TECHNOLOGY OF PREVENTION OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINING OF COAL SEAMS Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: processes of underground coal mining. SUBSTANCE: technology includes preliminary geophysical study of rocks and seam, and degassing operations. Drilled from day surface with help of independent apparatuses are vertical and inclined holes and openings down to producing seam. Further on, holes and openings are drilled on seam- adjacent rock boundaries-above and below seam. Connected periodically are holes and openings made above and below seam by vertical holes. Then, formed at ends and along length of these holes and openings are spherical openings-covers from which holes are raised up to day surface and hollows of these holes are connected on day surface with discharge vacuum system. The latter are used for withdrawal of methane- containing gases from all drilled and driven holes and openings to remove the said gases from coal seam and adjacent rocks. Efficiency of process is determined by reduced amount and concentration of methane in withdrawn gas flow. EFFECT: higher safety of coal mining, reduced expenditures for coal seam degassing and time for process.