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HYDROGEOLOGICAL MONITORING OF COAL STRIP MINE, PK "DRMNO" CASE STUDY

M. Pusic, V. Marinkovic, A. Avramovic, S. Pesic, M. Radojica

Abstract

Coal bed “Drmno” encompasses the area of 60 km2, and total reserves are estimated to 608·106 tons. The coal is being exploited by mine stripping method, and the capacity was 6·106 tons in 2007. Coal layer, with average thickness of 16 m, relatively uniformly sinks from the terrain surface, at the east of the bed, towards west and north, with average slope of about 6°. Coal depth ranges from 35 m, from eastern front advance point, to 100 m, in the western front point. Coal exploitation is impeded by water-bearing character of roof sediments. The problem of the present groundwater is dealt by the system of well lines (presently, about 190 wells are active), while the water exiting from the slopes of mine floors is evacuated by the system of shallow channels. In the previous period, quality monitoring of groundwater, drainage system and the effect of their functioning did not exist. In the last two years, monitoring (piesometric) network was formed in the zone of the whole coal bed. Well operating regime, levels and elements of groundwater balance are systematically recorded. The floor of the mine front advance is regularly recorded geodetically. For the purpose of monitoring, presentation and analysis of mine water content, a hydrogeological 3D mine model is formed. Registered data are interpreted and presented in the form of maps, profiles and 3D presentations with time interval of one month. This concept of acquiring and presenting the status of mine water content has various advantages: 1) insight into the realistic state of groundwater in the mine, that enables comparison with project requirements; 2) if necessary, it is possible to urgently intervene at the existing drainage system; 3) it is possible to analyze the existing system and make corrections for the purpose of its rationalization and optimization. The existing monitoring system is amended with suitable hydrodynamic model, which closes the technological scheme of monitoring, managing and planning of coal strip mine “Drmno” groundwater dewatering.

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