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Application of Large-Scale Hydraulic Fracturing for Reducing Mining-Induced Stress and Microseismic Events: A Comprehensive Case Study

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Abstract

Roof strata control is crucial to production safety in underground coal mines. In this study, a field trial was carried out involving large-scale hydraulic fracturing (LHF) to weaken strong, hard-to-cave rock strata above a longwall panel in an underground coal mine. Comprehensive monitoring was performed to monitor the generated hydraulic fractures, mining-induced pressure, periodic roof weighting, and microseismic events. The results suggest that LHF greatly promotes the caving of strong, hard-to-cave roofs behind the longwall face, which results in many favorable outcomes including a significant reduction of the periodic roof weighting (PRW) interval and likelihood of a long PRW duration. The PRW intensity is also dramatically mitigated on the longwall face, and the strong dynamic load pressures resulting from the massive roof rupture are largely eliminated. More importantly, LHF can significantly release mining-induced stress and alleviate microseismic events resulting from the fracturing of thick, strong rock strata above the gob area of a longwall panel. This approach shows promise as an efficient measure for the ground control of longwall entries and prevention of coal bursts.

Highlights

  • A field trial was carried out using large-scale hydraulic fracturing to weaken strong overlying rock strata in an underground coal mine.

  • Large-scale hydraulic fracturing in long directional drilling boreholes can generate highly expanded hydraulic fractures.

  • Large-scale hydraulic fracturing promotes the caving of strong, hard-to-cave roofs.

  • Large-scale hydraulic fracturing can release mining-induced stress and alleviate microseismic events.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 52074154, 51927807).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CCTEG Coal Mining Research Institute, Beijing, China

    Hongpu Kang, Pengfei Jiang, Yanjun Feng, Fuqiang Gao, Zhen Zhang & Xiaogang Liu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Coal Mining and Clean Utilization (China Coal Research Institute), Beijing, China

    Hongpu Kang, Pengfei Jiang, Yanjun Feng, Fuqiang Gao, Zhen Zhang & Xiaogang Liu

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  1. Hongpu Kang
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  2. Pengfei Jiang
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  3. Yanjun Feng
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  4. Fuqiang Gao
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Correspondence to Hongpu Kang.

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Kang, H., Jiang, P., Feng, Y. et al. Application of Large-Scale Hydraulic Fracturing for Reducing Mining-Induced Stress and Microseismic Events: A Comprehensive Case Study. Rock Mech Rock Eng 56, 1399–1413 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-03061-w

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