NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Methane control in highwall mining.

Volkwein JC; Kissell FN

Handbook for methane control in mining. Kissell FN, ed. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-127 (IC 9486), 2006 Jun; :135-140

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/works/coversheet1459.html

20030262

This chapter discusses a method to prevent methane explosions during highwall mining. In highwall mining, a horizontal auger or a mining machine enters the coal seam from a surface mine pit at the bottom of a highwall, and the coal is mined out from a series of parallel holes. Explosions can be prevented by injecting inert gas into each hole as it is mined. Coal near the surface has lost most of its methane gas over time. However, in recent years, surface mining has been used for deeper reserves of coal. This trend toward mining deeper reserves has increased the chance of encountering methane, and methane explosions at highwall mining operations have resulted in injuries.

Mining-industry; Methane-control; Safety-research; Coal-mining; Highwall-mining; Methanes; Explosions; Surface-mining

NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

74-82-8; 7782-44-7; 124-38-9

20060601

Chapter

Kissell FN

2006

PRL

Handbook for methane control in mining

PA; KY