Prediction of the Absolute Methane Emission Rate for Longwall Caving Extraction Based on Rock Mass Modelling—A Case Study

Abstract

This article presents a methodology for predicting the absolute methane emission rate for longwall caving extraction based on the determination of destressing zones generated by longwall mining operations, by means of numerical modelling. This methodology was applied for the conditions of the K-2 longwall panel in the KWK Pniówek mine. The finite difference method code FLAC2D was employed as an element of the methodology to determine the destressing zones. All results including the numerical modelling results, empirical results and the measured (in situ) results were gathered in the comparative analysis. As the final results, the accuracy and reliability of the proposed methodology were evaluated.

Keywords

• methane hazard
• absolute methane emission rate
• destressing zone
• numerical modelling
• empirical method