Methods of hydraulic fracturing of poorly caving roof and coal seams to eliminate dynamic phenomena in coal mines
V.I. Klishin1, O.V. Tailakov1, G.Yu. Opruk1, E.A. Utkaev1, S.V. Klishin2
1 Institute of Coal of the Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation
2 Mining Institute named after N.A. Chinakal of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novisibirsk, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №6 / 2022 р. 46-53
Abstract: The paper demonstrates the need to develop methods of managing poorly caving roofs in the stoping and development faces as well as the ways of intensifying the degassing process of unrelieved coal seams to improve the technical and economic performance and safety of operation. Methods of the directional hydraulic fracturing (DHF) of the roof and the interval hydraulic fracturing (IHF) of the coal seam are suggested to eliminate the dynamic phenomena in coal mines as well as technological charts of their implementation. The DHF method consists in creating an initiating slot in the borehole walls, which acts as a stress concentrator, followed by its sealing with an insulating device, i.e. a packer. When a fluid is injected into this slot, the tensile stresses are created in the borehole walls and the fracture is forced to develop in a predetermined direction. The IHF method of the coal seam from the development workings using non-cased degassing holes of large and variable diameter consists in creation of transverse hydraulic fractures in the hole relative to its axis and increasing its gas recovery by an order of magnitude. This is achieved by using a double-sided packer with elastically expanding elements and a valve installed between them. Additional tangential stresses created in the borehole walls ensure the development of inelastic strain zone, leading to the formation of transverse cracks in the borehole. The results of numerical modeling of the stress-and-strain state of the rocks near the borehole where packer seals are installed using the finite element method are presented in the paper. Techniques and means to monitor the processes of hydraulic impact on the coal-rock massif are shown.
Keywords: underground mining of deposits, roof control, degassing, hydraulic fracturing, borehole, initiation slot, sealer, twin packer, numerical simulation, monitoring of hydraulic impact
Acknowledgements: The research was carried out as part of the ‘Development and implementation of complex technologies in the areas of exploration and extraction of minerals, industrial safety, bioremediation, creation of new deep conversion products from coal raw materials while consistently reducing the environmental impact and risks to human life’ Integrated Scientific and Technical Programme of the Full Innovation Cycle, approved by Order No. 1144-р of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 11, 2022 (Agreement No. 075-15-2022-1191).
For citation: Klishin V.I., Tailakov O.V., Opruk G.Yu., Utkaev E.A., Klishin S.V. Methods of hydraulic fracturing of poorly caving roof and coal seams to eliminate dynamic phenomena in coal mines. Russian Mining Industry. 2022;(6):46–53. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2022-6-46-53
Article info
Received: 20.10.2022
Revised: 09.11.2022
Accepted: 13.11.2022
Information about the author
Vladimir I. Klishin – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor, Director of the Institute of Coal of the Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Oleg V. Tailakov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Director General, VostNII Research Center JSC, Chief Research Associate, Institute of Coal of the Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gleb Yu. Opruk – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Head of the Laboratory of Effective Technologies for Coal Mining, Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Evgeny A. Utkaev – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Coal of the Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sergey V. Klishin – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Mining Institute named after N.A. Chinakal of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novisibirsk, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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