Methane emission from coal and associated strata samples

Summary This article discusses methods for providing a reliable forecast of the gas-dynamic behaviour of coal seams and adjacent strata. It shows that the ash content of carbonaceous materials determines their sorptive capacity (a universally applicable expression is presented for calculating the methane content of a sample) whilst the rate of methane desorption is a function of the degree of geological disturbance, i.e. the number and distribution of the macropores and fractures in the sample. This effect becomes less important as the sample ash content increases and effectively disappears above a certain value for high permeability materials.The quantity sorption-kinetic characteristic is shown to be a reliable means for quantifying methane emission behaviour. Large variations in coal sorption-kinetic characteristics are shown to occur over short distances as the geological structure of the seam changes, both vertically and horizontally. Consequently, sorption-kinetic characteristics may be used to predict the general level of methane emission from the seam and to quantify the risk of outburst inherent in disturbed areas of coal seams.     

In situ yield behaviour of a coal pillar

Summary An indication of the complete stress-strain behaviour of coal was obtained through instrumenting a headgate yield pillar and monitoring the changes in vertical and horizontal pillar stress, pillar strain, and roof-floor convergence as a function of time and distance from the moving longwall face. A semiautomated monitoring program was conducted over a 5 month period as the longwall face advanced toward and eventually passed the instrumented pillar. The development of a confined core and yield zone within the pillar was confirmed by the vertical and horizontal stress changes. Thein situ pre-failure (208 to 661 MPa) and post-failure moduli (55 to 208 MPa) of the coal were determined from the change in pillar stress versus pillar strain. Thein situ moduli are an order of magnitude lower than the 3450 MPa, commonly assumed for coal.     

Relative sea-level fluctuations and brown coal formation around the Early-Middle Miocene boundary in the Lusatian Brown Coal District

The Tertiary sedimentary sequence in the Lusatian Brown Coal District is the result of several transgressive pulses with intercalated regressive phases. Regression repeatedly resulted in the formation of large littoral bogs at the transition between brackish and terrestrial palaeoenvironments. In the lithofacies changes of the Lower-Middle Miocene strata (high energy sands, low energy intertidal silts, paralic peats) long-term changes as well as short-term oscillations of sea level are recorded. The rise of sea level in the upper Lower Miocene (Hemmoorian transgression) is proved in numerous localities of the investigation area. After a regression phase with major peat formation events around the Lower-Middle Miocene boundary, a renewed sea-level rise resulted in the widest extension of marine-brackish beds over pre-Tertiary basement in the south of the region (higher Reinbekian transgression, Middle Miocene). Very differentiated, fine-scaled, probably sea-level induced coastline oscillations could probably be traced even into the coal seams by the recognition of successive bogfacial types possibly showing a groundwater level change in the ancient peat bog (change of topogeneous and ombrogeneous bog types). A biostratigraphic calibration of the decalcified Lower-Middle Miocene sequence with its alternating transgressive and regressive trends to the fully marine sediments of the basinal centre, which are dated by calcareous microfossils, is possible by means of dinoflagellate cysts and pollen and spores. Correspondence to: C. Strauss     

滇东黔西晚二叠世早期辫状河三角洲沉积体系及其聚煤特征

滇东黔西上二叠统底部发育着一套玄武岩质砾岩，本文针对云南富源和贵州盘县一带的底砾岩进行综合研究，认为这套砾岩为辫状河三角洲沉积，并进一步识别出砾质辫状河道、砂质辫状河道、砾质河口坝、砂质河口坝等沉积类型。文中还对该辫状河三角洲的沉积序列、发育背景以及与聚煤作用关系等问题做了一定分析，认为三角洲朵体之间地区以及在衰退的三角洲朵体之上成煤较好。     

Coal resources,production, and quality in the Eastern kentucky coal field: Perspectives on the future of steam coal production

The Eastern Kentucky coal field, along with adjacent portions of Virginia and southern West Virginia, is part of the greatest production concentration of high-heating-value, low-sulfur coal in the United States, accounting for over 27% of the 1993 U.S. production of coal of all ranks. Eastern Kentucky's production is spread among many coal beds but is particularly concentrated in a limited number of highquality coals, notably the Pond Creek coal bed and its correlatives, and the Fire Clay coal bed and its correlatives. Both coals are relatively low ash and low sulfur through the areas of the heaviest concentration of mining activity. We discuss production trends, resources, and the quality of in-place and clean coal for those and other major coals in the region.     

郴州地区煤田地质特征及找煤远景区

本区地槽型煤田,主要是下寒武统牛蹄塘组,由一套浅海相碳质板岩为主组成的含钒石煤岩系,与下伏地层呈整合关系。地台型煤田有下石炭统测水煤系和上二叠统斗岭煤系,它们是以一套海陆交互相的细碎屑岩为主,夹菱铁矿或黄铁矿结核及煤组成,与下伏地层呈整合关系。其中斗岭煤系的煤层分布广,煤层及煤质较好,是本区找煤的对象。地洼型煤田,为上三叠—下侏罗统煤系,呈零星小块分布,是一套以陆相,杂色粗碎屑岩为主,夹泥岩及煤组成,与下伏地层呈不整合关系。主要发育在资兴市和宜章县一带,找煤条件次于斗岭煤系。     

A numerical simulation of gas flow during coal/gas outbursts

Summary A model of the gas flow in airways during an instantaneous outburst of coal and gas is formulated and solved numerically using MacCormack's explicit finite-difference scheme. This model is based on the assumption that geological structures, in-situ stresses and high-gas-pressure gradients play important roles in initiating an outburst, with the gas content and gas-pressure gradients being the most dominant factors. The fluid-dynamic processes that occur after an outburst are computed by the numerical integration of the complete time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations. The mixture velocity, the density and the gas-concentration profiles in both time and space domains (immediately after an outburst) are presented. The global results are useful in gaining an improved understanding of gas-flow patterns during coal/gas outbursts and in determining the range of the disturbance so that effective methods of control can be developed.Nomenclature a speed of sound - C gas concentration (mass) - C _v specific heat at constant volume - C _p specific heat at constant pressure - CFL Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy number - E total energy of the mixture - F the vector defined in Equation 27 - G the vector defined in Equation 28 - h entropy - h _i entropy at inlet - J _xi diffusion flux in the i-direction - k thermal conductivity of a gas - M Mach number - P pressure of a mixture (the partial pressure of gas) - P gas pressure - P _a atmospheric pressure     

内陆表海聚煤盆地的曾想到处分析

在华北石炭二叠纪内陆表海聚煤盆地，海侵的突发性和事件性，泥炭沼泽化的广泛性和等时性，是划分其层序内部构成单元的良好界面。研究表明，华北石炭二叠纪内陆表海聚煤盆地的层序结构为“二元结构型”，即“海侵－高位”，缺少低位体系域。海侵体系域由１～２个小层序构成，而高位体系域由小层序构成。体系域恰与小层序组对应，海侵小层序组表现为弱退积－加积型，而高位体系域则表现为弱进积－加积型。小层序为高精度的岩相古地理编图单位，它为解析层序格架和煤聚积规律提供了最可靠的依据。     

An analysis of coal bump liability in a bump prone mine

Summary This paper presents an analysis of causes of bump in a deep coal mine. The analysis consists of in-mine measurement determination, analysis of physical and mechanical properties of mine materials and simulation of mine layout and mining sequence. Major factors contributing to the causes of bump have been reviewed and those that are related to this case have been identified and simulated analytically using a three-dimensional finite element method.