Destruction of underground methane at Beatrix Gold Mine

摘要

Beatrix Gold Mine, a deep level gold mine in the Free State province of South Africa, has the highest methane emission rate of any gold mine in the country. Methane is emitted from underground sources intersected during mining operations and is liberated into the general mine atmosphere. The total methane emission rate for the mine is of the order of 1600 l/s and the South section of the mine emits approximately 1 0001/s of methane gas. The mine has a history of gas accumulations which have led to a number of underground explosions. Following the last explosion in 2001 and the subsequent investigation, a number of recommendations were made. Two o( these were to consider extracting the underground mine methane to render the mine atmosphere sale, and to declare hazardous locations that require special operating procedures. A number of such workplaces have now been declared at the South section of the mine.