Projects

The underground methane drainage network consists of many kilometres of pipelines through which methane is discharged to the surface from the extraction points. The pipelines are under negative pressure generated in the methane drainage station located on the surface of the mine. To properly regulate the intake and flow of gas, measurements are taken daily both on the main (trunk) pipelines and inside the regions at the methane intake points. At present, only control measurements are taken manually by qualified workers (surveyors) with a frequency of once a day.

The project to visualise the underground methane drainage network covers the main methane pipelines in all JSW S.A. mines. It comprises 60 measurement points where measurements of methane concentration in the captured gas, depression, temperature of the captured gas and flow rate are performed automatically. This online data is sent to the surface and, via a central data analysis system, is available to those responsible for the methane drainage process.

Work is currently underway as part of the MASTERMINE project, co-financed by the EU, to extend the underground methane drainage network with measurement and control points. By automating the monitoring and control process, they will allow a real-time response to atmospheric pressure fluctuations, which have a direct impact on the amount of methane released from the rock mass.