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Underground

Our underground health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives include strengthening ventilation and gas management technology, minimising risks from fires and explosions, advancing emergency response technologies, reducing operating costs and improving reliability of subsidence predictions.


Environment - Subsidence and Mine Water (34 Reports)

Change Detection in Complex Vegetation Communities

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C2505626/08/2019
Author: Andrew Fletcher, Richard Mather, Tony Cable | Queensland University of Technology, Buckinghamshire New University, Biosis

This project develops and demonstrates methods to introduce UAV sourced remote sensing products for monitoring and reporting change in complex vegetation communities. Multicamera rigs collecting single narrow spectral bands reconstructed the most complete tree canopy models while providing ....  read more

 

Damage Criteria and Practical Solutions for Protecting River Channels

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C1201625/05/2009
Author: Ken Mills | SCT Operations

The coal industry is seeking to better understand the nature of mining induced subsidence impacts on river systems and practical ways that these impacts can be managed without unnecessarily sterilising valuable coal resources. To further this understanding, the industry, through the Australian ....  read more

 

Dust Monitoring Methodology (Inhalable and Respirable Dust Level)

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C2000701/08/2013
Author: Ting Ren, Brian Plush and Naj Aziz | University of Wollongong

Informative and reliable dust monitoring plays an important role in identifying dust issues in underground coal mines and subsequently the development of effective mitigation strategies. NSW mining industry has a long record of dust sampling provided by Coal Services Pty Ltd. This testing ....  read more

 

Effect of Longwall Mine Subsidence on Plant Production on Cropping Land

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C801831/01/2003
Author: D Hinchliffe, Phillip Matthew, U Pillai-McGarry, Hwat-Bing So, David Mulligan | University of Queensland

The effect of longwall mine subsidence on crop yield and critical soil factors affecting plant growth were investigated in central Queensland to improve the understanding of subsidence on agricultural production. To achieve this, specific objectives were to:

     ....  read more

     

    Effects of Mine Subsidence, Geology and Surface Topography on Observed Valley Closure Movements and Development of an Updated Valley Closure Prediction Method

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    C1801517/11/2014
    Author: Don Kay | Mine Subsidence Engineering Consultants

    This report is provided as a set, comprising C8005, C9067 and C18015.

     

    This report combines information that was presented in project reports C8005, C9067 in 2002 reports, presents new valley closure monitoring data and provides information on field work that ....  read more

     

    Effects of Mine Water Salinity on Freshwater Biota: Investigations of Coal Mine Water Discharge in NSW

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    C1501601/01/2010
    Author: Marcus Lincoln-Smith | Cardno Ecology Lab Pty Ltd

    Seepage of water from aquifers into the workings of coal mines often requires large amounts of water to be pumped to the surface. This water if often used for coal washing with or without augmentation from stormwater. The mixture contains elevated concentrations of dissolved salts and metals ....  read more

     

    Effects of Surface Topography on Mining Subsidence Damage to River Channels

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    C1502519/04/2011
    Author: Ken Mills | SCT Operations Pty Ltd

    Longwall mining has for some time been recognised to cause perceptible horizontal movements well outside the area of active mining. Substantial coal resources have been sterilised in providing barriers to protect surface features that are sensitive to such movements. This project investigated ....  read more

     

    Environmental Risks of Soluble Hydrolic Oil in Mine Water Discharge

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    C703401/01/2000
    Author: Steven Riley, Chris McQuade, Sam Adeloju | University of Western Sydney Nepean

    Soluble oil produced from underground coal mines is not an environmental risk unless there is a substantial spill.  Soluble hydraulic oil is an integral component in all longwall coal mining operations and is typically used as a five percent solution with water. The daily quantity used in ....  read more

     

    Feasibility Study of Subsidence Control using Overburden Grout Injection Technology

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    C1201901/08/2005
    Author: Hua Guo, Baotang Shen, Shougen Chen, Greg Poole | CSIRO Exploration & Mining, BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal

    This project aimed to assess the feasibility  of significantly reducing longwall mining subsidence by applying the overburden grout injection technology originally developed and used in China. A key task of the project was to develop a cost-effective and flexible overburden grout ....  read more

     

    Fire Resilience of Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone

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    C3302806/10/2023
    Author: Mandana Shaygan | University of Queensland

    Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS) consist of natural ephemeral and permanent swamps. These swamps support distinctive vegetation that depends on soil water availability as well as organic rich sediments and can assist with carbon capture and storage. These swamps also ....  read more

     

    GIS-Based Decision Support Methodology for the Assessment of the Impacts of Mining Subsidence

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    C1403101/05/2007
    Author: Daniel Palamara, Ernest Baafi, Phil Flentje | University of Wollongong

    The objectives of this project were to develop and demonstrate practical decision support methodology for the assessment of the impacts of mining subsidence on natural features. The decision support tools were developed within the flexibility of the Geographic Information System (GIS) ....  read more

     

    Hydrogeological Response to Longwall Mining

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    C1403301/10/2007
    Author: Hua Guo, DP Adhikary, D Gaveva | CSIRO Exploration & Mining

    Reliable prediction and management of mining induced water inflows and aquifer interference is a major emerging challenge confronting the industry. The Australian coal mining industry is facing intense public and political scrutiny and hence is required to operate with unprecedented ....  read more

     

    Impact of Mine Subsidence on Threatened Ecological Communities

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    C2201901/06/2015
    Author: Paul Frazier | Eco Logical Australia

    The aim of this project was to develop and implement integrated remote sensing and field survey to quantify the impacts of longwall mine subsidence (LWMS) on Bluegrass and Brigalow, Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC). The methods and results are anticipated to permit broader extrapolation ....  read more

     

    Impacts of Mine Subsidence on the Strata & Hydrology of River Valleys - Management for Undermining Cliffs Gorges & River Systems

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    C906716/09/2020
    Author: Arthur Waddington | Waddington & Associates

    THIS REPORT IS PROVIDED AS A SET, COMPRISING C8005, C9067 & C18015

    ACARP Has funded work since March 1999, in order to gain a better understanding of the impacts of underground coal mining on creeks, river valleys, gorges and clifflines. The research work was funded in two stages and the ....  read more

     

    Impacts of Mine Subsidence on the Strata & Hydrology of River Valleys: Management for Undermining Cliffs, Gorges & River Systems

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    C800516/09/2020
    Author: Arthur Waddington, Don Kay | Waddington Kay and Associates

    THIS REPORT IS PROVIDED AS A SET, COMPRISING C8005, C9067 & C18015

    Since March 1999, original research work has been carried out to study the impacts of underground coal mining on creeks, river valleys, gorges and clifflines.

    Numerous longwall extractions have already been ....  read more

     

    Monitoring Ground Subsidence due to Underground Mining Using Integrated Space Geodetic Techniques

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    C1102901/04/2004
    Author: Linlin Ge, Michael Hsing-Chung Chang, Chris Rizos | University of NSW

    Mine subsidence is the lowering or collapse of the land surface, caused by underground mining activity. Mine subsidence is of major concern to the coal mining industry, government regulators, and environmental groups.

    Subsidence is currently monitored by repeated ground survey ....  read more

     

    Monitoring Surface Condition of Upland Swamps Subject To Mining Subsidence with Very High-resolution Imagery

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    C2004610/07/2014
    Author: Andrew Fletcher and Peter Erskine | University of Queensland

    The project investigated the potential of small UAV platforms to capture imagery of the shrub swamp communities to develop monitoring tools for detecting change in condition and composition that may be correlated to the impacts of longwall underground mining.

    The project demonstrated ....  read more

     

    Monitoring the Effect of Longwall Mine Subsidence on Native Vegetation and Agricultural Environments

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    C1501321/01/2010
    Author: Paul Frazier, Ross Jenkins, Tieneke Trotter | Ecological Australia

    The aim of this project was to develop methods and tools to assist the coal industry to better monitor the consequences of longwall mine subsidence (LWMS) on surface environments.  The project focus was to improve monitoring quality and potentially reduce costs through the incorporation of ....  read more

     

    Reducing Brine Volume through Membrane Distillation Crystalliser

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    C2803031/03/2022
    Author: Ramesh Thiruvenkatachari and Michael Cunnington | CSIRO

    Mines prioritise their water use strategies not just because it is a limited shared resource, but also to achieve environmentally safe discharge after use. Water treatment is already adopted in various coal mines and a greater emphasis is placed by the Government for more water treatment and ....  read more

     

    Reducing the Impact of Longwall Extraction on Groundwater Systems

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    C1801601/04/2012
    Author: Deepak Adhikary, Andy Wilkins | CSIRO

    The Australian coal mining industry is under increasingly intense public and political scrutiny because its license to operate is linked with unprecedented social and environmental accountability. Much of this accountability is associated with water management to ensure that the mine operations ....  read more

     

    Regional Ground Movement on Bedding Planes and Potential Impacts to Groundwater

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    C3301512/10/2023
    Author: Ken Mills | SCT Operations

    Bedding plane shears are horizons within rock strata along which sliding movements occur. They develop as a result of natural processes but can be remobilised, or even created, by differential ground movements associated with subsidence from mining. Their low strength in shear and lateral ....  read more

     

    Remediation of Saline Water from Coal Mining

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    C1001301/05/2002
    Author: Bruce Firth, Russell Taylor, Richard Hannink, Mike O'Brien | CSIRO Energy Technology, CSIRO Manufacturing Science and Technology

    The overall objective of this scoping study is the identification of an affordable process which will treat the typical saline water produced by the coal industry. The process may produce water of quality suitable for use or discharge and provide a disposal solution for the contained salts. ....  read more

     

    Review of Industry Subsidence Data in Relation to the Influence of Overburden Lithology on Subsidence and an Initial Assessment of a Sub-Surface Fracturing Model for Groundwater Analysis

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    C1002301/09/2003
    Author: Steven Ditton, Russell Frith | Strata Engineering Australia

    A detailed review of available mine subsidence data collected over longwall panels within the Newcastle Coalfield and an empirical subsidence prediction methodology has been developed by Strata Engineering (Australia) Pty Ltd.

    The subsidence review included the collation of ....  read more

     

    Site Trial and Demonstration of Integrated Forward and Reverse Osmosis for Mine Water Reuse

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    C2705201/11/2020
    Author: Ramesh Thiruvenkatachari, Xin Xiang Yu, Michael Cunnington, Shi Su | CSIRO

    The forward osmosis (FO) process, also known as direct osmosis, is an emerging membrane technology for water reuse and desalination. The driving force for the FO process is the osmotic gradient between the two solutions on either side of the membrane, which induces the water permeation across ....  read more

     

    Southern Coalfield Coal Washery Reject (CWR) Characterisation and Classification, including management strategies for applications in Civil Engineering

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    C2901626/06/2023
    Author: Elyssa De Carli, Ben Tarrant, Chris Meikle | SLR Consulting Australia

    With growing emphasis on Environment, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) across the Australian coal mining sector, there is opportunity to reduce the disposal of Coal Washery Rejects (CWR) and increase its beneficial use as an economic resource in both mining and municipal construction and ....  read more

     

    Standardised Subsidence Information Management System

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    C2003820/02/2020
    Author: Gang Li, Robert Pâquet, John Perceval, Phil Steuart and Ray Ramage | NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

    As an empirically-based discipline of engineering/science, subsidence engineering and its related risk assessment/management practices rely on the nature, quality, quantity and extent of subsidence monitoring data and, importantly, how the collected data are organised so that it can be ....  read more

     

    Swamp hydrology modelling for advancing rehabilitation planning and management

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    C2705930/09/2022
    Author: Mandana Shaygan, Thomas Baumgartl | The University of Queensland

    Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS) consist of both ephemeral (natural ephemeral) and permanent swamps, which are a distinctive feature of highlands in the Sydney Basin Bioregion. These swamps support distinctive vegetation which rely on high soil water content and organic ....  read more

     

    Techniques to Predict and Measure Subsidence and Its Impacts on the Groundwater Regime above Shallow Longwalls

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    C1300901/03/2006
    Author: Ross Seedsman, Andrew Dawkins | Seedsman Geotechnics, Geoterra

    This project investigated cracking associated with shallow longwalls using case studies from Beltana and Crinum Mines. The project trialed a number of techniques to measure the onset of subsidence and its impacts in terms of cracking.

    The combination of tilt meters attached ....  read more

     

    The Inclusion of High Interest Native Plants in Mine Site Restoration Programs: Propagation, Translocation and Field Re-introduction

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    C2401301/09/2019
    Author: Nathan Emery, Catherine Offord | Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney

    The comprehensive research conducted throughout both stages of this project culminated in the first translocation trial on a mining lease for two Endangered Persoonia species. Both Persoonia hindii and Persoonia hirsuta are a critical component to post-mining ....  read more

     

    The Prediction of Mining Induced Movements in Building Structures and the Development of Improved Methods of Subsidence Impact Assessment

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    C1201517/11/2014
    Author: Arthur Waddington | Mine Subsidence Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd

    Original research work has been underway since March 2003, in order to gain a better understanding of the impacts of underground coal mining on building structures.

    The major aims of this research project were to develop improved methods of assessing the likely damage to building ....  read more

     

    Tracer Gas to Measure Vertical Overburden Conductivity Above Extraction Panels

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    C1501026/05/2008
    Author: Yvette Heritage, Winton Gale | SCT Operations Pty Ltd

    Longwall coal mining at shallow depths has many mining and environmental issues related to subsidence.  The issues range from mining impacts caused by ventilation and spontaneous combustion to environmental impacts created from the release of goaf gas and hydrological issues.  A ....  read more

     

    Understanding the Biology and Ecology of Vulnerable Plant Species: Case Study with Tetratheca Juncea occurring over Coal Leases

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    C801201/06/2001
    Author: David Mulligan, Sean Bellairs, FV Bartier, CL Gross, D Bowen | University of Queensland, University of New England

    Tetratheca juncea Smith (Tremandraceae) is a vulnerable species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (Schedule 2, TSC Act 1995), and in the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The species occurs on the central coast of New South Wales ....  read more

     

    Utilising Flyash Paste Backfill

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    C703301/08/2001
    Author: Mike Gowan | Golder Associates

    Society is in transition to a policy of sustainability - a long term approach that emphasises the efficient use of resources. To continue in business and minimise the negative commercial impacts of Government policies and taxes, industry has to engage its stakeholders and develop technologies ....  read more

     

    Water Tracer Tools for Optimisation of Water Management for Coal Mines

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    C2802401/05/2022
    Author: Wendy Timms, Devmi Kurukulasuriya, Bill Howcroft and Karina Meredith | Deakin University, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

    This project provides practical information and demonstration of water tracers used in the mining industry, with a particular focus on underground coal mining. Water tracers can contribute to reducing risks during mining operations, provide valuable information to reduce and mitigate ....  read more

     

    Underground

    Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

    Recently Completed Projects

    C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

    This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

    C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

    The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

    C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

    The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

    Underground

    Open Cut

    Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

    Recently Completed Projects

    C33035High Water Recovery, Low Cost Desalination Using PV-Powered Membrane Capacitive Deionisation (Mcdi)

    Capacitive deionization is a robust, energy efficient and cost effec...

    C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

    The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

    C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

    Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

    Open Cut

    Coal Preparation

    Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

    Coal Preparation

    Technical Market Support

    Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

    Recently Completed Projects

    C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

    Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

    C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

    This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

    C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

    The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

    Technical Market Support

    Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

    Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

    Recently Completed Projects

    C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

    This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

    C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

    Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

    C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

    This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

    Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

    Low Emission Coal Use

    Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    Recently Completed Projects

    C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

    Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

    C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

    The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

    C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

    This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

    Low Emission Coal Use

    Mining And The Community

    The relationship between mines and the local community.

    Recently Completed Projects

    C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

    The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

    C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

    The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

    C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

    This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

    Mining And The Community

    NERDDC

    National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

    Recently Completed Projects

    1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

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    1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

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    0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

    Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

    NERDDC