Factors involved in evaluating ground water impacts of deep coal mine drainage. [Pumping tests of wells drilled into the coal seam and development of mathematical models; detailed discussion]

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Water Resour. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5687531

Davis, P R; Walton, W C

The determination of probable ground water impacts of proposed deep coal mining is required as part of permit applications. Impact prediction generally involves well production test analysis and modeling of ground water systems associated with coal seams. Well production tests are often complicated due to the relatively low permeabilities of sandstones and shales of ground water systems. The effects of the release of water stored within finite diameter production wells must be considered. Well storage capacity appreciably affects early well production test time drawdown or time recovery data. Low pumping rates, limited cones of depression, and length of required pumping periods are important well production test design factors. Coal seam ground water system models are usually multilayered and leaky artesian. Mine shafts partially penetrate the ground water system. Simulation of coal mine drainage often involves the horizontal permeability and storage coefficient of the coal seam zone, vertical permeablities of sandstones and shales (aquifer) above and below the coal seam zone, and the hydrologic properties of the source bed above the aquifer overlying the coal seam zone. Ground water level declines in both the coal seam zone and source bed near land surface are necessary factors in impact analysis. An example of evaluation studies in southwest Indiana will illustrate factors involved in deep coal mine drainage modeling efforts.

• Research Organization: Geraghty and Miller, Inc., Champaign, IL
• OSTI ID: 5687531
• Journal Information: Water Resour. Bull.; (United States), Vol. 18:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GROUND WATER
WATER QUALITY
UNDERGROUND MINING
PERMIT APPLICATIONS
WATER WELLS
EVALUATION
COAL MINING
COAL SEAMS
HYDROLOGY
INDIANA
PERMEABILITY
SANDSTONES
STRUCTURAL MODELS
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
COAL DEPOSITS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
WATER
WELLS
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
520300 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1989)
012000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Mining