Prevention of coal mine drainage formation by well dewatering
Large quantities of ground-water may be encountered in deep coal mines which must be treated to meet water-quality standards before being discharged. Source beds supplying leakage to deep mines may be dewatered during and after mining under favorable hydrogeologic conditions to prevent pollution, thereby minimizing treatment costs and improving working conditions. Requisite hydrologeologic data to determine the feasibility of dewatering may be obtained during the coal exploration program provided that both hydrogeologic and coal exploration programs are planned in advance and coordinated. Hydrogeologic data required include the spatial distribution, thickness, and geometry of aquifer and non-aquifer units; hydraulic boundaries that either restrict the flow of ground-water, stratigraphic pinchouts, fault offsets, erosional unconformities, or serve as recharge sources, channel sandstones, flooded deep mines, fractured roofrock etc.; permeability and storage distribution; infiltration capacity of streambed sediments; vertical permeability of confining beds; and hydraulic heads among and between various aquifer and non-aquifer units. The cost of dewatering can be significantly less than the cost of treating mine waters. Not all mines will be suited for dewatering. Favorable and unfavorable conditions are outlined.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Geology and Geophysics
- OSTI ID:
- 5327112
- Report Number(s):
- SR-82
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
MANAGEMENT
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
PENNSYLVANIA
PROCESSING
REMOVAL
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER REMOVAL