Methane Emission Control at the High-Productive Longwall Panels of the Yalevsky Coal Mine

Abstract

The analysis of the experience of methane emission control at the V. D. Yalevsky mine (Kuznetsk coal basin, Russia) during the series of shallow gassy coal seams mining with the high productive longwall was performed. The analysis of the efficiency of gob degassing by the vertical wells and isolated methane removal by gas-suction fans is performed. The efficiency of reducing the distance between ventilation crosscuts between entries is shown. It is also shown that the problems of providing the longwall high productivity in conditions of increasing the natural gas content in the coal seams are associated with gas emission from the extracted coal seam and the lack of effective methods for its early and preliminary degassing. Recommendations for using advanced mining of close-up coal seams as an effective method of degassing of rock mass within the zone of influence of undermining and overmining are given.