Skip to main content

Studying the stress redistribution around the longwall mining panel using passive seismic velocity tomography and geostatistical estimation

Arabian Journal of Geosciences volume 6, pages 1407–1416 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Generally, knowledge of stress redistribution around the longwall panel causes a better understanding of the mechanisms that lead to ground failure, especially to rockbursts. In this paper, passive seismic velocity tomography is used to demonstrate the state of stress around the longwall mining panel. The mining-induced microseismic events were recorded by mounting an array of receivers on the surface, above the active panel. To determine the location of seismic events and execute the process of tomography, double-difference method is employed as a local earthquake tomography. Since passive sources are used, the ray coverage is insufficient to achieve the quality images required. The wave velocity is assumed to be the regionalized variable and it is therefore estimated in a denser network, by using geostatistical estimation method. Subsequently, the three-dimensional images of wave velocity are created and are sliced into the coal seam. These images clearly illustrate the stressed zones that they are appropriately in compliance with the theoretical models. Such compliance is particularly apparent in the front abutment pressure and the side abutment pressure near the tailgate entry. Movements of the stressed zones along the advancing face are also evident. The research conclusion proves that the combined method, based on double-difference tomography and geostatistical estimation, can potentially be used to monitor stress changes around the longwall mining panel continuously. Such observation could lead to substantial improvement in both productivity and safety of mining operations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

References

  • Alcott J, Kaiser P, Simser B (1998) Use of microseismic source parameters for rockburst hazard assessment. Pure Appl Geophys 153(1):41–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (2007) Rock quality, seismic velocity, attenuation and anisotropy. Taylor and Francis Group, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady B (1977) Anomalous seismicity prior to rockbursts: implications for earthquake prediction. Pure Appl Geophys 115(1–2):357–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassiani G, Bohm G, Vesnaver A, Nicolich R (1998) A geostatistical framework for incorporating seismic tomography auxiliary data into hydraulic conductivity estimation. J Hydrol 206(1–2):58–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman CH (2004) Fundamentals of seismic wave propagation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chow TM, Meglis IL, Young RP (1995) Progressive microcrack development in tests on Lac Du Bonnet Granit–II. Ultrasonic tomographic imaging. Int J Rock Mech Min 32(8):751–761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook N (1963) The seismic location of rockbursts. Proceedings of the 5th Rock Mechanics Symposium. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 493–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox M (1999) Static corrections for seismic reflection surveys. Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Tulsa

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Debski W, Young RP (1999) Enhanced velocity tomography: practical method of combining velocity and attenuation parameters. Geophys Res Let 26(21):3253–3256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deustch CV (2002) Geostatistical reservoir modeling. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhart-Phillips D, Han D-H, Zoback MD (1989) Empirical relationships among seismic velocity, effective pressure, porosity, and clay content in sandstone. Geophysics Journal 54(1):82–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedel MJ, Jackson MJ, Willams EM, Olson MS, Westman E (1996) Tomographic imaging of coal pillar conditions: observations and implications. Int J Rock Mech Min 33(3):279–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedel MJ, Scott DF, Williams TJ (1997) Temporal imaging of mine-induced stress change using seismic tomography. J Eng Geol 46(2):131–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gale WJ, Heasley KA, Iannacchione AT, Swanson PL, Hatherly P, King A (2001) Rock damage characterisation from microseismic monitoring. Proceedings of Rock Mechanics in the National Interest, Proceedings of the 38th U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, vol 2. A.A. Balkema, Lisse, Netherlands, pp 1313–1320

    Google Scholar 

  • Glazer S, Lurka A (2007) Application of passive seismic tomography to cave mining operations based on experience at Palabora Mining Company, South Africa. Proceedings of The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1st International Symposium on Block and Sub-Level Caving, Cape Town, South Africa, pp 369–388

  • Got J-L, Frechet J, Klein FW (1994) Deep fault plane geometry inferred from multiplet relative relocation beneath the south flank of Kilauea. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 99(B8):15375–15386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanna K, Haramy K (1998) Ground control and geologic assessment in mining through the use of geophysical tomographic imaging. In: Proceedings of Geomechanics/Ground Control in Mining Underground Construction Conference, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, pp 543–553

  • Hanson D, Vandergrift T, DeMarco M, Hanna K (2002) Advanced techniques in site characterization and mining hazard detection for the underground coal industry. Int J Coal Geol 50(1–4):275–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy H (2003) Acoustic emission/microseismic activity. Balkema, Lisse

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Harris J, Akintunde M (2005) Time-lapse seismic monitoring of coal bed natural gas production: a case study from the powder river basin. Wyoming State Geological Survey, Report of Investigations (Wyoming State Geological Survey), No. 55

  • Hebblewhite B, Simpson J (2001) Wider longwall faces may not be better. Mining Technology, IMM Transactions Section A 110(No. 1):11–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman GT (1980) Image reconstruction from projections: the fundamentals of computerized tomography. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Iannacchione AT, Esterhuizen GS, Bajpayee TS, Swanson PL, Chapman MC (2005) Characteristics of mining-induced seismicity associated with roof falls and roof caving events. Proceedings of the 40th U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, Anchorage, AK, Alexandria, pp 1–10

  • Jeremic ML (1985) Strata mechanics in coal mining. A.A Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Kormendi A, Bodoky T, Hermann L, Dianiska L, Kalman T (1986) Seismic measurements for safety in mines. Geophys Prospect 34(7):1022–1037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee WHK, Pereyra V (1993) Mathematical introduction to seismic tomography, inseismic tomography: theory and practice. Chapman & Hall, London, pp 9–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Li T, Cai MF, Cai M (2007) A review of mining-induced seismicity in china. Int J Rock Mech Min 44(8):1149–1171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo X, King A, De-Werken-Van M (2008) Sensing roof conditions ahead of a longwall mining using the shearer as a seismic source. Proceedings of Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IEEE International 4:17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo X, King A, De-Werken-Van M (2009) Tomographic imaging of rock conditions ahead of mining using the shearer as a seismic source—a feasibility study. Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions 47(No. 11):3671–3678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lurka A (2008) Location of high seismic activity zones and seismic hazard assessment in Zabrze Bielszowice Coalmine using passive tomography. CUMT 18(2):177–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Lurka A, Swanson P (2009) Improvements in seismic event locations in a deep western U.S. coal mine using tomographic velocity models and an evolutionary search algorithm. Min. Part Sci Technol 19(5):599–603

    Google Scholar 

  • Luxbacher K, Westman E, Swanson P (2008a) ime-lapse tomography of a longwall panel: a comparison of location schemes. Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining. West Virginia University, Morgantown, pp 217–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Luxbacher K, Westman E, Swanson P, Karfakis M (2008b) Three-dimensional time-lapse velocity tomography of an underground longwall panel. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 45(4):478–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manthei G (1997) Seismic tomography on a pillar in a potash mine. Proceedings of the Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Rockbursts and Seismicity in Mines, Krakow, Poland, pp 237–242

  • Mason I (1981) Algebraic reconstruction of a two-dimensional velocity inhomogeneity in the high hazles seam of thoresby colliery. Geophys J 46(3):298–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell SC, Young RP (1993) A comparison between controlled source and passive source seismic velocity images. B Seismol Soc Am 83(6):1813–1834

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell SC, Young RP (1995) A controlled in-situ investigation of the relationship between stress, velocity and induced seismicity. Geophys Res J 22(9):1049–1052

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell SC, Young RP (1996) Seismic imaging of rock mass responses to excavation. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 33(7):713–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meglis IL, Chow T, Martin CD, Young RP (2004) Assessing in situ microcrack damage using ultrasonic velocity tomography. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 42(1):25–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Menke W (1989) Geophysical data analysis: discrete inverse theory, 2nd edn. International Geophysics Series, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, San Diego

  • Mitra R, Westman EC (2009) Investigation of the stress imaging in rock samples using numerical modeling and laboratory tomography. Int J Geotech Eng 3(4):517–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MSHA (2010) Data retrieval system. http://www.msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm>;[accessed 07.24.10]

  • Nakagawa S, Nihei KT, Myer LR (2000) Shear-induced conversion of seismic waves across single fractures. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 37(1–2):203–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolet G (2008) A breviary of seismic tomography. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Nur A, Simmons G (1969) Stress-induced velocity anisotropy in rock: an experimental study. J Geophys Res 74(27):6667–6674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obert L (1941) Use of subaudible noises for the prediction of rock bursts. RI 3555, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines

  • Obert L, Duvall WI (1967) Rock mechanics and the design of structures in rock. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng SS (2006) Longwall mining, 2nd edn. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME)

  • Peng SS (2008) Coal mine ground control, 3rd edition. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME)

  • Prugger A, Gendzwill D (1993) Fracture mechanism of microseisms in Saskatchewan potash mines. In: Young R, Balkema AA (eds) Rockbursts and seismicity in mines. pp. 239–244

  • Scott TE, Ma Q, Roegiers J-C (1994) Dynamic stress mapping utilizing ultrasonic tomography. Proceedings of the Proceedings of the 1st North American Rock Mechanics Symposium, Austin, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 427–434

  • Scott DF, Willams TJ, Friedel MJ (1997) Investigation of a Rockburst Site, Sunshine Mine, Kellogg, Idaho. Proceedings of the Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Rockbursts and Seismicity in Mines, Krakow, Poland, pp 311–315

  • Scott D, Girard J, Williams T, Denton D (1999) Comparison of seismic velocity tomography, strain relief, and ultrasonic velocity measurements to evaluate stress in an underground pillar. Proceedings of Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME) Annual Meeting Denver, pp 99–155

  • Scott DF, Williams TJ, Tesarik D, Denton DK, Knoll SJ, Jordan J (2004) Geophysical methods to detect stress in underground mines. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004–133, Report of Investigations 9661, pp 1–18

  • Soldati G, Boshi L (2005) The resolution of whole earth seismic tomographic models. Geophys J Int 161(1):143–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson P, Estey L, Boler F, Billington S (1992) Accuracy and precision of microseismic event locations in rock burst research studies. Report of investigations (United States Bureau of Mines) No. 9395, NIOSH

  • Thurber CH (1992) Hypocenter-velocity structure coupling in local earthquake tomography. Phys Earth Planet In 75(1–3):55–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tselentis GA, Serpetsidaki A, Martakis N, Sokos E, Paraskevopoulos P, Kapotas S (2007) Local high-resolution passive seismic tomography and Kohonen neural networks—application at the Rio-Antirio Strait, Central Greece. Geophys J 72(4):b93–b106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • VanDecar JC, Crosson RS (1990) Determination of teleseismic relative phase arrival times using multi-channel cross-correlation and least squares. B Seismol Soc Am 80(1):150–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldhauser F, Ellsworth WL (2000) A double-difference earthquake location algorithm: method and application to the Northern Hayward Fault, California. B Seismol Soc Am 90(6):1353–1368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y (2003) Handbook of geophysical exploration—seismic amplitude inversion in reflection tomography. Elsevier, Kent, vol. 33

  • Watanabe T, Sassa K (1996) Seismic attenuation tomography and its application to rock mass evaluation. Int J Rock Mech Min 33(5):467–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe T, Matsuoka T, Ashida Y (1999) Seismic travel-time tomography using Fresnel volume approach. Proceedings of the 69th SEG Annual Meeting, Houston

  • Westman EC, Harmay KY, Rock AD (1996) Seismic tomography for longwall stress analysis. Proceedings of the 2nd North American Rock Mechanics Symposium, Montreal, Rotterdam, Balkema, pp 397–403

  • Westman EC, Luxbacher KD, Swanson PL (2008) Local earthquake tomography for imaging mining-induced changes within the overburden above a longwall mine. Proceedings of ARMA 08–299, 42nd U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium and 2nd U.S.–Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium, San Francisco, California, pp 1–7

  • Wong IG, Humphrey JR, Adams JA, Silva WJ (1989) Observations of mine seismicity in the Eastern Wasatch Plateau, Utah, USA: a possible case of implosional failure. Elsevier, Köln 128(No. 16):369–405

  • Wright C, Walls E, Carneiro DDJ (2000) The seismic velocity distribution in the vicinity of a mine tunnel at Thabazimbi, South Africa. J Appl Geophys 44(4):369–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young RP, Maxwell SC (1992) Seismic characterization of a highly stressed rock mass using tomographic imaging and induced seismicity. J Geophys Res 97(No. B9):12361–12373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Thurber C (2003) Double-difference tomography: the method and its application to the Hayward Fault, California. B Seismol Soc Am 93(5):1875–1889

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo J-P, Peng S-P, Li Y-J, Chen Z-H, Xie H-P (2009) Investigation of karst collapse based on 3-d seismic technique and DDA method at Xieqiao Coalmine, China. Int J Coal Geol 78(4):276–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Navid Hosseini

  2. Stirling University, Stirling, Scotland, UK

    Kazem Oraee

  3. Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Kourosh Shahriar

  4. Department of Mining Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Kamran Goshtasbi

Authors
  1. Navid Hosseini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kazem Oraee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kourosh Shahriar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kamran Goshtasbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Navid Hosseini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hosseini, N., Oraee, K., Shahriar, K. et al. Studying the stress redistribution around the longwall mining panel using passive seismic velocity tomography and geostatistical estimation. Arab J Geosci 6, 1407–1416 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-011-0443-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-011-0443-z

Keywords

  • Longwall mining
  • Passive seismic velocity tomography
  • Double-difference method
  • Geostatistical estimation
  • Stress redistribution