Control of coal and gas outbursts in Huainan mines in China: A review

Coal extraction in Huainan area is basically characterized by one of typical multi-seam mining conditions observed in China, where coal is mined in soft seams characterized by high gas content, high stress, low permeability and difficult geological conditions. The average mining depth in Huainan area is 875 m and continues to increase by 15-25 m annually. The rise in mining depth increases the risk of coal and gas outbursts and makes it more difficult to control outburst risk in Huainan coalmines. This paper reviews the main achievements(e.g. theories, technologies and equipment) in outburst control in Huainan, and tries to analyze some key challenging issues, and to present associated strategies to address these issues.It suggests that the outburst control in Huainan must take a combination approach of both regional and localized control in which the former plays a dominant role. Other outburst prevention principles include(1) non-outburst seams protecting outburst seams,(2) less outburst-prone seams protecting strong outburst-prone seams,(3) stress-releasing mining, and(4) the combination of ground and underground gas drainage(the model is dubbed as "walking on two legs"). The paper concludes that we should conduct fundamental researches on outburst mechanism, and develop outburst control technologies and equipment to ensure safe and efficient coal mining of deep coal resources in Huainan area.