Method of the separate ventilation of oil mine`s gradient excavations and underground mine drifts

Abstract

On the Yarega field (LUKOIL-Komi LLC) a thermal mining oil development is applied. With such method, there is a considerable heat release in oil mines’ working areas (in drilling galleries of the gradient excavations). Increasing temperature causes deterioration of hygiene and reduces miners’ productivity. Activities and ways proposed and currently used to reduce the air temperature in gradient excavations require significant financial expenses for implementation – for refrigeration equipment and air heater installations of ventilation boreholes, well excavation itself, as well as for the process of the air treatment – expenses of electricity for air conditioning (cooling) and energy resources (mainly natural gas) for heating the air supplied to wells during the cold season. This paper proposes a method of gradient excavation`s ventilation, which allows the use of a natural draft`s positive effect (thermal depression) arising between underground mine workings due to the temperature difference (density, specific gravity) of air in them. The proposed method will reduce the cost of electricity for ventilation, as well as decrease the temperature in oil mine’s underground mine drifts. Furthermore, the proposed method does not require equipping the ventilation hole with heating system and air conditioning, which would also contribute to the energy and resource savings. In addition, natural draft will occur between the trunks of oil mines. Calculations show that it will have a positive value, that is, will facilitate ventilation. Controlling the performance and pressure developed by the main ventilation unit taking into account the action of natural draft would also reduce the electrical energy consumption for airing.

Keywords

• oil mine
• ventilation
• natural draught
• thermal depression
• gradient excavation
• main ventilation unit