Study of Effects of Hard Thick Roof on Gas Migration and Field Experiment of Roof Artificially Guided Pre-splitting for Efficient Gas Control

Due to high gas content, high geo-stress and complex geological conditions, gas disasters occur frequently in deep coal mining. The hard thick roof (HTR) greatly increases the difficulty of coalbed gas control besides causing dynamic disasters. In this paper, the effects of HTR on gas migration were numerically analyzed based on a multi-field coupling model. Results indicated that the hanging arch leads to remarkable stress concentration and induces a “cap-shaped” low-permeable zone above the gob, which greatly prevents gas from migrating upwards. Meanwhile, HTR hinders the subsidence movements of the upper rock strata, contributing to very few roof fractures and bed-separated fractures. Without the formation of roof-fractured zone, coalbed gas completely loses the possibility of upward concentration and will accumulate in the gob, forming a major safety hazard. To overcome these problems, borehole artificially guided pre-splitting (BAGP) technology was proposed. Three different pre-splitting boreholes were constructed as a group to generate artificial fractures in advance in HTR via deep-hole blasting, promoting the evolution of roof fractures. With the effects of mining stress, a fracture network is eventually formed in HTR, which provides a preferential passage for the upward flow of coalbed gas. Moreover, the controllable breaking of HTR was achieved and the roof strata could deform and subside regularly, forming an “O-shaped” roof-fractured zone above the gob which greatly improves the gas extraction efficiency of roof high-level boreholes. In addition, after BAGP, several extraction measures can be applied in the gob-side entry to drain the gas in different concentrated areas. In the field experiment, the roof periodic breaking length was reduced by half, and the average gas extraction rate was increased by 4 times to 67.7%. The synergetic controls of HTR and coalbed gas were effectively realized. This study provides valuable insight into gas control in other deep coal mines with similar geological conditions.

     

Gas Flow Characteristics and Optimization of Gas Drainage Borehole Layout in Protective Coal Seam Mining: A Case Study from the Shaqu Coal Mine,Shanxi Province,China

With increasing demands for coal resources, coal has been gradually mined in deep coal seams. Due to high gas content, pressure and in situ stress, deep coal seams show great risks of coal and gas outburst. Protective coal seam mining, as a safe and effective method for gas control, has been widely used in major coal-producing countries in the world. However, at present, the relevant problems, such as gas seepage characteristics and optimization of gas drainage borehole layout in protective coal seam mining have been rarely studied. Firstly, by combining with formulas for measuring and testing permeability of coal and rock mass in different stress regimes and failure modes in the laboratory, this study investigated stress–seepage coupling laws by using built-in language Fish of numerical simulation software FLAC^3D. In addition, this research analyzed distribution characteristics of permeability in a protected coal seam in the process of protective coal seam mining. Secondly, the protected coal seam was divided into a zone with initial permeability, a zone with decreasing permeability, and permeability increasing zones 1 and 2 according to the changes of permeability. In these zones, permeability rises the most in the permeability increasing zone 2. Moreover, by taking Shaqu Coal Mine, Shanxi Province, China as an example, layout of gas drainage boreholes in the protected coal seam was optimized based on the above permeability-based zoning. Finally, numerical simulation and field application showed that gas drainage volume and concentration rise significantly after optimizing borehole layout. Therefore, when gas is drained through boreholes crossing coal seams during the protective coal seam mining in other coal mines, optimization of borehole layout in Shaqu Coal Mine has certain reference values.

     

黑山煤田构造控煤作用与赋煤规律

在分析黑山煤田区域构造背景和勘查资料的基础上,论述了构造运动对煤层赋存的控制作用,并以三种控煤构造组合形式揭示了本区的基本赋煤规律。聚煤期同沉积构造控制着含煤性在空间上的变化;印支期NWW向褶皱对煤层的赋存起着关键的控制作用;喜山晚期张性和走滑断层,破坏了煤层的连续性,并控制了煤田东、西部残留煤系的埋藏深度。逆冲——褶皱和断裂——单斜式控煤构造组合中,逆断层上盘煤层抬升而利于勘查开采,但规模有限;褶皱——断裂式控煤构造组合中,复式向斜之次级背斜区,煤系上覆地层受剥蚀,煤层埋藏较浅,为主要的有利勘查区。     

Morphotectonic evidence from lateral propagation of an active frontal fold; Pakuashan anticline, foothills of Taiwan

The Pakuashan anticline is uniquely suited for study of the forward and lateral growth of fault-related folds. The Pakuashan ridge development arises from the late Quaternary uplift of the most external thrust zone of the western foothills of Taiwan. From Kaoshiung to Taichung, recent and active westward thrusting occurs at the front of the foothills. The Pakuashan anticline, trending N 150°E in the northern part to N 000° in the southern part, has been active throughout the Quaternary period. This activity is marked by geological structures, tectonic geomorphology and seismicity. A multisource and multiscale approach to study of the continental collision setting has been undertaken to combine tectonics, sedimentology and geomorphology. Studies of fracture patterns allow identification of two main features of stress orientations: a WNW/ESE compression direction, and E–W and N–S extension directions. Quantitative geomorphic parameters have been used to define the morphotectonic evolution and to infer tectonic style along the mountain front. Geomorphic evidence provides significant information on the processes that govern lateral propagation of an active anticline. Quaternary terraces are uplifted, tilted and folded over the Pakuashan ridge. Drainage systems in areas of active compression give information on the thrust zone structures and their development. Steep drainage and high local relief indicate that the Pakuashan anticline forms a well-defined zone of high uplift, especially in the southern part. The two main controls on drainage in that area are rock strength in the hanging wall and propagation of the deformation towards the south.     

Dual-Porosity Coupled Borehole Gas Flow Model: A New Method for Inversion of Coal Seam Permeability

The permeability of a coal seam is an important index for coal mine gas control and coalbed methane development, and its magnitude determines the degree of difficulty of gas drainage. To obtain the permeability value, a dimensionless mathematical model for dual-porosity borehole gas-coupled flow in a coal seam was established and adopted using a simulator developed by our group. A new method of inversion was developed to determine the fracture permeability coefficient λ_f and the matrix micro-channel diffusion coefficient K_m by fitting the simulated results with onsite measured data. A range of simulations quantified the effects of different dimensionless parameters on gas migration. The results verified the feasibility of the inversion method based on the high matching degree of the fitted results, and the dimensionless mathematical model was accurate. The desorption and release of adsorbed gas from the center to the surface in coal matrices were heterogeneous, and unsteady states and gas migration times in coal matrices cannot be neglected. The new method can be introduced to analyze the problem of gas migration in different coal reservoirs, simplify the corresponding calculation and computational processes, and provide guidance in determining the permeability of coal seams.

     

Theory and Application of Pseudo-Reservoir Hydraulic Stimulation for Coalbed Methane Indirect Extraction in Horizontal Well: Part 1—Theory

Pseudo-reservoir stimulation in horizontal well is an effective technique for indirectly extracting coalbed methane (CBM) in soft coal from the surrounding rocks (pseudo-reservoir). However, systematic studies of the theory and on-site application of this technique are still lacking, which severely hinders its application. In this paper, the technical principles of pseudo-reservoir stimulation are analyzed firstly, and then, the technical advantages are demonstrated by experimental tests and theoretical analysis. The results show that the pseudo-reservoir generally possesses considerable gas adsorption capacity, with the gas content of 1.56–4.22 cm³/g (avg. 2.51 cm³/g) in Well XC-01, which can be extracted as supplementary resources. The fracability of the pseudo-reservoirs is 0.73–0.92, which is much higher than that of the coal seam, i.e., 0.03–0.43. Meanwhile, the compressive and tensile strength and cohesion of the pseudo-reservoir are higher than those of the coal seam, indicating pseudo-reservoir stimulation is more conducive to forming fracture network, and maintaining wellbore stability and fracture conductivity. The technical feasibility of pseudo-reservoir stimulation is determined by the regional geological conditions, showing simple tectonic conditions and well-developed surrounding rocks with high fracability and mechanical strength but low permeability, water sensitivity and water content are beneficial for the technique application. Note that the fracture conductivity in pseudo-reservoir is more stable and higher than that in coal seam, pseudo-reservoir stimulation is beneficial for the CBM extraction from both hard and soft coal seams. By minimizing the gas diffusion distance, this technique overcomes the technical obstacles to the CBM commercialized production in soft coal.

     

Distribution Characteristics of In Situ Stress Field and Vertical Development Unit Division of CBM in Western Guizhou,China

In situ stress is not only a vital indicator for selecting explorative regions of coalbed methane (CBM), but also a pivotal factor affecting CBM production. The present study explored whether in situ stress affected the development potential of CBM in western Guizhou, China. To this end, we collected injection/falloff well test data and gas content data from 70 coal seams in 28 wells. The study found that from top to bottom, strike slip fault stress fields (<?500 m), normal fault stress fields (500–1000 m) and strike slip fault stress fields (>?1000 m) were successively developed in western Guizhou. The distribution features of vertical permeability in western Guizhou are consistent with the stress fields' transformation location. The coal permeability in the western part in Guizhou presents a tendency of increase followed by decrease as a result of increased burial depth. The vertical development characteristics of coal seam gas content are controlled mainly by reservoir pressure, and the relationship between reservoir pressure and buried depth shows a linear increase. The CBM in western Guizhou is divided vertically into three development potential regions dependent on the characteristics of burial depth, permeability and gas content of coal seams. The most favorable vertical development potential region in western Guizhou is 500–1000 m. This region exhibits high gas content, high permeability and moderate burial depth, which are favorable for the production of CBM. These research results can provide basis for geological selection and engineering implementation of CBM in western Guizhou.

     

Sampling Methane-Bearing Coal Seams by Freezing Method: Coalbed Methane Desorption and Inhibition Characteristics Under Freezing Temperature

Methane content in coal seam is an essential parameter for the assessment of coalbed gas reserves and is a threat to underground coal mining activities. Compared with the adsorption-isotherm-based indirect method, the direct method by sampling methane-bearing coal seams is apparently more accurate for predicting coalbed methane content. However, the traditional sampling method by using an opened sample tube or collecting drill cuttings with air drilling operation would lead to serious loss of coalbed methane in the sampling process. The pressurized sampling method by employing mechanical-valve-based pressure corer is expected to reduce the loss of coalbed methane, whereas it usually results in failure due to the wear of the mechanical valve. Sampling of methane-bearing coal seams by freezing was proposed in this study, and the coalbed gas desorption characteristics under freezing temperature were studied to verify the feasibility of this method. Results show that low temperature does not only improve the adsorption velocity of the coalbed gas, but also extend the adsorption process and increase the total adsorbed gas. The total adsorbed methane gas increased linearly with decreasing temperature, which was considered to be attributed to the decreased Gibbs free energy and molecular average free path of the coalbed gas molecular caused by low temperature. In contrast, the desorption velocity and total desorbed gas are significantly deceased under lower temperatures. The process of desorption can be divided into three phases. Desorption velocity decreases linearly at the first phase, and then, it shows a slow decreases at the second phase. Finally, the velocity of desorption levels off to a constant value at the third phase. The desorbed coalbed gas shows a parabolic relation to temperature at each phase, and it increases with increasing temperature at the first phase, and then, it poses a declining trend with increasing temperature at the rest phases. The experimental results show that decreasing the system temperature can restrain desorption of coalbed methane effectively, and it is proven to be a feasible way of sampling methane-bearing coal seams.

     

Experimental Study of Coal–Gas Outburst: Insights from Coal–Rock Structure,Gas Pressure and Adsorptivity

Natural Resources Research - Coal–gas outburst is a complex dynamic phenomenon in underground coal mines that has occurred frequently over the past 150&nbsp;years. This phenomenon has...     

Drainage evolution in response to fold growth in the hanging-wall of the Khazar fault, north-eastern Alborz, Iran

The Khazar fault is an active thrust fault in the northern part of the Alborz Range, which is associated with folding (the Khazar anticline) in its hanging‐wall. Regional geological studies indicate activity of the fault in Cenozoic time, and active propagation of the fault‐related folding towards the west. The Neka river drainage basin, which is a longitudinal river flowing mostly in the backlimb of the Khazar anticline, shows evidence for active folding and faulting influencing drainage evolution. Observations are made in different parts of the Neka river course, according to which a new morphotectonic feature is introduced within the river basin, termed as ‘tilted reach’. This feature is considered as a result of river course tilting in the backlimb of the growing fold, diversion, and capture of the river by other rivers. Consecutive episodes of similar events would have resulted in the development of a long drainage basin parallel to the growing fold structure.     

Experimental Analysis of the Dynamic Effects of Coal–Gas Outburst and a Protean Contraction and Expansion Flow Model

Natural Resources Research - As one of the most serious dynamic disasters in underground coal mining, coal–gas outburst (CGO) leads to very high casualties and economic losses. To research...     

Pore Fractal Dimensions of Bituminous Coal Reservoirs in North China and Their Impact on Gas Adsorption Capacity

Natural Resources Research - Coal pores not only serve as the storage space for coalbed methane but also provide channels for gas migration. The accurate characterization of coal pore structures is...     

矿山地质灾害链及其断链减灾实践研究

矿山地质灾害链是由采空区灾害链、矸石灾害链、矿井水灾害链、矿井瓦斯灾害链和高温热害灾害链等组成,它是由煤炭开采活动引发的灾害链,结构上属于树枝状灾链。分析了矿山地质灾害链的链式效应特点以及地质灾害链之间的协同作用、时间和空间分布的复杂多样性以及承灾体类型的多样性等。矿山地质灾害链的承灾体随着灾害链的延伸类型趋多,在其减灾措施中宜在上游的链环上采取措施,以便获得较好的经济效益。针对矿山地质灾害链的特点提出了控制灾害链源头的发生和危害、切断灾害链等措施,并在平顶山煤矿山进行了实践。     

老挝万象盆地通芒地区盐构造特征及成因机制

万象坳陷盆地腹地通芒地区古新世—始新世沉积了巨厚的膏盐岩,塔贡组下盐层钾镁盐矿体呈盐构造,钾镁盐矿体与上覆碎屑岩之间整合接触,在喜马拉雅运动中晚期的强烈挤压与差异载荷等作用下,形成通芒地区狭长形隆起的盐背斜构造。研究表明通芒地区盐构造的成因受多重作用影响,差异负载是通芒地区盐构造初始形成时的动力来源,盐上盖层快速沉降是盐构造生长缓慢的主要原因。强烈的区域挤压作用促进了差异负载、重力作用与浮力作用的进一步发展,所形成的构造样式相对较简单,以发育盐构造初期的盐枕及盐背斜为主。盐构造对于研究钾镁盐体的成因、运动规律和成矿作用具有重要意义。     

The Pinjaur dun (intermontane longitudinal valley) and associated active mountain fronts, NW Himalaya: Tectonic geomorphology and morphotectonic evolution

The Himalayan orogenic belt, formed as a result of collision tectonic processes, shows abundant evidence of neotectonic activity, active tectonics, and the occurrence of historical earthquakes. Its frontal deformation zone is characterized, in some segments, by intermontane longitudinal valleys (duns). Such frontal segments of the Himalaya are marked by the occurrence of multiple mountain fronts.In one such segment of the foothills of the NW Himalaya, the Pinjaur dun is developed and marked by three mountain fronts: MF1A and MF1B associated with the southernmost Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), MF2 associated with the Sirsa fault, and MF3 associated with the Barsar thrust along the southern margin of the relatively higher main part of the sub-Himalaya. Geomorphic responses to the tectonic activity of these and related structural features have been analyzed through the use of geomorphic indices, drainage density, stream longitudinal profiles, drainage anomalies, and hypsometric analysis. Also, fault and fold growth and their expression on landform development was studied using a combination of surface profiles and field observations.The values of valley floor width to height ratio (V_f) for valleys associated with MF1 ranged between 0.07 and 0.74, and for valleys associated with MF2 ranged from 1.02–5.12. V_f for the four major valleys associated with MF1B ranged from 1.1–1.7. The asymmetry factor for 26 drainage basins related to MF1A indicate these have developed under the influence of a transverse structure. These results taken together with those obtained from the Hack profiles and SL index values, hypsometry, drainage density, and drainage anomalies suggest that the faults associated with the mountain fronts and related structures are active.Active tectonics and neotectonic activity have led to the formation of four surfaces in the Pinjaur dun. In addition, an important drainage divide separating the Sirsa and Jhajara drainage networks also developed in the intermontane valley. Surface profile analysis helped in deciphering the growth history of the fault bend fold structures of the outermost Siwalik hills. The effects of tectonic activity on the proximal part of the Indo-Gangetic plains are interpreted from the remarkable river deflections that are aligned linearly over tens of kilometers in a zone about 10 km south of the HFT.Based on these integrated structural and tectonic geomorphological approaches, a morphotectonic evolutionary model of the dun has been proposed. This model highlights the role of uplift and growth history of the fault bend fold structures of the outermost Siwalik hills on (i) the depositional landforms and drainage development of the Pinjaur dun, and (ii) valley development of the outermost Siwalik hills.Importantly, this study postulates the formation of an incipient mountain front that is evolving ahead of the HFT and the outermost Siwalik hills in the Indo-Gangetic plains.     

Numerical Simulation Analysis of the Permeability Enhancement and Pressure Relief of Auger Mining

Auger mining (AM) is an effective and safe way to excavate an extremely thin protective layer. This method can relieve pressure and enhance the permeability of an ultra-contiguous coal layer with high gas capacity. However, there have been few studies on AM. Based on the conditions of a coal mine in Shanxi Province, China, theoretical analyses, laboratory tests and numerical simulations were used to analyze the evolution law of the overburden permeability in an AM face. A stress–damage–permeability coupling model was proposed, and a numerical simulation algorithm for fluid–solid coupling with FLAC software was established. Through this method, the evolution law of stress and permeability and its influencing factors of the overburden of the AM face were found. The intermediate coal pillar (ICP) width and the AM height and length are the main factors influencing the permeability evolution of the AM face. The first factor determines the damage state of the ICP in the goaf, and the last two factors influence the zone size with permeability enhancement of the protected layer. Therefore, reasonable AM parameter design is the key to both safe mining operations in the AM face and pressure relief and permeability enhancement.

     

Influence of Stress on Void Ratios of Compacted Crushed Rock Masses in Coal Mine Gobs

The transfer and evolution of stress among rock blocks directly change the void ratios of crushed rock masses and affect the flow of methane in coal mine gobs. In this study, a Lagrange framework and a discrete element method, along with the soft-sphere model and EDEM numerical software, were used. The compaction processes of rock blocks with diameters of 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 m were simulated with the degrees of compression set at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. This study examines the influence of stress on void ratios of compacted crushed rock masses in coal mine gobs. The results showed that stress was mainly transmitted downward through strong force chains. As the degree of compression increased, the strong force chains extended downward, which resulted in the stress at the upper rock mass to become significantly higher than that at the lower rock mass. It was determined that under different degrees of compression, the rock mass of coal mine gobs could be divided, from the bottom to the top, into a lower insufficient compression zone (ICZ) and an upper sufficient compression zone (SCZ). From bottom to top, the void ratios in the ICZ sharply decreased and those in the SCZ slowly decreased. Void ratios in the ICZ were 1.2–1.7 times higher than those in the SCZ.

     

沪蓉高速公路西段线路工程地质遥感解译

沪蓉高速公路西段路线走廊带是我国西南喀斯特生态环境脆弱区，喀斯特发育，存在一些重要的不良地质现象，如喀斯特地面塌陷和滑坡。该区在长期地壳运动发展中，不同时期、不同规模、不同方向的断裂构造体随时间、空间(构造位置及边界条件)和构造运动方式的变化，在各种地应力场的作用下形成了不同性质、不同规模等级的线性构造形迹。在沪蓉高速公路西段勘察中，利用空间图像的光谱特征和几何图形特征，探讨遥感解译过程中对各类线性构造分布及其特征的识别、判别工作方法与流程。     

Influence of structural framework on mountain slope deformation in the Maiella anticline (Central Apennines, Italy)

Relationships between tectonic framework and gravity-driven phenomena have been investigated in an area of the Central Apennines (Italy) characterised by high relief. The north–south, half-dome shaped Maiella anticline lies in the easternmost part of the Apennine fold-and-thrust belt. Its backlimb is bordered by the Caramanico Fault, a normal fault with a maximum downthrown of about 3.5 km that separates the western slope of the Maiella Massif from the Caramanico Valley. The southwestern Maiella area is affected by deep-seated gravitational slope deformation indicated by major double crest lines, down-hill and up-hill facing scarps, a pattern of crossing trenches, bulging at the base of slopes and the presence of different types of landslide and talus slope deposits.The onset and development of deep-seated gravitational slope deformations and the location of Quaternary, massive rockslope failures have been strongly influenced by the structural framework and tectonic pattern of the anticline. Deep-seated gravitational slope deformation at Mt. Macellaro–Mt. Amaro ridge has developed along the Maiella western, reverse slope in correspondence with the anticline axial culmination; it is bordered at the rear by a NNW–SSE oriented, dextral, strike-slip fault zone and has an E–W direction of rock mass deformation. Closer to the southern plunging area of the anticline, gravity-driven phenomena show instead a N–S and NW–SE direction, influenced by bedding attitude.3D topographic models illustrate the relationship between deep-seated gravitational slope deformation and massive rockslope failures. The Campo di Giove rock avalanche, a huge Quaternary failure event, was the result of an instantaneous collapse on a mountaine slope affected by a long-term gravity-driven deformation.     

Kansas Energy Sources: A Geological Review

Kansas produces both conventional energy (oil, gas, and coal) and nonconventional (coalbed gas, wind, hydropower, nuclear, geothermal, solar, and biofuels) and ranks the 22nd in state energy production in the U.S. Nonrenewable conventional petroleum is the most important energy source with nonrenewable, nonconventional coalbed methane gas becoming increasingly important. Many stratigraphic units produce oil and/or gas somewhere in the state with the exception of the Salina Basin in north-central Kansas. Coalbed methane is produced from shallow wells drilled into the thin coal units in southeastern Kansas. At present, only two surface coal mines are active in southeastern Kansas. Although Kansas has been a major exporter of energy in the past (it ranked first in oil production in 1916), now, it is an energy importer.