Patterns and security technologies for co-extraction of coal and gas in deep mines without entry pillars

Abstract

Retaining gob-side entryways and the stability of gas drainage boreholes are two essential techniques in the co-extraction of coal and gas without entry pillars (CECGWEP). However, retained entryways located in deep coal mines are hard to maintain, especially for constructing boreholes in confined spaces, owing to major deformations. Consequently, it is difficult to drill boreholes and maintain their stability, which therefore cannot guarantee the effectiveness of gas drainage. This paper presents three measures for conducting CECGWEP in deep mines on the basis of effective space in retained entryways for gas drainage. They are combinations of retaining roadways and face-lagging inclined boreholes, retaining roadways and face-advancing inclined boreholes, and retaining roadways and high return airway inclined boreholes. Several essential techniques are suggested to improve the maintenance of retained entryways and the stabilization of boreholes. For the particular cases considered in this study, two field trials have verified the latter two measures from the results obtained from the faces 1111(1) and 11112(1) in the Zhuji Mine. The results indicate that these models can effectively solve the problems in deep mines. The maximum gas drainage flow for a single hole can reach 8.1 m3/min and the effective drainage distance can be extended up to 150 m or more.