After the shaft was filled, m<strong>in</strong>e gases cont<strong>in</strong>ued to leak to the surface. Explosive concentrationsof methane were measured at the surface, so air-powered tools were used to dismantle the fans.In addition, elevated carbon dioxide levels and oxygen deficiencies persisted <strong>in</strong> the fan hous<strong>in</strong>gand the structures surround<strong>in</strong>g the shaft collar. Nevertheless, the project was completed withoutfurther <strong>in</strong>cident.Shaft fill<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Germany. H<strong>in</strong>derfeld [1995] reported on the methane safety precautions takendur<strong>in</strong>g shaft fill<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Germany, where more than 100 shafts had been filled <strong>in</strong> the previous10 years. When shafts are not under the <strong>in</strong>fluence of a fan, the flow of methane is controlled bythe barometric pressure. High flows of methane have been observed when the barometric pressurefalls and the gas-laden m<strong>in</strong>e air expands and fills the shaft from below. In this situation, it isimportant to monitor the barometric pressure.The preferred approach to shaft fill<strong>in</strong>g at each m<strong>in</strong>e is to ensure that the shaft be<strong>in</strong>g filled isdowncast and ventilated with a fan <strong>in</strong> another shaft. The last two shafts at the m<strong>in</strong>e are thenclosed off simultaneously and filled as quickly as possible.Dur<strong>in</strong>g fill<strong>in</strong>g, the methane concentration is cont<strong>in</strong>uously measured at a po<strong>in</strong>t 50 m (164 ft)below the surface. If a threshold value—established <strong>for</strong> that particular shaft—is reached, thenfill<strong>in</strong>g work stops and the shaft is probed to the bottom.When high methane concentrations are recorded, and if these are not diluted dur<strong>in</strong>g a subsequentbarometric pressure <strong>in</strong>crease, the shaft atmosphere is <strong>in</strong>erted by add<strong>in</strong>g enough carbon dioxide ornitrogen to reduce the oxygen content below 10%. 10133REFERENCESCFR. Code of federal regulations. Wash<strong>in</strong>gton DC: U.S. Government Pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g Office, Office ofthe Federal Register.Cook AP [1998]. The occurrence, emission, and ignition of combustible strata gases <strong>in</strong>Witwatersrand gold m<strong>in</strong>es and Bushveld plat<strong>in</strong>um m<strong>in</strong>es, and means of ameliorat<strong>in</strong>g relatedignition and explosion hazards. F<strong>in</strong>al project report, project GAP 504. Braamfonte<strong>in</strong>, Republicof South Africa, Safety <strong>in</strong> M<strong>in</strong>es Research Advisory Committee (SIMRAC) (www.simrac.co.za).Denk JM, Francart WJ, Baran JN [1987]. Monitor<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>e gases dur<strong>in</strong>g shaft fill<strong>in</strong>g operations.In: Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs of the Third M<strong>in</strong>e Ventilation Symposium (University Park, PA, October 12–14,1987).10 When a shaft is under the <strong>in</strong>fluence of barometric pressure, add<strong>in</strong>g carbon dioxide or nitrogen can be a betterapproach than dilut<strong>in</strong>g methane with compressed air. When compressed air is used, a spike <strong>in</strong> the methane flow dueto a fall<strong>in</strong>g barometer may move the shaft atmosphere <strong>in</strong>to the explosive range. When the shaft is <strong>in</strong>erted, a spike <strong>in</strong>the methane flow may drive the shaft atmosphere at the bottom further <strong>in</strong>to the <strong>in</strong>ert range.
134H<strong>in</strong>derfeld G [1995]. Ventilation-technical and gas management measures with<strong>in</strong> clos<strong>in</strong>g downof coal m<strong>in</strong>es. In: Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs of the 26th International Conference of Safety <strong>in</strong> M<strong>in</strong>es ResearchInstitutes (Katowice, Poland, September 4–8, 1995). Vol. 2. Katowice, Poland: Central M<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gInstitute, pp. 201–217.Maksimovic SD [1981]. <strong>Control</strong> of methane by ventilation of shafts dur<strong>in</strong>g raise drill<strong>in</strong>g. Pittsburgh,PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of M<strong>in</strong>es, IC 8847. NTIS No. PB81234502.Mills B [2003]. Fatal shaft explosion report <strong>in</strong>vestigation, McElroy Coal Co., McElroy m<strong>in</strong>e,Permit No. U–83–33, Central Cambria Drill<strong>in</strong>g Co., contractor No. C–618, January 22, 2003.Fairmont, WV: West Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Office of M<strong>in</strong>er’s Health, Safety and Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.Oakes JK, Tortorea JS, Stoltz RT, Stephan CR, Brown VF, Penigar RA, et al. [2003]. Report of<strong>in</strong>vestigation, fatal shaft s<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g explosion, January 22, 2003. McElroy m<strong>in</strong>e, McElroy CoalCompany (subsidiary of CONSOL Energy Incorporated), Cameron, Marshall County, WestVirg<strong>in</strong>ia, ID No. 46–01437. Arl<strong>in</strong>gton, VA: U.S. Department of Labor, M<strong>in</strong>e Safety and HealthAdm<strong>in</strong>istration.
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TMIC 9486Information Circular/2006H
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ORDERING INFORMATIONCopies of Natio
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ILLUSTRATIONS—ContinuedPage4-6. U
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HANDBOOK FOR METHANE CONTROL IN MIN
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4Below 5%, called the lower explosi
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6reduced pressure, except at very l
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8Static electricity. Protection aga
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10Figure 1-4.—Estimated methane c
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12LAYERING OF METHANE AT THE MINE R
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14good eyesight. 24methane level.Ot
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16a material balance indicated that
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18As an example, assume that themet
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20Figure 1-10.—Relative frequency
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22Davies AW, Isaac AK, Cook PM [200
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24Margerson SNA, Robinson H, Wilkin
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CHAPTER 2.—SAMPLING FOR METHANE I
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29USING PORTABLE METHANE DETECTORST
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Out-of-range gas concentrations in
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Figure 2-3.—Recorder chart from a
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35Industrial Scientific Corp. [2004
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38peaks, not the overallmethane lev
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40hung on J-hook assemblies, which
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42Methane dilution effectiveness.Th
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44found that effective scrubber ope
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46When the scrubber exhaust is not
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48Methane monitors are usually moun
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50to use radial bits instead of con
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52Mott ML, Chuhta EJ [1991]. Face v
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54Service, Centers for Disease Cont
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56Methane accumulationsaround thesh
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58corner and by 43% at supportNo. 4
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60When using water sprays to reduce
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62Cecala AB, Zimmer JA, Thimons ED
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64DESIGNING BLEEDER SYSTEMSAs part
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66Caved area characteristics. The c
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68then move this gas into the activ
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70perform tests to determine whethe
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72A major purpose of the bleeder sy
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74• Inlets to the pillared area n
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76REFERENCESCFR. Code of federal re
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78Methane is released into each min
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80Figure 6-1.—Gas content of coal
- Page 87 and 88: 82Figure 6-3.—Simplified illustra
- Page 89 and 90: 842. In-mine inclined or vertical b
- Page 91 and 92: 861. Packed cavity method and its v
- Page 93 and 94: 88Table 6-3.—Methane capture rati
- Page 95 and 96: 90Early experiences with this metho
- Page 97 and 98: 9211. At the surface installation (
- Page 99 and 100: 94• Estimated cost for moderately
- Page 101 and 102: 96Thakur PC [1981]. Methane control
- Page 103 and 104: 98Anomalous, unanticipated methane
- Page 105 and 106: 100Vertical methane drainage boreho
- Page 107 and 108: 102Figure 7-2 shows a mine entry ap
- Page 109 and 110: 104obvious solution to this problem
- Page 111 and 112: 106Figure 7-8.—Hypothetical gas c
- Page 113 and 114: 108Lama and Bodziony [1998] compile
- Page 115 and 116: 110In-mine methane drainage systems
- Page 117 and 118: 112Iannacchione AT, Ulery JP, Hyman
- Page 119 and 120: 114More sophisticated reservoir eng
- Page 121 and 122: 116coal lithotype on gas content is
- Page 123 and 124: 118FORECASTING REMAINING GAS-IN-PLA
- Page 125 and 126: 120⎛ y⎞⎜⎛⎞ ⎛ ⎞= ⎜
- Page 127 and 128: 122emissions. The geometry and size
- Page 129 and 130: 124Reservoir models require a subst
- Page 131 and 132: 126King GR, Ertekin T [1989a]. A su
- Page 133 and 134: 128an area of 314 ft 2 would requir
- Page 135 and 136: 130In the case of the abovementione
- Page 137: 132FILLING SHAFTS AT CLOSED MINESFi
- Page 141 and 142: 136To calculate the effectiveinert,
- Page 143 and 144: 138exhaust. The remaining diesel ex
- Page 145 and 146: 140required only 4 min. As a result
- Page 147 and 148: 142Figure 11-1.—Desorption test a
- Page 149 and 150: 144enclosed in a tunnel-like struct
- Page 151 and 152: 146Kolada RJ [1985]. Investigation
- Page 153 and 154: 148air in a 6-ft by 9-ft by 6.5-ft
- Page 155 and 156: 150represents flammable mixtures. F
- Page 157 and 158: 152• In Eastern Europe, petroleum
- Page 159 and 160: 154Category II applies to domal sal
- Page 161 and 162: 1562. Monitoring for gas and taking
- Page 163 and 164: 158These mines typically have large
- Page 165 and 166: 160Dave Graham is the safety and he
- Page 167 and 168: 162Figure 13-2.—Examples of metha
- Page 169 and 170: 164REFERENCESAndrews JN [1987]. Nob
- Page 171 and 172: 166APPENDIX A.—ONTARIO OCCUPATION
- Page 174 and 175: 169CHAPTER 14.—PREVENTING METHANE
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- Page 178 and 179: 173The tunnel face is usually venti
- Page 180 and 181: 175Figure 14-5.—TBM ventilation s
- Page 182 and 183: face. While one of these elements a
- Page 184 and 185: 179ELIMINATING IGNITION SOURCESElec
- Page 186 and 187: 181INDEXAAbnormally gassy faces....
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183NNatural ventilation, coal silos
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Delivering on the Nation’s Promis