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Hydrogeological Classification and Water Inrush Accidents in China’s Coal Mines

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Abstract

In 2012, China’s State Administration of Coal Mine Safety conducted a reconnaissance and statistical analysis to better understand and characterize water inrush accidents in China’s coal mines. Data collected from 12,985 mines from 26 provinces and municipalities were used to study each mine’s hydrogeological classification, water content coefficient, and the level of effort being spent in preventing and controlling these accidents. Analysis of the water inrush accidents in these mines suggests that their likelihood reflects a mine’s hydrogeological characteristics, and that they can be controlled by professionals who are specifically trained for mine water prevention and emergency responses. In terms of hydrogeological complexity, there were 78 extremely complex coal mines, 827 complex mines, 4141 moderately complex mines, and 6458 relatively simple mines. Advances in mine water control and management methods and techniques and implementation of safety standards and regulations have significantly reduced the number of people killed per ton of coal produced, but analysis of the 2013 water hazard accidents indicates that continued effort is needed to better understand hydrogeological classification and implement safe procedures in water prospecting and dewatering.

Zusammenfassung

Im Jahr 2012, führte Chinas staatliche Verwaltung für Kohleminensicherheit eine Aufklärungskampagne und statistische Analysen durch um Wassereinbrüche in chinesischen Kohlebergwerken besser zu verstehen und zu charakterisieren. Von 12.985 Bergwerken aus 26 Provinzen und Gemeinden wurden Daten erhobenen und verwendet um eine hydrologische Klassifizierung jedes Bergwerkes, den Koeffizienten für den Wassergehalt und die Höhe des Aufwandes zur Verhütung und Bekämpfung dieser Unfälle ermitteln. Die Analyse der Wassereinbrüche in diesen Bergwerken legt nah, dass die Wahrscheinlichkeit von Wassereinbrüchen sich in den hydrogeologischen Merkmalen eines Bergwerks widerspiegelt und dass sie von geschulten Fachleuten im Notfall kontrolliert werden können. In Bezug auf die hydrogeologische Komplexität gab es 78 äußerst komplexe Kohlengruben, 827 komplexe Gruben, 4141 mäßig komplexe Gruben und 6458 relativ einfachen Gruben. Fortschritte in der Grubenwasserkontrolle, in den Managementmethoden und Techniken sowie in der Umsetzung von Sicherheitsstandards und Vorschriften haben die Anzahl der Personen die pro Tonne geförderter Kohle ums Leben kamen deutlich reduziert. Die Analyse der Unfälle durch Wassereinbrüche für das Jahr 2013 zeigt aber, dass weiterhin Anstrengungen erforderlich sind. Es müssen weitere hydrologische Klassifizierungen stattfinden sowie sicherere Verfahren im Hinblick auf die Entwässerung implementiert werden.

Resumen

En 2012, la administración estatal china de la seguridad en minas de carbón realizó un reconocimiento y un análisis estadístico para comprender y caracterizar los accidentes de irrupción de agua en minas de carbón. Los datos colectados de 12.985 minas en 26 provincias y municipios fueron usados para la clasificiación hidrogeológica de cada mina, el coeficiente de contenido de agua y el nivel de esfuerzo utilizado en prevenir y controlar estos accidentes. El análisis de los accidentes de irrupción de agua en estas minas sugiere que los comportamientos reflejan sus características hidrogeológicas y que los accidentes pueden ser controladas por profesionales que están específicamente entrenados para su prevención y para responder en situaciones de emergencia. En términos de complejidad hidrogeológica, se encontraron 78 minas extremadamente complejas, 827 minas complejas, 4.141 minas moderamente complejas y 6.458 minas relativamente simples. Los avances en el control del agua de mina y las técnicas y métodos de manejo e implementación de regulaciones de seguridad, han reducido significativamente el número de personas fallecidas por tonelada de carbón producida pero el análisis de los accidentes de 2013 indica que aún deben hacerse esfuerzos para comprender mejor la clasificación hidrogeológica y para implementar procedimientos de seguridad en la prospección del agua y su desagote.

煤矿水文地质分类划分及突水事故分析(中国)

为了进一步了解全国煤矿水文地质条件和煤矿水害防治技术现状,2012年国家安监局对26个省和自治区的12985个煤矿的水文地质类型、富水系数及水害防治技术水平进行了调查与统计。矿井突水事故较好地反应了煤矿水文地质特征,也可以通过专门防治水技术加以预防和控制。依据煤矿水文地质条件复杂程度,78个煤矿属于极复杂矿井,827个煤矿属于复杂矿井,4141个煤矿属于中等复杂矿井,6458个煤矿属于较简单矿井。煤矿水害防治与管理技术的发展及煤矿安全规范的实施大幅降低了中国煤炭百万吨死亡率。中国2013年煤矿水害事故分析表明,中国还需要进一步完善煤矿水文地质分类划分和认真执行矿井水害探查与超前疏水等技术规范。.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge financial support provided by the: State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology (SKLCRSM13KFB06), Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization and Sedimentary Minerals, Shandong University of Science and Technology (DMSM201407), Fundamental Science on Radioactive Geology and Exploration Technology Laboratory, East China Institute of Technology (RGET1302), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2013QD03), and Innovation Training, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing.

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Correspondence to Wenjie Sun.

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Sun, W., Zhou, W. & Jiao, J. Hydrogeological Classification and Water Inrush Accidents in China’s Coal Mines. Mine Water Environ 35, 214–220 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-015-0363-3

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