Blind Shaft Development--SDI Breaks new ground in shaft development and ground stabilization

摘要

Advancements in shaft development techniques are reducing completion times and costs for coal mine operators. Shafts serve multiple purposes for underground mining. They are primarily used for ventilation and transporting men and materials. Other uses include production shafts to get coal to the surface, and smaller diameter shafts have found niche uses for utility conduits, dewatering systems, degasification, and emergency escape-ways. One of the more popular shaft development methods, blind shaft development, uses reverse circulation technology. Shaft Drillers International (SDI) leads the way with the use of blind shaft development and, over the course of the last 25 years, the company has gained a considerable amount of experience.