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.
An auxiliary gas control technology is described that can reduce coal and gas outburst accidents when there is no existing protective coal seam and gas pre-draining is not effective.Numerical simulation methods were used to study the stress distribution ahead of the roadway face for different in situ stresses.The results from the simulation can then provide a new gas control technology.The results show that a high stress concentration,high stresses,and high displacement gradients appear ahead of the roadway face when the maximum in situ stress is aligned perpendicular to the roadway axis.The risk of gas outburst is higher when the stresses decrease rapidly over distance and when the release of more energy occurs immediately after driving the roadway.The gas outburst risk is much smaller when the in situ stress is aligned parallel to the roadway axis.During design of the coal mine most of the coal roadways should be arranged to parallel the maximum in situ stress.This will decrease the outburst risk in general and may be considered a new gas outburst prevention method.
Yang WeiLin BaiquanZhai ChengLi XianzhongSun XinZhang Chao
