The application of emerging technologies to improve CMM pre-drainage and reduce emissions
Research is ongoing to quantify the effectiveness and benefits of emerging technologies to improve coal pre-drainage and reduce emissions for Metallurgical Coal (MC) mines. Firstly, this paper describes the application of Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test (DFIT) methods to identify Pressure-Dependant Permeability (PDP) behaviour and reservoir parameters and to acquire multi-well interference data in low-permeability environments. Next, this paper summarises the benefits of indirect hydraulic fracturing implantation in improving pre-drainage before gate road developments in a Bowen Basin underground mine. Further, using new commercially available micro-proppants with hydraulic fracturing or standalone treatments can improve drainage from coals exhibiting PDP behaviour. Finally, the potential benefits of reintroducing the former CRC Mining Tight-Radius Drilling (TRD) technology are proposed to improve CMM pre-drainage, reduce emissions, and enhance other non-coal mining applications.
Next, previous research has quantified the economic benefits of implementing subterranean barriers in underground mining based on the former Australian Emissions Trading Scheme with parameters not significantly different from current conditions (i.e., the Safeguard Mechanisms). Subterranean barrier technologies with surface-to-inseam (SIS) well pre-drainage have recently been modelled to reduce emissions from open-cut mines by as much as 46% (0.45 Mt CO2-e) on a per km2 drainage area. Ongoing recommendations for further research in barrier implementation technology will also be discussed.
The proposed technologies have either been field applied, laboratory tested under representative conditions in actual coal samples or modelled and peer-reviewed using representative Bowen Basin data. These technologies are applicable for pre-drainage or reducing emissions for all coal mine applications.