Applications of advanced underground in-seam directional drilling for gas drainage

摘要

In-seam directional drilling technologies have been widely used worldwide for pre-draining gas from coal seams for the purpose of mining safety, energy recovery and gas emission mitigation.This paper provides a critical overview of the state of the art of this technology development and describes the applications of advanced in-seam drilling in various mining and seam conditions in Australian and Chinese coal mines.The drilling environments and limiting factors, particularly in boggy conditions, are discussed.The importance of effectively managing drilling site ventilation is also highlighted by referring to a specific case.