Moscow, Russia:

V. M. Vernigor, Mining Engineer, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, VernigorVladimir@yandex.ru

Impersonal and highly reliable interpretation of rockburst hazard predictions in coal seams in difficult geological and geotechnical conditions can be ensured using an integ rated prediction method, including recording of seismic and acoustic activity, specific volume of drill fines, coarse size of drill fines and higher stresses, based on return of drill fines. The method of rockburst hazard prediction in coal seams by the return of drill fines includes drilling of prognostic wells to exert influence on the edges of a coal seam. Return of the coarse size of drill fines is explained by the circumstance that in the conditions of high stresses, the bottom of a well breaks almost without participation of a drill bit, and coal, consequently, experiences weaker attrition. It is found experimentally that depending on the level of stresses in a coal seam, drilling of a prognostic well initiates areas where the pulldown is variable. Spiral drill rods can undergo gripping since they lack time to remove huge amount of coarse drill fines forced into the well during drilling, and, therefore, get screwed into the dislocated and softened coal seam. This may result in seizure of drill rods with no possibility of pulling them out. In order to eliminate pulling-in and seizure of drill rods, it is required to gradually direct the pulldown in the opposite direction relative to the borehole bottom. The value of the coal seam stresses σ=1.4γН can be assumed, to a high degree of reliability, as a criterion to rate some areas in coal seams as the heightened risk zones and to implement activities to reduce the stresses using the known technologies of the stress–strain control in rock masses.

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