Induced drill-spray during hydraulic slotting of a coal seam and its influence on gas extraction

Hydraulic slotting can induce drill spray in a gassy, low permeability coal seam. This then influences subsequent gas extraction. This paper describes the drill spray phenomenon from a mechanical perspective and analyzes the effects of water jet damage during slotting. A simulation of the stresses around the drill hole and slot was prepared using FLAC-3D code. It helps explain the induction of drill spray during hydraulic slotting. The stress concentration around the bore increases as the diameter of the hole increases. As the hole enlarges the variation in stress also increases, which introduces an instability into the coal. This allows easy breaking and removal of the coal. Destruction of the coal structure by the water jet is the major factor causing drill spray. Energy stored as either strain or gas pressure is released by the water jet and this causes the coal to fracture and be expelled from the hole. Field tests showed the effect on gas extraction after slotting with drill spray. The concentration of gas increases after drilling. Compared to conventional techniques, the hydraulic slotted bore gives a gas concentration three times higher and has an effective range twice as far. This makes the gas extraction process more efficient and allows reduced construction effort.     

Technology and application of pressure relief and permeability increase by jointly drilling and slotting coal

Difficulties with soft coal seams having a high gas content and high stress levels can be addressed by a technology of pressure relief and permeability increase. Slotting the seam by auxiliary drilling with a water jet that breaks the coal and slots the coal seam during the process of retreat drilling achieves pressure relief and permeability increase. Improved efficiency of gas extraction from a field test, high gas coal seam was observed. Investigating the theory of pressure relief and permeability increase required analyzing the characteristics of the double power slotting process and the effects of coal pressure relief and permeability increase. The influence of confining pressure on coal physical properties was examined by using FLAC3D software code to simulate changes of coal stress within the tool destruction area. The double power joint drilling method was modeled. Field experiments were performed and the effects are analyzed. This research shows that there is an “islanding effect” in front of the joint double power drill and slotting equipment. The failure strength of the coal seam is substantially reduced within the tool destruction area. Drilling depths are increased by 72% and the diameter of the borehole is increased by 30%. The amount of powdered coal extracted from the drill head increases by 17 times when using the new method. A 30 day total flow measurement from the double power drilled and slotted bores showed that gas extraction increased by 1.3 times compared to the standard drilled bores. Gas concentrations increased from 30% to 60% and were more stable so the overall extraction efficiency increased by a factor of two times.     

Switching mechanism and optimisation research on a pressure-attitude adaptive adjusting coal seam water jet slotter

To investigate the attitude-switching mechanisms of existing jet slotters, which integrate drilling, punching and slotting operations, and to improve its fracture ability, we used the power bond diagram theory to analyse the dynamic flow pressure, and force of slotters. A mathematical model was developed for the dynamic characteristics of slotter systems. Furthermore, to study the effect of the main characteristic parameters on the ability of the nozzle to erode sandstone, multi-orthogonal experiments were carried out. And the optimised slots were applied in later practical operations. The research results show that the inlet fluid passed through the time-varying orifice to generate pressure differential thrust, which overcame the spring force, pushed the valve core to open the side nozzle, and closed the rear cavity channel thereby realising the switch of the slotter attitude. An optimal plan was established to balance the diameter, depth, and volume of punching, and a rock-breaking plan was developed for the slotter. Subsequently, the optimised water jet slotter was practically used in coal seam gas drainage. Compared with conventional dense drilling, water jet slotting technology significantly improves the ability, efficiency, and effect of increasing the permeability of the coal seam.     

超高压水力割缝强化抽采瓦斯技术研究

水力割缝是一种重要的强化瓦斯抽采增透技术,现已开始在低透气性突出煤层应用。为了进一步考察其实际效果,选取新集二矿1煤组220112工作面底抽巷实施了100 MPa超高压水力割缝试验。试验结果表明:割缝后,瓦斯抽采纯量平均0.77 m3/min,是未割缝钻孔的瓦斯抽采纯量(0.34 m~3/min)的2.26倍;1煤层组瓦斯抽采钻孔抽采30、60天的抽采有效半径为5 m、7.5 m,极限抽采半径为8 m,相比水力冲孔、未割缝钻孔抽采有效半径显著增加,超高压水力割缝强化抽采瓦斯技术具有广泛的应用前景。     

Application of pressure relief and permeability increased by slotting a coal seam with a rotary type cutter working across rock layers

Pressure relief to increase permeability significantly improves gas extraction efficiency from coal seams. In this paper we report results from simulations using FLAC^3D code to analyze changes in coal displacement and stress after special drill slots were formed. We investigated the mechanism of pressure relief and permeability increase in a high-gas and low-permeability coal seam through the modeling of gas flow. This allows the development of the technology. Slotting across rock layers in the coal seam with a rotary type cutter was then applied in the field. The results show that pressure relief and permeability increases from slotting the coal seam can increase the transport and the fracture of the coal. This expands the range of pressure relief from the drilling and increases the exposed area of the seam. The total quantity of gas extracted from slotted bore holes was three times that seen with ordinary drilling. The concentration of gas extracted from the slotted drills was from two to three times that seen using ordinary drills. The gas flow was stable at 80%. Improved permeability and more efficient gas extraction are the result of the slotting. The roadway development rate is increased by 30–50% after gas drainage. This technology diminishes the lag between longwall production and roadway development and effectively prevents coal and gas outburst, which offers the prospect of broad application.     

脉冲射流割缝技术在石门揭煤中的应用研究

针对西南地区煤矿石门揭煤周期长,严重制约了煤矿安全生产和采掘工作面接替等问题,提出了利用自激振荡脉冲水射流在煤层中割缝,增加煤层透气性,提高瓦斯解吸率,缩短石门揭煤时间的新思路.研究了高压脉冲水射流自激振荡的形成机理及其特性;通过实验室试验研究供水压力、流量等因素与切槽深度、宽度的关系,优化了自激振荡喷嘴结构及高压脉冲水射流的水力参数.通过在重庆逢春煤矿+523S4机轨巷揭M8煤层应用表明,使用自激振荡脉冲水射流割缝在煤层中的影响范围可达1.5m以上,增大了煤层瓦斯解吸能力,瓦斯释放量提高了4.4倍,钻孔数量减少了60%,缩短工期达70d以上,提高了工效.     

Hydraulic drill hole reaming technology with large flow and draining of coal mine gas

This paper takes Zhaozhuang mine in Shanxi province as an example to study the technology of hydraulic reaming drill hole for improving the gas extraction. The influence of the physical properties of coal seam on the hydraulic reaming drill holes and the draining of coal mine gas were analyzed and discussed for different coal structure areas, and the following conclusions were made. Hydraulic drill hole reaming has had a positive impact in Zhaozhuang Mine, and can improve the efficiency of gas extraction to different degrees. The water jet pressure used in hydraulic drill hole reaming mainly depends on the structure of the coal. When the coal seam basically becomes integrated, the critical water jet pressure increases, the discharge becomes relatively easy to achieve, the blocking effect on the gas extraction decreases, and the gas extraction significantly increases after the reaming process. When the coal seam is broken, the critical water jet pressure decreases, the discharge becomes difficult to achieve, the blocking effect on the gas extraction becomes obvious, and the gas extraction changes slightly after reaming.     

承压水上采煤底板破坏规律流固耦合研究

为分析承压水上采煤底板变形破坏规律,建立了承压水上采煤流固耦合数学模型,采用FLAC3D模拟软件分析之。运用正交试验的方式对底板变形破坏影响较大、易量化的4个因素进行分析;在此分析基础上得出单一因素对底板破坏的影响关系。分析结果表明：影响底板破坏深度大小的因素依次是工作面宽度、隔水层厚度、承压水压力和煤层埋深;随着隔水层厚度的增加,底板的破裂深度及范围有减小的趋势,同时在隔水层底部的原位张裂范围也在减小,甚至消失;在流固耦合模式下随着水压力的增加,岩体的破坏程度远远大于非耦合的情况。     

A method of determining the permeability coefficient of coal seam based on the permeability of loaded coal

This study developed the equipment for thermo-fluid–solid coupling of methane-containing coal, and investigated the seepage character of loaded coal under different working conditions. Regarding the effective pressure as a variable, the variation characteristics of the gas permeability of loaded methane-containing coal has been studied under the conditions of different confining pressures and pore pressures. The qualitative and quantitative relationship between effective stress and permeability of loaded methane-containing coal has been established, considering the adsorption of deformation, amount of pore gas compression and temperature variation. The results show that the permeability of coal samples decreases along with the increasing effective stress. Based on the Darcy law, the correlation equation between the effective stress and permeability coefficient of coal seam has been established by combining the permeability coefficient of loaded coal and effective stress. On the basis of experimental data, this equation is used for calculation, and the results are in accordance with the measured gas permeability coefficient of coal seam. In conclusion, this method can be accurate and convenient to determine the gas permeability coefficient of coal seam, and provide evidence for forecasting that of the deep coal seam.     

风水交替冲孔立井快速揭煤技术试验研究

针对低透气性煤层传统的排放钻孔立井揭煤技术严重地制约施工进度的问题,在桃园矿新副井揭8煤施工过程中,首次提出并试用了风水交替冲孔的快速揭煤技术,利用风水交替冲孔对钻孔孔壁煤体实施有序可控的剥离,增大了钻孔见煤段的孔径,使钻孔周围煤体得以卸压,瓦斯得到了较快的排放,消除了措施区域的煤与瓦斯突出危险性,实现了安全快速揭穿8煤。     

水力压裂煤储层卸压增透技术的适用性分析

水力压裂煤储层技术在不同矿区应用过程中受不同煤体破坏类型和围压条件的影响,其卸压增透效果差异性较大.为了明确该项技术的井下适用条件,优化其实施工艺,切实提高煤层瓦斯抽采率,通过分析和总结河南省不同矿区实际煤储层的水力压裂试验数据资料发现,水力压裂增透技术对Ⅰ,Ⅱ破坏类型煤体的增透效果比较明显,而在Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ破坏类型的松软煤层中适用性则具有一定的局限性,具有压裂范围小、裂缝闭合快、增透效果不明显等特点.所得结论对于选择合理的水力压裂储层并进一步优化完善高效预抽本煤层瓦斯技术具有一定的指导意义.     

Reservoir reconstruction technologies for coalbed methane recovery in deep and multiple seams

Multiple coal seams widely develop in the deep Chinese coal-bearing strata. Ground in situ stress and coal seam gas pressure increase continuously with the increase of the mining depth, and coal and gas outburst disasters become increasingly severe. When the coal is very deep, the gas content and pressure will elevate and thus coal seams tends to outburst-prone seams. The safety and economics of exploited firstmined coal seams are tremendously restricted. Meanwhile, the multiple seams occurrence conditions resulted in different methane pressure systems in the coal-bearing strata, which made the reservoir reconstruction of coal difficult. Given the characteristics of low saturation, low permeability, strong anisotropy and soft coal of Chinese coal seams, a single hydraulic fracturing surface well for reservoir reconstruction to pre-drain the coalbed methane(CBM) of multiple seams concurrently under the different gas pressure systems has not yet gained any breakthroughs. Based on analyses of the main features of deep CBM reservoirs in China, current gas control methods and the existing challenges in deep and multiple seams, we proposed a new technology for deep CBM reservoir reconstruction to realize simultaneous high-efficiency coal mining and gas extraction. In particular, we determined the first-mined seam according to the principles of effectiveness and economics, and used hydraulic fracturing surface well to reconstruct the first-mined seam which enlarges the selection range of the first-mined seam. During the process of mining first-mined seam, adjacent coal seams could be reconstructed under the mining effect which promoted high-efficiency pressure relief gas extraction by using spatial and comprehensive gas drainage methods(combination of underground and ground CBM extraction methods). A typical integrated reservoir reconstruction technology, ‘‘One well for triple use", was detailed introduced and successfully applied in the Luling coal mine. The application showed that the proposed technology could effectively promote coal mining safety and simultaneously high-efficiency gas extraction.     

Thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled mathematical model for controlling the pre-mining coal seam gas extraction with slotted boreholes

Drainage influence radius is the basic parameter for borehole arrangement, while the effect of high pressure water jet slotting technology on borehole drainage influence radius has not been studied systematically. In this paper, a fully thermo-hydro-mechanical(THM) coupled model which represents the non-linear responses of gas extraction was implemented to demonstrate the reliability of this model through history data matching. Based on this model, the susceptibilities of gas extraction with single slotted borehole, including the permeability, the gas pressure, the temperature, the coal adsorption characteristics and the radius of slot, were quantified through a series of simulations. The simulation results revealed that increasing the permeability, initial gas pressure and temperature could develop the influence radius of single slotted borehole. This finite element model and its simulation results can improve the understanding of the coal-gas interactions of underground gas drainage and provide a scientific basis for the optimization of drainage systems.     

Guiding-controlling technology of coal seam hydraulic fracturing fractures extension

Aiming at the uncontrollable problem of extension direction of coal seam hydraulic fracturing, this study analyzed the course of fractures variation around the boreholes in process of hydraulic fracturing, and carried out the numerical simulations to investigate the effect of artificial predetermined fractures on stress distribution around fractured holes. The simulation results show that partial coal mass occurs relatively strong shear failure and forms weak surfaces, and then fractures extended along the desired direction while predetermined fractures changed stress distribution. Directional fracturing makes the fractures link up and the pressure on coal mass is relieved within fractured regions. Combining deep hole controlling blasting with hydraulic fracturing was proposed to realize the extension guiding-controlling technology of coal seam fractures. Industrial experiments prove that this technology can avoid local stress concentration and dramatically widen the pressure relief scope of deep hole controlling blasting. The permeability of fractured coal seam increased significantly, and gas extraction was greatly improved. Besides, regional pressure relief and permeability increase was achieved in this study.     

吸附气体对受载含瓦斯煤渗流特性影响的试验研究

利用自主研发的含瓦斯煤岩三轴压缩试验系统,进行了大量受载瓦斯煤的渗透特性室内试验,对比分析了CO2,CH4和N2的渗透率之间的异同.研究结果表明,在恒定瓦斯压力条件下,煤样渗透率随围压的增大而减小,均服从负指数函数变化规律;在恒定围压条件下,煤样渗透率随瓦斯压力的增加而减小,并且表现出幂函数变化规律;吸附性强弱不同的气体所表现出来的渗透性也不一样,气体吸附性越强,渗透性越弱;在轴向加载情况下,不同气体的渗透率都表现出先减小后增大的现象,并且具有一般的"V"字型变化规律.研究结果对深入认识煤层瓦斯运移规律具有一定的理论价值.     

Numerical simulation of gas flow process in mining-induced crack network

The exploitation of coal bed methane or coal gas is one of the most effective solutions of the problem of coal gas hazard. A better understanding of gas flow in mining-induced cracks plays an important role in comprehensive development and utilization of coal gas as well as prevention of coal gas hazard. This paper presents a case study of gas flow in mining-induced crack network regarding the situation of low permeability of coal seam. A two-dimensional physical model is constructed on the basis of geological background of mining face No. 1122(1) in coal seam No. 11-2, Zhangji Coal Mine, Huainan Mining Group Corporation. The mining-induced stress and cracks in overburden rocks are obtained by simulating an extraction in physical model. An evolution of mining-induced cracks in the process of advancing of coal mining face is characterized and three typical crack networks are taken from digital photos by means of image analysis. Moreover, the numerical software named COMSOL Multiphysics is employed to simulate the process of gas flow in three representative crack networks. Isograms of gas pressure at various times in mining-induced crack networks are plotted, suggesting a shape and dimension of gas accumulation area.     

Effect of protective coal seam mining and gas extraction on gas transport in a coal seam

A gas–solid coupling model involving coal seam deformation,gas diffusion and seepage,gas adsorption and desorption was built to study the gas transport rule under the effect of protective coal seam mining.The research results indicate:(1) The depressurization effect changes the stress state of an overlying coal seam and causes its permeability to increase,thus gas in the protected coal seam will be desorbed and transported under the effect of a gas pressure gradient,which will cause a decrease in gas pressure.(2) Gas pressure can be further decreased by setting out gas extraction boreholes in the overlying coal seam,which can effectively reduce the coal and gas outburst risk.The research is of important engineering significance for studying the gas transport rule in protected coal seam and providing important reference for controlling coal and gas outbursts in deep mining in China.     

Failure behavior of a rock-coal-rock combined body with a weak coal interlayer

Using an MTS 815 testing machine, the deformation and failure behavior of a rock-coal-rock combined body containing a weak coal interlayer has been investigated and described in this paper. Uniaxial loading leads to the appearance of mixed cracks in the coal body which induce instability and lead to bursts in coal. If the mixed crack propagates at a sufficiently high speed to carry enough energy to damage the roof rock, then coal and rock bursts may occur – this is the main mechanism whereby coal bumps or coal and rock bursts occur after excavation unloading. With increasing confining pressure, the failure strength of a rock-coal-rock combined body gradually increases, and the failure mechanism of the coal interlayer also changes, from mixed crack damage under low confining pressures, to parallel crack damage under medium confining pressures, and finally to single shear crack damage or integral mixed section damage under high confining pressures. In general, it is shown that a weak coal interlayer changes the form of overall coal damage in a rock-coal-rock combined body and reduces the overall stability of a coal body. Therefore, the whole failure behavior of a rock-coal-rock combined body in large cutting height working faces is controlled by these mechanisms.     

煤体瓦斯渗透性的电场响应研究

通过试验研究了施加交变电场条件下的煤体瓦斯渗透特性，并分析了其作用机理．研究结果表明，煤体瓦斯渗透率对电场有明显的响应：施加电场后，煤体瓦斯的渗透率提高，并且随着电场作用频率和强度的增加而提高；其作用机理是：外加电场作用使煤瓦斯分子热运动加剧，吸附势阱降低，吸附量降低，活性提高，增强了瓦斯的解吸和扩散，使煤体瓦斯的有效渗透通道增大，这对于提高煤矿瓦斯排放率和煤层气的开发利用，对于防治煤矿瓦斯灾害都有重要的现实意义。     

Seepage law and permeability calculation of coal gas based on Klinkenberg effect

Focused on the Klinkenberg effect on gas seepage, the independently developed triaxial experimental system of gas seepage was applied to conduct research on the seepage characteristics of coal seam gas. By means of experimental data analysis and theoretical derivation, a calculation method of coal seam gas permeability was proposed, which synthesized the respective influences of gas dynamic viscosity, compressibility factor and Klinkenberg effect. The study results show that the Klinkenberg effect has a significant influence on the coal seam gas seepage, the permeability estimated with the method considering the Klinkenberg effect is correct, and this permeability can fully reflect the true seepage state of the gas. For the gas around the standard conditions, the influences of dynamic viscosity and compressibility factor on the permeability may be ignored. For the gas deviating far away from the standard conditions, the influences of dynamic viscosity and compressibility factor on the permeability must be considered. The research results have certain guiding significance in forming a correct understanding of the Klinkenberg effect and selecting a more accurate calculation method for the permeability of coal containing gas.