The controlling effect of thick-hard igneous rock on pressure relief gas drainage and dynamic disasters in outburst coal seams

Intrusive igneous rock is usually found in the overlying strata above mining stopes, and its occurrence, lithology, and distribution play important roles in coal mining safety. Of the numerous coal mine disasters in China, a large number have been caused by magma intrusion. Magmatic activity is intense and widely distributed in the Haizi Coal Mine which has suffered eleven coal and gas outburst accidents and one water inrush accident under a thick-hard igneous rock with 120-m-thick. Based on theoretical analysis, laboratory testing and field observations, we found that under the effect of thermal evolution and entrapment of the igneous rock, the coal pore structure developed, the gas adsorption capacity was enhanced, and the risk of gas outburst increased. The igneous rock, as the main key stratum, will not subside or break for a long time after mining. The closing time of fractures and separations is also prolonged and provides good conditions for gas drainage. The distant penetration borehole for draining pressure relief gas is proposed which can ensure effective gas drainage and reduce the number of rock laneways. However, with the continuous mining of a large area, the igneous rock could suddenly break, instantly releasing a tremendous amount of elastic strain energy, which will easily induce the occurrence of complex dynamic disasters, such as rock bursts, water inrush, gas outbursts, and surface subsidence. Based on the cause analysis of dynamic disasters, a reasonable goaf filling height is proposed for fully eliminating mine disasters under the special geological condition. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013