Coal Geomechanics Review - Scoping Study

On the recommendation of the Underground Research Sub-Committee, ACARP commissioned Golder Associates Pty Ltd to carry out a review of ACARP's underground geomechanics-related research with Professor E T Brown AC as the nominated reviewer. The objective was "to review the recent and outstanding geomechanical research being funded by the program and to provide advice to the ACARP Underground Research Sub-Committee as to where future efforts might best be directed". In addition, the review was to consider a number of specific questions relating to the quality of the outcomes and the researchers, the needs of the industry for geomechanically qualified consultants and employees, geomechanics practice in the Australian underground coal mining industry and the use of consultants.

A total of 52 projects reported or worked on since 1995 were identified for consideration in the review. The process followed was to review project documentation particularly final reports and published papers, prepare summaries of each project under a number of headings, interview research project leaders, interview a number of industry representatives selected in discussion with the industry monitors and the research administrator, and visit a number of mines for discussions and to familiarise the reviewer with industry practices and issues. The 52 projects considered were summarised according to research contractor type, research area, research methodology, student involvement, communication of results, research quality and application of the outcomes to industry.

The most important of the range of conclusions reached in the review are considered to be:

• ACARP provides an excellent example of an industry funded and managed research program that has brought significant benefit to the industry.
  
• The geomechanics-related component of the underground resarch program has produced some outstanding research by international standards. Examples are given of four outstanding projects or groups of projects in the areas of pillar design, longwall caving geomechanics, hydraulic fracturing to alleviate rock fall and wind blast hazards, and optimising primary bolting to improve roadway development efficiency. However, not all of the work is of this high standard and some of it cannot be correctly described as research in the sense in which that term is defined in this report.
  
• In recent years, about 60% of the ACARP underground geomechanics-related research, and most of the research judged to be of high quality, has been carried out by four research providers, one University School, one CSIRO Division and two consultants. There is a longer term danger in placing too much reliance on a small number of research providers.
  
• Researchers generally use a range of methods to communicate the results of their research to the industry. However, for a number of reasons, research results have not always been taken up by industry and some research topics are revisited, perhaps unnecessarily.
  
• The project selection and project administration systems in place compare favourably with those used in other research programs. The project selection process, and perceptions of it, could be improved by re-introducing an element of independent review. The industry monitor system is a strength of the overall program but could be improved by clarifying the requirements of the role and introducing an induction program.
  
• Because of the range of geomechanical conditions encountered and the difficulty of some of the problems involved, the Australian underground coal mining industry has a continuing need for research on a range of geomechanics-related issues identified in the review. A number of these issues are of medium to long rather of short-term significance.
  
• Improved research outcomes are likely to be achieved if there is a greater degree of targetting of research topics and researchers than there has been in the past.
  
• Although Australian underground coal mining geomechanics does not have the distinguished history enjoyed by the discipline in civil engineering and metalliferous mining, geomechanics practice in the industry now compares favourably with that in these other industry sectors. Geomechanics considerations are well integrated into planning and operational decision making in Australia's underground coal mines.
  
• Although the quality of the geomechanics expertise available to the industry is generally high, the quantity is barely adequate. More significantly, there is no obvious source of the next generation of geomechanics researchers and practitioners. ACARP projects have an important role to play in generating knowledge and expertise in the researchers and in the training of post-graduate students in geomechanics (and possibly other disciplines). This should be identified as a purpose of the program, and the industry should be proactive in pursuing opportunities for the development of its future geomechanics specialists.
  
• The Australian underground coal mining industry is currently well-served by geomechanics consultants from a variety of consulting firms and other organisations. The consultants have a range of skills, expertise and approaches.
  
• In recent years, consultants have carried out about 50% of all geomechanics-related underground research projects, with two major consulting firms accounting for more than 50% of this number. Not all of the projects carried out by consultants have the characteristics of research that is of industry-wide interest. There is probably a need for a wider spread of research providers in the program, particularly those capable of contributing to the development of the next generation of geomechanics specialists.
  
• The results of ACARP-funded research should be freely available to the industry at large and not be permitted to be regarded as the proprietary intellectual property of one firm or individual.

Several of the observations recorded, conclusions reached and recommendations made have implications for the ACARP program as a whole as well as for the underground geomechanics-related component. Specifically, it is recommended that:

• ACARP's mission and the purposes of its research program should be re-considered and clarified;
  
• there should continue to be a geomechanics-related component of the underground research program;
  
• in the future, greater emphasis should be placed on resolving the medium to long term issues facing the industry rather than the short-term problems of particular sites;
  
• consideration should be given to targeting or commissioning a greater proportion of the overall geomechanics-related underground research program;
  
• an element of independent, expert review should be re-introduced into the project evaluation process;
  
• the roles of industry monitors should be clarified and consideration given to introducing an induction program for monitors;
  
• the project management system should have added to it sanctions and/or other measures designed to ensure that projects are always completed on time except in unforeseeable circumstances;
  
• an improved, structured system of evaluating the outcomes of research projects and their applicability to the industry should be introduced;
  
• the outcomes of ACARP-funded projects should not be permitted to be regarded as the proprietary intellectual property of a given firm or individual;
  
• a wider spread of researchers should be encouraged to become involved in the program, particularly those capable of contributing to the training of the next generation of geomechanics specialists;
  
• more companies should consider the benefits of employing geotechnical engineers on particular mine sites or groups of sites;
  
• arrangements should be put in place to encourage and enable more post-graduate students to work on mine site based ACARP-funded projects; and
  
• the Australian Coal Research Ltd Board should be proactive in supporting the Minerals Tertiary Education Council's proposed establishment of a national centre of excellence in mining geomechanics and, in particular, the establishment of a coal mining node of that centre on the east coast of Australia.