Case study of hydraulic fracturing for coal burst risk mitigation

Abstract Coal bursts pose significant safety and operational challenges in deep mining environments, necessitating effective mitigation strategies to address high-stress concentrations and dynamic failure risks. This study evaluated the efficacy of hydraulic fracturing as a preconditioning tool at a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hongpu Kang, Yongxue Xia, Meihua Feng, Chuang Lu, Fuqiang Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Coal Science & Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-025-00812-2
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Summary:Abstract Coal bursts pose significant safety and operational challenges in deep mining environments, necessitating effective mitigation strategies to address high-stress concentrations and dynamic failure risks. This study evaluated the efficacy of hydraulic fracturing as a preconditioning tool at a longwall face of the Mengcun coal mine with strong coal bursts, Shaanxi Province. The program involved the systematic creation of a fracture network through high-pressure fluid injection, monitored via microseismic arrays, stress measurements, and hydrological sensors. Results demonstrated that hydraulic fracturing effectively redistributed in-situ stresses, reducing high-stress concentrations by up to 30%, lowering the frequency of high-energy microseismic events, and enhancing the stability of fractured zones. However, the presence of unfractured blind spots and interactions with pre-existing faults highlighted the need for optimized well placement and adaptive fracturing designs. These findings underscore the potential of hydraulic fracturing as a critical preconditioning tool in high-stress mining operations, which could provide a framework for improving safety and efficiency in similar geological and operational settings.
ISSN:2095-8293
2198-7823