Hydrogeological Classification and Water Inrush Accidents in China's Coal Mines

In 2012, China's State Administration of Coal Mine Safety conducted a reconnaissance and statistical analysis to better understand and characterize water inrush accidents in China's coal mines. Data collected from 12,985 mines from 26 provinces and municipalities were used to study each mine's hydrogeological classification, water content coefficient, and the level of effort being spent in preventing and controlling these accidents. Analysis of the water inrush accidents in these mines suggests that their likelihood reflects a mine's hydrogeological characteristics, and that they can be controlled by professionals who are specifically trained for mine water prevention and emergency responses. In terms of hydrogeological complexity, there were 78 extremely complex coal mines, 827 complex mines, 4141 moderately complex mines, and 6458 relatively simple mines. Advances in mine water control and management methods and techniques and implementation of safety standards and regulations have significantly reduced the number of people killed per ton of coal produced, but analysis of the 2013 water hazard accidents indicates that continued effort is needed to better understand hydrogeological classification and implement safe procedures in water prospecting and dewatering.