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Field application of directional hydraulic fracturing technology for controlling thick hard roof: a case study

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Abstract

Roof management in coal mines is a critical technology challenge to realize safe production. Dynamic disasters can be induced by a sudden collapse of the roof when encountering a thick hard roof above a coal seam. To solve this problem, directional hydraulic fracturing technology was utilized in the coal mine WP with a thick hard limestone roof. To effectively cut artificial transverse grooves in a fracturing hole in rock with a high strength, the KZ54-type transverse grooving bit was developed. Furthermore, the developed small-aperture high-pressure span-type expansion sealer can effectively seal the holes and ensure hydraulic crack expansion. The field observations show that the radii of extension of the hydraulic fractures were 15–20 m and that the rupture pressure at various depths in the holes ranged from 9 to 32 MPa from the orifice to the bottom of the hole. The deeper the fracturing location in the hole, the higher the fracturing pressure was. The principal stresses in front of the working face and the resistance forces of the hydraulic supports at the working face were monitored when the working face advanced. The first weighting of the roof decreased from 38.3 to 26 m, and the periodic weighting decreased from 26 to 13.7 m. Hydraulic fracturing reduced the resistance force of the supports at the working face.

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Funding

This investigation acknowledges gratefully for the Young Scientist Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51804159), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFC0804205) and Science and Technology Innovation Project of China Coal Technology Engineering (2018MS021).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China

    Yongxin Sun

  2. Shanxi Tiandi Wangpo Coal Mining Co.,Ltd., Jincheng, 048021, Shanxi, China

    Yongxin Sun

  3. Coal Mining and Designing Department, Tiandi Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100013, China

    Yukai Fu & Tao Wang

Authors
  1. Yongxin Sun
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  2. Yukai Fu
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  3. Tao Wang
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Correspondence to Yongxin Sun.

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Responsible Editor: Santanu Banerjee

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Sun, Y., Fu, Y. & Wang, T. Field application of directional hydraulic fracturing technology for controlling thick hard roof: a case study. Arab J Geosci 14, 438 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06790-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06790-4

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