Hydrogen as an indicator of geodynamic processes in coal-bearing strata

Abstract

Formulation of the problem. The problem of developing and implementing exploration technology that will ensure the protection of mine workings and prevent catastrophes in the development of coal deposits is especially relevant now, when the issue of environmental protection and safety at coal mines is very acute.

Analysis of recent research and publications. The idea of degassing of the Earth as a global process of its self-organization was developed by V.I. Vernadsky in a number of works published in 1911, 1912, 1924. This concept has had and continues to have a powerful growing influence on modern Earth sciences. The idea of the key role of hydrogen in degassing of the Earth is developed in the works of V.M. Larin, F.A. Letnykov, А.А. Marakushev, V.V. Khmelyovska, A.V. Shcherbakov, N.D. Kozlova, Yu.A. Kolyasnikov, V.M. Shestopalov, V.I. Starostenko, A.N. Ponomarenko.

The purpose of the article is: analysis of the current state of coal mining in Ukraine and in the world as a whole; substantiation of the possibility of using the technology of safe search for hydrogen in minefield development zones.

Presentation of the main research material. The new development of safe exploration technology for coal deposits, proposed by the authors, will allow to track in advance, to identify places of possible manifestations of gas-dynamic phenomena and to make operational decisions to eliminate them. The technology is based on the use of exploratory gas-geochemical methods for mapping the places of gas-hydrogen accumulations and together with a set of geological and geophysical methods allows to allocate areas of possible emergency processes in the development zones of mine fields. On a large massif of field work of areal and profile surveys, the feasibility of using search technology has been proven to justify the use of advance degassing wells to prevent uncontrolled explosive processes and technical disasters. The proposed technology has been tested at numerous mining sites in the process of exploration and environmental research in areas of operating and developed mine fields.

Conclusions. For the first time in the world practice, new approaches were proposed and substantiated to change the safety paradigm of coal mining, which will prevent the manifestations of unpredictable GDP and the associated material and human losses.

Analysis of the results of a complex of fundamental and applied research at coal mining facilities allows, according to the proposed technology, to identify and map the studied areas of abnormal hydrogen concentrations, their characteristics and use it as reliable markers for operational decisions for safe mining by laying advance degassing wells, which will ultimately make emergency GDP impossible.

The expediency of application of the proposed technology for substantiation and allocation of geodynamic active and stable zones and blocks promising for industrial exploration of hydrocarbons, determining the locations of possible manifestations of GDP and complex making operative decisions for safety of mining works is proved. And, unfortunately, the research carried out by scientists and the results obtained have not yet found worthy support from the President of Ukraine, state line ministries, commercial structures and the Academy of Sciences.