Skip to main content

The AusIMM office is closed for the end of year break until Monday 6 January 2025. Please note members can pay their renewals online at ausimm.com/renew, and hardcopy publication orders will be processed on our return. We wish you a safe and happy festive season.

Conference Proceedings

Australian Mine Ventilation Conference 2017

Conference Proceedings

Australian Mine Ventilation Conference 2017

PDF Add to cart

Inertisation of coal augering holes

Coal augering is an ideal method for recovering coal from the highwalls of open cut coalmines. Coal augering is a simple process whereby additional flights are added to the auger cutting head and auger holes are drilled at 1.9 m diameter up to 200 metres deep. Traditional monitoring was located at the mouth of the hole and if methane was encountered above twopercent, inert gas was delivered into the mouth of the hole to deplete the oxygen content at the auger cutting head below 12percent. The auger operator was asked the question how do you know that this is the case?' Trials were undertaken to prove that the oxygen content at the cutting head did drop below 12percent (the lowest limit for methane to ignite, also known as the oxygen nose point). Initial trials showed that the oxygen content in the mouth of the hole did not drop below 12percent and modifications were made to hold the inert gases in the mouth of the hole so that the auger flights could take this inert gas into the hole. In-hole monitoring, after completion of mining and after extracting the auger flights, showed that the atmosphere quickly returned to fresh air. In-hole monitoring was also tried during the augering process and yielded valuable results. This paper will discuss the results of the monitoring, information on the gas results obtained and the methodologies used to optimise the oxygen content at the auger face.CITATION:Watkinson, M and Leisemann, B, 2017. Inertisation of coal augering holes, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 293-298 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).
Return to parent product
  • Inertisation of coal augering holes
    PDF
    This product is exclusive to Digital library subscription
  • Inertisation of coal augering holes
    PDF
    Normal price $22.00
    Member price from $0.00
    Add to cart

    Fees above are GST inclusive

PD Hours
Approved activity
  • Published: 2017
  • PDF Size: 1.385 Mb.
  • Unique ID: P201704041

Our site uses cookies

We use these to improve your browser experience. By continuing to use the website you agree to the use of cookies.