“Current collaborative research projects in coal mining costing $30 million are in progress, and cover coal exploration, safety, mine productivity and environmental management,” said Cliff Mallett, CSIRO.

“The workshop looks at strategic policies in Japan and Australia as they affect coal mining, and priorities for collaborative research. Progress in existing projects will be reported. A highlight of the workshop will be the major session which will present the results of a 5 year, $4.3 million study into methods to control goaf gas flows into mine workings.

Mallett said this study, carried out with the operators of Dartbrook Mine, has developed techniques which have successfully controlled gas flows on the face with considerable savings to the mine. The techniques are being applied in other areas for a range of applications such as inertisation of goafs and control of spontaneous combustion, as well as gas management.

Presentations will cover new CFD gas flow modelling, tracer studies showing gas flow paths in goafs and roof strata, designing gas drainage, and the analysis of roof strata behaviour in longwalls using a range of monitoring, microseismic and other geophysical techniques. The workshop is supported by ACARP to ensure the outcomes of the projects are made available to the Australian mining industry.

Speakers include: Mr K Ando, JCOAL; NEDO - Mr.T.Takeuchi, Director General;

Discussing the topic, Overseas Cooperation Projects on Coal Mine Safety, will be JCOAL’s Dr G Deguchi. Dr R Balusu, (CSIRO) will present a paper entitled: “Goaf gas flow mechanics and development of gas and sponcom control strategies at highly gassy coal mine.”

Other Australian speakers are Dr M Wendt, CSIRO, on “CFD Modelling of Longwall Ventilation and Drainage”, Dr S Xue, CSIRO, on “Application of tracer gas technique in goaf gas flow study at Dartbrook mine.”

The research in coal mining technology session will include: Mr H Hirasawa, “Overview of Coal Mine Gas Projects Conducted by JCOAL”

Discussing Integrated Simulation of Deep Coal Seam Mining – Optimisation of Mining and Gas Management will be Dr H Guo, CSIRO and Mr N Ishihara, JCOAL.

Dr K Ohga, Hokkaido University will talk on “Utilisation of CMM and CO2 Injection into Closed Mines”

Mick Kelly, CSIRO will provide an update on the Rapid Roadway Development project overview.

Mr N Sumida (JCOAL) will discuss “Technical Cooperation for Open Cut Coal Mine Rehabilitation.”

The workshop concludes with a panel discussion on “Coal Mine Methane.”

For further information contact: Dr Cliff Mallett, CSIRO Exploration and Mining, cliff.mallett@csiro.au.