A case study of floor failure characteristics under fully mechanised caving mining conditions in extra-thick coal seams

To determine the failure characteristics and evolution regularity of the floor strata during fully mechanised top-coal cave mining in typical deep and extra-thick seams in western China, the 61303 working face of an Ordos mine was selected as the engineering research object. A comprehensive monitoring method combining a BOTDR (Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflection) distributed fiber strain test and a borehole resistivity CT (Computerised Tomography) test was adopted. The results show that floor stress distribution of the deep-buried and extra-thick coal seam is significantly affected by the different depths of rock lithology. At the interface of the rock strata with a large difference in the elastic modulus, phenomena such as the asynchronism of strata movement and obvious differences in failure easily occur. The failure depth of the floor strata in the 61303 working face is approximately 15.90 m, and the influence depth of the floor disturbance is approximately 32.70 m. Under the influence of the mining pressure, floor stress distribution and crack evolution have obvious spatial and temporal effects. In different inclined boreholes, the data captured by the cable have different values and the fracture locations of the cable also differ. Compared with a single borehole, multiple boreholes with different inclinations, directions and locations can provide more comprehensive and reliable data trends. The knowledge obtained by this monitoring can provide reference information for the study of floor damage under similar conditions and the formulation of technical measures such as those that prevent mine water disasters.

Cuttings Transport Simulation in Large-Diameter Inclined Borehole

An Eulerian mixture model of the two-phase flow was used for cuttings transport simulation. The model was tested using experimental data for particles transport in pipes. Three types of problem statements were analyzed: steady-state flow, non-stationary flow in a short-length channel with periodic boundary conditions, and non-stationary flow in a long channel. Simulation of cuttings transport by Herschel-Bulkley fluid through an inclined 21-inch borehole/–6.5-inch drillpipe annulus was performed. All problem statements showed very close results, even for unsteady flow. These results demonstrated the applicability of 2D steady-state problem formulation for cuttings transport simulation. The unsteady flow was observed for an inclination of less than 20 degrees. Slow downward sliding of cuttings in the lower part of inclined boreholes was observed simultaneously with upstream dunes movement. Drill pipe rotation significantly decreased the cuttings concentration and pressure gradient, and shifted the maximum cuttings transport downward sliding rate from a 20- to 40-degree inclination.

Assessing shale mineral composition: From lab to seismic scale

Shales have always been a difficult target for drilling of deviated and horizontal wells. In the presence of azimuthal stress fields, inclined boreholes in smectite-rich shales exhibit geomechanical instabilities and can result in borehole failure. The complex geology of the major gas fields in the Northern Carnarvon Basin on the North West Shelf of Australia makes it necessary to drill deviated wells through the smectite-rich shale seal extending more than 1 km in thickness. Predicting the mineralogical composition of shales in the area is therefore crucial for the success of drilling operations related to hydrocarbon exploration and production. Here we introduce a novel workflow that combines seismic data, well logs, and laboratory measurements to rapidly infer smectite content in shale. The workflow is applied to the Duyfken 3D seismic survey in the central part of the Northern Carnarvon Basin. The results of our quantitative interpretation are verified against the laboratory X-ray diffraction measurements from the test well that was not used for interpretation, and they match the test data well within the determined uncertainty bounds.

Model and Method for a Time-Efficient Analysis of Lateral Drillstring Dynamics

The lumped parameter model and numerical method proposed in this paper aim at gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to harmful lateral drillstring vibrations in inclined boreholes. The shooting method is applied to the equations of motion in order to skip transients and to arrive quickly at a steady state solution. In combination with a sequential continuation technique, parameter maps are generated that show regions where harmful vibrations can be avoided. Comparisons to a finite element model show that the steady state is predicted accurately, while consuming only a fraction of the computational time. The proposed model is experimentally validated on a test rig. Special emphasis is put upon the evaluation of contact forces and the frequency content of the signals. The presented investigations create the basis for real-time analysis of drillstring dynamics and can be used to give recommendations to adjust operational parameters.