The most popular methane hazard countermeasure used in the underground mines of JSW S.A. is in-process methane extraction the performance of which is simultaneous with the mining of coal beds within the rock formation. The highest efficiency of in-process methane extraction is by removal of the gas via a prallel air heading or an overlying drainage heading. The high efficiency of these countermeasures comes at a great financial cost. Given the positive experiences with alternative countermeasures reported from other countries (Australia, China, and the USA), JSW S.A. has decided to elect a more cost-efficient methane extraction solution: downhole directional drilling. To test it in the operating conditions of Polish mines, an Australian VLI 1000 Series directional drilling rig was purchased, a system designed for directional drilling in underground headings. The modular design of this rig system has been specifically designed to the JSW S.A. requirements; the small footprint of the customised drilling rig facilitates transport in the headings at KWK Pniówek. The rig features downhole motors with a number of drill bits for working the rock formations with the compressive strength Rc values up to 120 MPa. The DDMS (Directional Drilling Management System) of the directional drilling rig enables real-time operating data output for comparative verification of compliance with the borehole design tolerances. The DDMS helps the drilling rig operator control the directional borehole trajectory and correct any deviations on the go. The VLI 1000 Series modular drilling rig can make long directional boreholes which, when combined with branches, create a complex system for geosurveying purposes with pre-process and in-process methane extraction (the latter applies when the mining process disrupts the rock formation balance). During the hands-on training in the drilling rig operation, the KWK Pniówek personnel has fully mastered the long directional drilling, system performance capabilities, borehole design principles, and the DDMS operation. Although the actual performance has fallen short of the scheduled progress in the operation of the directional drilling rig for methane extraction, the experience that will be acquired in time will help develop a methane extraction system with better performance at lower costs.
PL
Artykuł opisuje modułowy system wiertniczy VLI serii 1000 produkcji australijskiej, umożliwiający wykonanie długich otworów kierunkowych, jego budowę i zasadę działania. Opisano system zarządzania wierceniami kierunkowymi DDMS zastosowany w urządzeniu, który – po wprowadzeniu danych – umożliwia wyrysowanie projektowanego otworu, jak i sprawdzenie jego rzeczywistego przebiegu. Na tle tego opisu przedstawiono pierwsze doświadczenia z jego zastosowania w KWK „Pniówek” podczas szkolenia załogi.
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