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Measurement of Longwall Mining Induced Strata Permeability

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Abstract

The paper summarizes the findings of the underground permeability measurements (using inflatable packers) undertaken at a mine site in New South Wales in Australia and highlights the difficulties encountered during packer testing. The research project was supported by the Australian Coal Association Research Project. Within this project, systematic sub-surface and underground hydrogeological monitoring and measurements were carried out e.g. underground packer tests and piezometer, extensometer, and water inflow monitoring during mining. The project was aimed at investigating the effects of longwall mining on strata pore pressure, permeability, and water inflow to facilitate prediction of mining induced aquifer interference and mine water inflow. This paper presents only the results of underground permeability tests conducted at the mine site. The tests show that the drivage of main headings (roadways) can induce a significant change in permeability into the solid coal barrier. Permeability can be seen to increase by as much as 50 times at a distance of 11.2–11.5 m from the roadway rib. The measured permeability values varied widely and strangely on a number of occasions; for example the test conducted from the main headings at 8.2–8.5 m test section in the solid coal barrier showed a decline in permeability value compared to that at 11.2–11.5 m section contrary to the expectations. The tests conducted in the roof strata near (above) the longwall goaf indicated a possibility of more than 1,000 fold increase in permeability. Though the underground packer testing appears to be a good technique for measuring in situ permeability of rocks and coal seams, the study highlighted that (1) boreholes for packer testing need to be drilled with extreme care so as to avoid any undue damage or smearing of the borehole wall and (2) a sufficient number of tests at a number of locations needs to be conducted to cater for the possible variations of the test results.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are highly grateful to (a) the Australian Coal Association Research Program for funding this research project, (b) Springvale Colliery for providing the test site and logistics and (c) the CSIRO Petroleum team for conducting the packer tests at the mine site.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering, PO Box 883, Kenmore, QLD, 4069, Australia

    D. P. Adhikary & H. Guo

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  1. D. P. Adhikary
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  2. H. Guo
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Correspondence to D. P. Adhikary.

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Adhikary, D.P., Guo, H. Measurement of Longwall Mining Induced Strata Permeability. Geotech Geol Eng 32, 617–626 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-014-9737-8

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