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A risk-based method for the design of monitoring networks for surface gas emanations from abandoned underground coal mines

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Abstract

In this paper, a risk-based method implemented within a geographic information system is proposed to locate monitoring points near zones of lower hydraulic resistance for the detection of gas leaks from underground gas storage sites installed in former underground coal mines. Risk assessment is conducted considering (1) the location and extent of the mined areas and of the former underground mining infrastructures, (2) damage induced by the mining works on the upper geological formations and their associated increase in hydraulic conductivity, and (3) potential impacts on humans, based on a proxy for population density. A new physically based method is proposed to compute the damage induced by the mining activities on upper geological layers, based on a 3D reconstruction of the geometry of the voids of the upper part of the former mine and a computation of the associated ground movements using influence functions. A new type of influence function applicable to inclined coal seam is proposed. The whole methodology is applied to the former underground gas storage site of Péronnes-lez-Binche, in Belgium. Three locations are identified for the installation of new piezometers to complement the existing monitoring network.

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Acknowledgments

Fluxys S.A. funded this study as part of the measures taken to ensure the long-term safety of the storage sites of Péronnes-lez-Binche and Anderlues, as required by the decommissioning procedure imposed by regional authorities. The authors are also grateful to Prof. Dr. M. Farhad Howladar and two anonymous reviewers for providing comments and suggestions that allowed a significant improvement of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Scientifique de Service Public, rue du Chéra 200, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Christophe Frippiat & Mathieu Veschkens

  2. Fluxys S.A., Avenue des Arts 31, 1040, Brussels, Belgium

    John-Henri Van Massenhove

  3. Service Public de Wallonie, Avenue Prince de Liège 15, 5100, Jambes, Belgium

    Daniel Pacyna

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  1. Christophe Frippiat
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  2. Mathieu Veschkens
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  3. John-Henri Van Massenhove
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  4. Daniel Pacyna
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Correspondence to Christophe Frippiat.

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Frippiat, C., Veschkens, M., Van Massenhove, JH. et al. A risk-based method for the design of monitoring networks for surface gas emanations from abandoned underground coal mines. Environ Earth Sci 73, 2061–2078 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3557-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3557-2

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