Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study on Characteristics of Airflow Spatial Distribution in Abandoned Mine Gob and Its Application in Methane Drainage

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Resources Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

At present, there are many known sources of methane resources in abandoned mine gobs. Therefore, investigations into the characteristics of airflow spatial distributions in abandoned mine gobs will be helpful in future methane drainage processes. In this study, a physical simulation experiment was first adopted to simulate the formation processes of abandoned gobs based on the geological conditions of the abandoned Yongan Mine in China. Gas injection experiments were then conducted to study the gas concentration distributions and variations in a simulated gob based on the measured gas concentrations at certain sampling points. The results indicate that the abandoned gob comprises a gas enrichment zone (GEZ), gas diversion zone (GDZ), and gas isolation zone (GIZ) from the bottom to the top in the incline edges of the abandoned gob, respectively. However, only the GEZ and GIZ exist in the incline center of the abandoned gob. The gas concentration in the GEZ is observed to be the highest, although the concentration is also found to be relatively high in the GDZ. Moreover, a shielding is found to exist between the boundaries of the GEZ and GDZ, which results in a dramatic decline in concentration in the latter due to its extremely low permeability. The study results were verified by using the methane drainage data from the surface vertical wells in the abandoned Yongan Mine. The field application indicated that the methane extraction flow rate could potentially increase by 1.5 times when the well bottom traversed the GDZ and entered the GEZ, compared to the flow rate when the well bottom was located in the GDZ.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Das, S. K. (2000). Observations and classification of roof strata behavior over longwall coal mining panels in India. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,37, 585–597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du, J. P., & Wang, L. Q. (2003). Special coal mining method. Xuzhou: China University of Mining and Technology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esterhuizen, G. S., & Karacan, C. Ö. (2007). A methodology for determining gob permeability distributions and its application to reservoir modeling of coal mine longwalls. In SME 2007 annual meeting, 07-078.

  • Feng, G. R., Li, Z., Hu, S. Y., Zhang, Y. T., Zhang, A., Gao, Q., et al. (2018). Distribution of gob empty space for methane drainage during the longwall mining: A case study. International Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering,60, 112–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fumagalli, E. (1973). Statical and geomechanical models. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, H., Yuan, L., Shen, B. T., Qu, Q. D., & Xue, J. H. (2012). Mining-induced strata stress changes, fractures and gas flow dynamics in multi-seam longwall mining. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,54, 129–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, S. Y., Li, Z., Feng, G. R., Xu, G., Xia, T. Q., Jiang, H. N., et al. (2016). Changes on methane concentration after CO2 injection in a longwall gob: A case study. International Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering,29, 550–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, G. Z., Xu, J. L., Ren, T., Gu, C. X., Qin, W., & Wang, Z. W. (2015). Adjacent seam pressure-relief gas drainage technique based on ground movement for initial mining phase of longwall face. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,77, 237–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, S. Y., Zhang, A., Feng, G. R., Guo, X. Q., Miu, X. Y., Li, C., et al. (2018). Methane extraction from abandoned mines by surface vertical wells: A case study in China. Geofluids,1, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, C. Ö. (2015a). Modeling and analysis of gas capture from sealed sections of abandoned coal mines. International Journal of Coal Geology,138, 30–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, C. Ö. (2015b). Analysis of gob gas venthole production performances for strata gas: Control in longwall mining. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,79, 9–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H. (1988). The similitude material model test on the rock pressure. Xuzhou: China University of Mining and Technology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, S. G., Lin, H. F., Zhao, P. X., Xiao, P., & Pan, H. Y. (2014). Dynamic evolution of mining fissure elliptic paraboloid zone and extraction coal and gas. Journal of China Coal Society,39(8), 1455–1462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. K., Shao, S. H., Wang, X. X., Chang, L. P., Cui, G. L., & Zhou, F. B. (2016). Gas flow analysis for the impact of gob gas ventholes on coalbed methane drainage from a longwall gob. International Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering,36, 1312–1325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. K., Zhou, F. B., Liu, L., Liu, C., & Hu, S. Y. (2011). An experimental and numerical investigation on the deformation of overlying coal seams above double-seam extraction for controlling coal mine methane emissions. International Journal of Coal Geology,87, 139–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng, S. S., & Chiang, H. S. (1984). Longwall mining. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian, M. G., & Shi, P. W. (2003). Control of mine ground pressure and strata. Xuzhou: China University of Mining and Technology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin, Z. Y., Yuan, L., Guo, H., & Qu, Q. D. (2015). Investigation of longwall goaf gas flows and borehole drainage performance by CFD simulation. International Journal of Coal Geology,150–151, 51–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, Q. D., Xu, J. L., Wu, R. L., Qin, W., & Hu, G. Z. (2015). Three-zone characterisation of coupled strata and gas behaviour in multi-seam mining. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,78, 91–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sang, S. X., Xu, H. J., Fang, L. C., Li, G. J., & Huang, H. Z. (2010). Stress relief coalbed methane drainage by surface vertical wells in China. International Journal of Coal Geology,82(3–4), 196–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, J. Q., Rubio, R. M., & Durucan, S. (2016). An improved void-resistance model for abandoned coal mine gas reservoirs. International Journal of Coal Geology,165, 257–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R. P., & Yadav, R. N. (1995). Prediction of subsidence due to coal mining in Raniganj coalfield, West Bengal, India. Engineering Geology,39(1), 103–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. T., Ren, T., Tu, S. H., Hungerford, F., & Aziz, N. (2012). Implementation of underground longhole directional drilling technology for greenhouse gas mitigation in Chinese coal mines. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control,11, 290–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z. W., Ren, T., & Cheng, Y. P. (2017a). Numerical investigations of methane flow characteristics on a longwall face part I: Methane emission and base model results. International Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering,43, 242–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z. W., Ren, T., & Cheng, Y. P. (2017b). Numerical investigations of methane flow characteristics on a longwall face part II: Parametric studies. International Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering,43, 254–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yavuz, H. (2004). An estimation method for cover pressure re-establishment distance and pressure distribution in the goaf of longwall coal mines. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,41, 193–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Liu, J. B., Zhao, Y. X., Zhang, L., & Guo, J. T. (2019a). A fluid-solid coupling method for the simulation of gas transport in porous coal and rock media. Energy Science & Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Tu, S. H, Bai, Q. S., Yang, G. Y., & Zhang, L. (2015). Evaluating pressure-relief mining performances based on surface gas venthole extraction data in longwall coal mines. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering,24, 431–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Tu, S. H., Zhang, L., Bai, Q. S., Yuan, Y., & Wang, F. T. (2016). A methodology for determining the evolution law of gob permeability and its distributions in longwall coal mines. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering,13(2), 181–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Tu, S. H., & Zhao, Y. X. (2019b). Compaction characteristics of the caving zone in a longwall goaf: A review. Environmental earth sciences,78(1), 27–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z. Z., Wang, W. J., Li, S. Q., Bai, J. B., Hao, S. P., Wu, H., & Yu, X. Y. (2018). An innovative approach for gob-side entry retaining with thick and hard roof: A case study. Technical Gazette,25(4), 1028–1036.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z. Z., Yu, X. Y., Wu, H., & Deng, M. (2019c). Stability control for gob-side entry retaining with supercritical retained entry width in thick coal seam longwall mining. Energies,12(7), 1375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, A. T., & Wang, K. (2018). A new gas extraction technique for high-gas multi-seam mining: A case study in Yangquan Coalfield, China. Environmental Earth Sciences,77, 150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, W. S., Li, Y., Li, S. C., Wang, S. G., & Zhang, Q. B. (2011). Quasi-three-dimensional physical model tests on a cavern complex under high in situ stresses. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,2, 199–209.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Coalbed Methane Joint Research Foundation of Shanxi Province (2015012008) and the Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1710258, U1710121), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51604187). This work was also supported by the Program for the Outstanding Innovative Teams of Higher Learning Institutions of Shanxi and the Training Program of First-class Discipline for Young Academic Backbone of Taiyuan University of Technology.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Safety and Emergency Management Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Shengyong Hu, Guocai Hao, Ao Zhang, Lanqing Hu & Siyuan Li

  2. College of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Guorui Feng

  3. Green Mining Engineering Technology Research Center of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Shengyong Hu & Guorui Feng

  4. Taiyuan Branch, China United Coalbed Methane Corporation Ltd., Taiyuan, 030002, China

    Ao Zhang

Authors
  1. Shengyong Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guocai Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guorui Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lanqing Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Siyuan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guorui Feng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, S., Hao, G., Feng, G. et al. Study on Characteristics of Airflow Spatial Distribution in Abandoned Mine Gob and Its Application in Methane Drainage. Nat Resour Res 29, 1571–1581 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-019-09534-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-019-09534-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation