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Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE A

ISSN 1673-565X(Print), 1862-1775(Online), Monthly

Soviet experience of underground coal gasification focusing on surface subsidence

Abstract: Global coal mining activity is increasing due to demands for cheap energy and the availability of large coal deposits around the world; however, the risks associated with conventional coal mining activities remain relatively high. Underground coal gasification (UCG), also known as in-situ coal gasification (ISCG) is a promising alternative method of accessing energy resources derived from coal. UCG is a physical-chemical-geotechnical method of coal mining that has several advantages over traditional mining, for example, its applicability in areas where conventional mining methods are not suitable and the reduction of hazards associated with working underground. The main disadvantages of UCG are the possibility of underground water pollution and surface subsidence. This work is focused on the latter issue. A thorough understanding of subsidence issues is a crucial step to implement UCG on a wide scale. Scientists point out the scarce available data on strata deformations resulting from UCG. The former Soviet Union countries have a long history of developing the science related to UCG and experimenting with its application. However, the Soviet development occurred in relative isolation and this makes a modern review of the Soviet experience valuable. There are some literature sources dealing with Soviet UCG projects; however, they are neither up-to-date nor focus on aspects that are of particular importance to surface subsidence, including geological profiles, strata physical-mechanical properties, thermal properties of geomaterials, and temperature spreading. The goal of this work is to increase the knowledge on these aspects in the English-speaking science community.

Key words: Underground coal gasification (UCG), Surface subsidence, Thermal properties of geomaterial, Coal mining, Soviet coal basin

Chinese Summary  <30> 综述前苏联关于地表沉陷的煤炭地下气化经验

概要:1. 相比于传统的煤矿开采方法,煤炭地下气化的适用范围更广,但同时也可能引起地下水污染和地表沉陷。2. 前苏联在煤炭地下气化方面拥有一段很长的研究和使用历史,由于当时的国际环境,前苏联的研究相对比较封闭,所以对其研究成果的综述目前仍然很有价值。3. 综述了不同煤层参数(如煤层深度、倾斜度、高度、宽度、含灰量和地质剖面等)和气化燃烧相关参数(如岩土材料导热性、热损耗、热冲击和体积变化等)与地表沉陷的相关性研究。

关键词组:煤炭地下气化;地表沉陷;岩土材料热性能;煤矿开采;苏联煤田


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DOI:

10.1631/jzus.A1500013

CLC number:

TD73

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On-line Access:

2015-10-01

Received:

2015-01-13

Revision Accepted:

2015-06-12

Crosschecked:

2015-09-15

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