Numerical Simulation of Abandoned Gob Methane Drainage through Surface Vertical Wells

PLoS One. 2015 May 8;10(5):e0125963. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125963. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The influence of the ventilation system on the abandoned gob weakens, so the gas seepage characteristics in the abandoned gob are significantly different from those in a normal mining gob. In connection with this, this study physically simulated the movement of overlying rock strata. A spatial distribution function for gob permeability was derived. A numerical model using FLUENT for abandoned gob methane drainage through surface wells was established, and the derived spatial distribution function for gob permeability was imported into the numerical model. The control range of surface wells, flow patterns and distribution rules for static pressure in the abandoned gob under different well locations were determined using the calculated results from the numerical model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coal
  • Coal Mining
  • Drainage
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Methane / chemistry*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Water Wells

Substances

  • Coal
  • Methane

Grants and funding

Financial support for this work was provided by Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 51404257]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2014QNB39], [2014XT01]; Jiangsu Province Science Foundation for Youths [BK20140207], [BK20141131]; State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Mine Safety of China [SKLCRSM13X06]; Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions [SZBF2011-6-B35]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.