wave seismic reflection is a novel seismic method that takes advantage of the fact that when a compressional (P) wave from a conventional seismic source (e.g. dynamite, mini-SOSIE) strikes a coal seam, a significant fraction of the energy reflected back to the surface will be ....  read more

Forward Looking Radar for Early Sensing of Ground Conditions

This report presents the findings of a 12 month fundamental research project undertaken by the CSIRO Exploration and Mining.  This effort was driven by the desire to investigate and identify new methods and applications of ground penetrating radar to benefit the underground coal ....  read more

Automated Mineralogical Logging of Coal and Coal Measure Core

A mineralogical core logging system based on spectral reflectance (HyLogger™) has been used to detect and quantify mineralogies in coal and coal measure sediments. The HyLogger™ system, as tested, operates in the visible-to-shortwave infrared spectral region, where iron ....  read more

Quality Appraisal for Geophysical Borehole Logs

The aim of this project was to investigate efficient means for identifying suspect borehole logging data from hundreds or even thousands of boreholes. The intent was to classify data as acceptable, questionable, or unacceptable. The envisaged ultimate benefits of the project were

A New Approach for Locating & Mining through Dykes in Longwall Operations

Efficient and profitable coal mining is reliant on reducing mining costs which requires reducing or minimizing hazards that are likely to slow down or temporarily stop mining. Understanding the geology is a vital component in this exercise because many geological structures, if undetected, ....  read more

Comparative Study of In-Seam Surveying Technology (Coal Interface Detection Project)

In-seam drilling in the Australian coal industry is essential to reduce gas levels. Drilling is also sometimes used to assist mine exploration planning by identifying geological structures. An inherent weakness in the current system of in-seam drilling is the ....  read more

Integration of Seismic Data for Mine Planning

This project sought to develop procedures for:

• Interactive depth conversion through integrating borehole and seismic data so that seismic data can be transformed from the time domain to the depth domain.
• Stratigraphic and coal seam attribute

Qantitative Geophysical Log Interpretation for Rock Mass Characterisation

Geophysical borehole logging is routinely employed as part of exploration drilling in open pit and underground mining operations. Analysis of results is often empirical or based on theoretical considerations that need not relate to the actual properties of the rocks under consideration. The ....  read more

Investigation of Converted Wave Seismic Reflection for Improved Resulotuion of Coal Structures

Seismic reflection is widely recognised as a significant geophysical tool for remote imaging of subsurface coal deposits. The technique is now often an integral part of mine planning, with positive contributions to mine productivity and safety. However, the desire to image increasingly ....  read more

Super Model 2000 Bowen Basin

The aim of the Supermodel 2000 project was to deliver a regional three-dimensional model of the Moranbah-German Creek Coal Measures along the western limb of the Bowen Basin from integrated mine-scale databases and regional basement geology. It provides a snapshot of the available data and ....  read more

Visualisation of 3D Seismic and Full Waveform Sonic Data

Seismic 3D surveying and full waveform sonic logging are now major new tools for geological and geotechnical evaluation. CMTE has been supporting their introduction and through this project we have worked to develop and demonstrate interactive analysis software that can be used by  ....  read more

Magnetic Field Radar Probe for In-Line Assessment of Faults, Dykes and Other Features while In-Seam Drilling

In-seam drilling is an integral part of mining in many underground mines and it is undertaken for gas drainage and to prove coal seam conditions. Current drilling practice allows precise survey data to be obtained as to the plan position of the hole. While this means that drills can be steered ....  read more

Maximising the Benefits from Downhole Geophysical Logs Recorded in Coal Exploration Programs

The aim of this project was to develop techniques and tools to maximize the amount of geological, analytical and geomechanical information geologists can derive from their downhole geophysical logs.

The study analyses the data from 21 drillholes from Anglo Coal's Moranbah North ....  read more

Geotechnical Evaluation for Mining - Assessing Rock Mass Conditions Using Geophysical Logging

This project involves a comprehensive investigation into the use of geophysical logging for rock strength estimation.

Full waveform sonic logging
Aspects of seismic wave propagation are reviewed to provide a basis for understanding full waveform sonic logs and the ....  read more

Determination of Goaf Delamination Horizons and Other Roof Geomechanical Features using Downhole Acoustic Logs

This project has sought to utilise the acoustic scanner log and the sonic log to detect and define features within the overburden of a coal seam which control roof stability and goaf formation. In order to do this it was first necessary to validate the features interpreted from the scanner by ....  read more

4D Visualisation of Exploration & Mine Data

This project has successfully addressed one of ACARP's research priorities for techniques that aid in the prediction of mining conditions and geological disturbance of coal seams particularly for longwall mining.   The objective of this project was to demonstrate an interactive, ....  read more

Interpretation of Small Scale Geological Features on Seismic Reflection Data

This final report is timely in tat it is being published at a time when 3D seismic is being routinely used by a number of exploration groups in the Bowen.

The very readable report provides the reader with an understanding of the recent advances made in this exciting field and ....  read more

Imaging Complex Structures and Dykes Using 2-D 3-C Seismic Methods

The objectives of this project were to develop seismic methods to detect and image complex structure such as faults, fracture systems and dykes, which will benefit underground mine operations. The project proposed to work in the two dimensional (2-D) and three component (3-C) areas, but ....  read more

Interactive Evaluation of Mine Plans with Integrated Geological Exploration Data

This report presents the application of virtual reality programming and visualisation to the integration of disparate 3D and 4D data sets that are common to the mining environment. The project arose from a recognised need to:

1. integrate large and disparate data sets that are

Recognition of Low Throw Faults and Fracture Systems Using Seismic Data

This report provides a general review of work performed by the Curtin University research group for a syndication of mining companies over a two year period, July 1995 to June 1997.

The Syndicate ....  read more

German-Australian Demonstration of the Application of Lotem Measurement in Coal Mining

The primary objective of the project was to show that it is possible to obtain important information about drainage and fluid content of coal seams from surface electromagnetic (LOTEM) measurements combined with reflection seismic data resistivity logs. If this ....  read more

Surface Seismic Syndicate

The aim of this two year research project was to develop new and improved seismic methods to image coal seams in areas where the seismic ....  read more

Optimisation of Long Hole Drilling Equipment

The objectives of this study were to establish the factors currently restricting long hole drilling in coal seams to 1000m, and to establish what changes in technique or equipment are necessary to reach 2000m. Data from existing boreholes were analysed using ....  read more

In-Seam Drilling Scoping Study

In-Seam drilling has been recognised by underground mine operators as a high priority research area. This report seeks to draw together the concerns of those involved in in-seam drilling and provide direction as to where future research should focus.  ....  read more