Monitoring and modelling of gas dynamics in multi-level longwall top coal caving of ultra-thick coal seams, Part II: Numerical modelling

• A two-way sequential coupling approach between a geomechanical and a reservoir simulator was developed.
• The model was applied to simulate gas emissions around a longwall top coal caving panel.
• Gas emission zones around LTCC panels were successfully identified.

The longwall top coal caving method, which enables the most productive exploitation of thick/ultra-thick coal seams, may result in a distinct geomechanical response of strata and associated gas emission patterns around longwall layouts. A two-way sequential coupling of a geomechanical and a reservoir simulator for the modelling of gas emissions around a longwall top coal caving (LTCC) panels was developed building on the understanding established from the analysis of in-situ gas pressure and concentration measurements carried out at Coal Mine Velenje in Slovenia. Model findings have shown that the modelling method implemented can reproduce the dynamic changes of stresses and gas pressure around a LTCC face and predict the total gas emissions and mixed gas concentrations accurately. It was found that, in LTCC panels, although the rate of gas emission from mined coal depends highly on the coal face advance, floor coal and roof goaf act as a constant and steady gas source accounting for a considerable part of the overall gas emission. Research has shown that, at first and/or second mining levels of multi-level LTCC mining, a notable stress relief and pore pressure drop induced by fracturing of the mined and roof coal can be experienced within 40 m ahead of the face-line. In the floor coal, on the other hand, the pore pressure change was found to extend to 20 m below the mining horizon. Model results have clearly shown the permeability enhancement and gas mobilisation zones around the LTCC panel, which can be the target zones for gas drainage boreholes.