P01: Coal Seam Miming: a new frontier for advanced real-time modeling with deep azimuthal resistivity

The longwall-mining method is a continuous mining system that was developed for mining coal deposits (uniform in thickness and slope), where the overburden pressures may crush support pillars and for improving productivity. This method relies on the complete extraction of the coal in a designated area referred to as a panel (of solid coal). As the panel is mined, complete subsidence or caving of the overlying rock strata occurs into the mined-out area behind the working mine face. Prior to mining the panel, degasification is a mandatory process to extract gas in the coal seams. In order to maximize the coal seam understanding and minimize the number of side-tracks, anovel methodology in the mining industry has been implemented - utilising azimuthal propagation resistivity (APR), multi-layer inversion with uncertainty analysis and real-time 3D structural reservoir modelling.

The bed boundary mapping also allows for the future development of automated long wall mining. The automated system uses specialized remote guidance technology to continuously steer the longwall equipment by plotting its position in three dimensions, removing personnel directly from hazards and thereby increasing the safety of the process.