Unit II

Bord and pillar method

(Depillaring)

(Contents)

2.1 Preparatory arrangements to be done before depillaring.

2.2 Types of pillar extraction method.

2.3 Procedure of Goaf treatment.

It is the second phase of operation in B/P extraction method. After the pillars
have been formed on bord and pillar system, consideration has to be given to the
extraction of coal from the pillar; the operation is known as pillar extraction. It is also
referred as depillaring, pillar cutting or broken working .
In a method of depillaring, known as the caving method, the coal of the pillars
is extracted and the roof is allowed to break and collapse into the voids or the
decoaled area, known as Goaf. As the roof strata above the coal seam break, the
ground surface develop cracks and subsides, the extent of damage depending upon
the depth, thickness of seam extracted the nature of strata thickness of subsoil and
effect of drag by faults.

 Types of Depillaring
1. By Caving
2. By full Stowing
3. By Partial Stowing
4. Partial Extraction
5. BGM (Blasting Gallery Method)
 2.1.1 Preparatory arrangements before
depillaring
Before undertaking depillaring operations, permission has to be obtained from the
DGMS in all cases, from the railways if the operations are likely to affect a railway, and from
the district authorities if District Board roads or other buildings are affected. Diversion of
railway, stream, road, power transmission lines, telephone lines, aerial ropeway, etc. has
also to be considered. Rehabilitation should receive attention. All these arrangements take
1-2 years.

 Legal permission
 The preparatory arrangements before depillaring starts with the first legal
permission i.e. first requirement of depillaring are the legal permission by DGMS.
 We have to apply DGMS regional inspector in a proper manner that we want to
depillar a panel along with 2 copies of updated plan of the panel.
 Permission from local administration.
 Permission from railway department if the railway line passes over the property
(Mines).
 Notice of permission from forest and environment.
 Notice send to neighbouring mines.
 Updating plan and section if required.
 Planning of depillaring method
 Manner or sequence of extraction
 Line of extraction
 Treatment of Goaf
 Forming of SSR rules and its consequent approval.
 Standard code of practice of withdrawal of support.
 Underground arrangement
 Construction of preparatory stopping and isolation stopping, and we keep material
of construction at that site ready so that particularly in the event of fire it should be
constructed.
 Surface history with respect to subsidence or strata conditions.
 Removing of tracks ventilation devices etc. from the panel.
 Line of extraction and manner of extraction.
 Arrangement of fire fighting equipment and its location must be shown on the plan.
 Arrangement of standard lighting for depillaring area.
  Arrangement of material transport because normally production in depillaring is 3-
5 times more than development.
 Extra provision for man power.
 Incharge of depillaring hired for experienced person.
 Goaf treatment in stowing:
 Material
 Preparation of bunker
 Underground arrangement
 De-watering
 Cycle of stowing (Time requirement)

 Surface Arrangement
 Diversion of small nalas, streams, small rivers so that it will not drain towards mine.
 If required check dams built on the surface.
 Shifting of habitats. (Surface Structure)
 Shifting of electric lines.
 Diversion of travelling roads.
 Preparation of emergency plant and organization.
 If Goaf is treated with stowing, construction of stowing plants on the surface lying
in stowing range in underground.
 Arrangement of sand and other stowing material and water.
 Increase the capacity of magazine.

2.1.2 Check and joint Survey

A joint survey plan showing that details required under clause B of this sub-
regulations and sub-regulations 6 and 7, signed by surveyor and manager of mine and also
of the adjoining mines having working within 60 meters of common boundary, or disputed
boundaries, as the case maybe, and of the position of working in relation to another.

2.1.3 Line of extraction and numbering of pillars

 Line of Extraction

1. The line joining joining the centre of pillars or pillar under extraction.
2. The line decides the sequences of extraction of pillar i.e. in what sequence the pillars
should be extracted.
 Types of lines of extraction
1. Straight Line Extraction

 In these types the pillars are extracted in same line as shown in figure in which there
are two possibilities.
1. Along the dip direction i.e. parallel to dip
2. Along the strike direction that is parallel to strike
 This method is also known as knife edge line of extraction.
 This method is generally adopted where seam has been developed by bord and pillar
method and extracted by long wall or short wall method.
 Always start depillaring the farthest corner of property (mine).

2. Diagonal Line of Extraction

  When the line of extraction of pillar is parallel to the diagonal of pillar it is known as
diagonal line of extraction.
 Line of extraction is making an angle of 45° with strike direction

3. Steep line of extraction

Note: Here horizontal numbering should be done

 When line of extraction of pillar makes an angle more than 45° with strike then the
line of extraction is known as steep line of extraction. In this type of extraction less
horizontal movement and more vertical movement happens.

4. Step Line of Extraction

Note: Vertical numbering should be done.

 When line of extraction of pillar makes an angle less than 45° with strike then it is
known as Step Line of Extraction. In this type more horizontal movement and less
vertical movement happens.
5. V-line of Extraction

 In this type the line of extraction are in V shape and sequence of numbering is as
shown in figure. It is very rarely used.

2.1.4 Systematic Support Rules

Definition of systematic support:

The setting of timber or steel supports regularly at fixed intervals irrespective of the
condition of the roof and sites; a support in accordance with a system specified in rules
made by the manager of the mine.

SSR During depillaring :

a) The systematic support rule depends on two major factors.

1. Load coming
2. Degree of Mechanisation
b) When support time is more and height of excavation is high the support does not
match.
c) Higher the degree of mechanisation more support power is required.

SSR:

a) Goaf edge:
All the Goaf edges shall be kept supported by three or two rows of rigid steel prop
at an interval not exceeding 0.6m.
b) Split and Gallery support:
All the original galleries and split galleries up to two pillars or 30-40 meters away
whichever greater, ahead from actual extraction shall be supported by roof bolting
at an interval not exceeding 1m or 1.2m between two rows of bolt.
Note: Roof Bolting refers to metal rods that are inserted to mine roof to prevent
roof collapse.
c) Support to actual area under extraction or (Rib side support) etc.
The rib side is supported by choke of interval not exceeding less than 2.4m in
solid and between them prop is used.
d) Junction support:
All the junctions up to two pillars 30-40m away whichever is greater ahead from
actual extraction shall be supported by crossbar. Erect chock support one in dip and
other in rise side.
e) Quality of material:
1. All the roof bolts shall be in dimension of diameter not less that 19mm and length
not less than 1.8m.
2. All the sleeper type support having length more than 1.8m and area of cross
section is not less than cm² and at least two sides are machine cut.
f) Prop is used where the floor is hard or ground is good so it takes the load.
g) Special support:
If heightening the roof or quality zone hidden plane where occur shall be supported
by chocks and crossbar.
h) Declaration:
Wherever addition of support has been required, where coal is taken by roof
heightening or floor deepening, all the shorted props are replaced by longer props is
replaced by longer props.
 2.2.1 Different types of pillar extraction
methods

(Depending upon roof condition)

A. Roof is good and reliable

 It is employed when the roof is good. The stook is attacked from two sides.
 The place from where the depillaring is to be done, the pillar is splitted by level and dip
rise split forming stooks of 11m x 11m.
 The split galleries and development galleries to a distance of three pillars from the
extraction are properly supported by using SSR.
 The faces are opened out from both sides 1 and 1.
 Solid blasting is practiced; the coal is directly loaded to standing tubs or any other
conveying system (Chain Conveyer).
 In the same manner, sides 2 and 2 are removed from the stooks having the rib of coal
1.8m along the goaf. The decoaled area is properly supported.
 Before retreating back the rib of coal 1.8m judiciously robbed and the supports are
withdrawn from the decoded area safely and carefully.

B. Half-moon method. Roof reliable

 The place from where depillaring is to be done, the pillar is splitted by level and dip rise
split forming stooks of 11m x 11m.
 The split galleries and development galleries to a distance of three pillars from the
extraction are properly supported by using SSR.
 The faces are opened out 11 of 3m to 4m in width. Normal blasting is carried out when
the coal is loaded directly to the standing tubs.
 The decoaled area is properly supported.
 In the same manner, sides 2 and 2 are removed from the stooks having the rib of coal
1.8m along the goaf. The decoaled area is properly supported.
 During retreating, the rib of coal judiciously robbed and the supports from decoaled
area are removed safely by any safety prop withdrawer. The extraction of roof is from
minimum to maximum.

C. Roof is Good

 It is also employed there the roof is good. Here, the stook is attacked from one side only.

D. Roof is Bad

 The figure shows the manner of extraction when to roof is weak. Direction of attack on
the stook is indicated by arrows. The small portion of the stook X (It serves to give a
warning of roof weighting) is left if the roof is very weak but in case of moderate roof it
is robbed as much as possible.
E. Roof is Bad and Unreliable

 Figure shows yet another method practiced in places where the roof is weak. The
extraction is done by driving narrow headings. 1, 1,2,2,3,3, respectively living a rib of
coal between the goaf and 1 heading and the adjacent headings.

In all the above mentioned methods the ribs along the goaf is scooped to the
maximum extent possible at the time of retreating.

2.2.2 Splitting and slicing method

This method is used when roof condition are bad and friable coal. The pillars are
extracted out in slices first we formed panel the depillaring is started after the panel is
isolated and advance timbering support by SSR is applied. The deeper most pillars are
first attacked.
The deeper most pillars are first splitted into two, driving a dip/rise split gallery
cags/chocks are set at junction. The half pillar surrounded by the goaf is first attacked. A
rib of 1m to 1.5 m thick is left at the edges and then 4m to 4m wide slice is
extracted/driven after completion of first slice, the second slice is extracted living 1m to
1.5m thick rib in between first and second slices and the second slice is extracted/driven
of width 4m to 4m and the operation is repeated till the slice is extracted/driven in the
pillar when pillar is finished leaving a chowkidar to give warning of the danger of the
roof weight.
 2.2.3 Full / complete Extraction

In this method we extract complete pillar either by method of slicing or by stooking,

no support is left. This method is practiced when the roof is strong and reliable. In
section 2.2.1 methods A, B and C are full or complete extraction methods.

2.2.4 Partial Extraction

If the roof condition is not good then some coal is left in the roof as a support called
as partial extraction.
This method is practiced when the surface above the mine has geological
disturbances, buildings, water strata, railway lines, roadways, etc.
In this splitting is taken as final operation. By this small stooks are formed and are left
in Situ. When it is necessary to project the surface from subsidence or any damage
while working below a built up area, below a top seam, below any river or below a water
reservoir then partial extraction is done.
This can be done in two ways such as drive large number of wide galleries living small
pillars to be left forever i.e. developing large pillars and finally splitting them to form
stooks to be left in situ.
The void space can be left as it is or can be stowed solid in which case it is also
termed as split and pack method. Now besides the conventional method of extraction of
pillar the trend is towards the semi-mechanised and mechanised method of extraction
of pillar.
2.2.5 Formation of Goaf
 2.2.6 Withdrawal of supports
When props, bars or cogs have to be withdrawn it is prohibited by law to withdraw
them by hammering. Suitable safety prop-withdrawal like the Sylvester prop-withdrawal
has to be user.

It is an advantage to fix the chain C on the prop P G in such a manner before

withdrawal when the chain is pulled and is getting tightened, the prop receives a slight
twist-on action which loosens the prop in its position.

In the depillaring areas, a long chain is often required in place of the chain C. To avoid
such long length, a flexible wire rope with steel core (e.g. 15 mm dia. Coal cutting machine
haulage rope) having capels at both the ends may be used in conjunction with the usual 6m
long chain.

Where the roof is high, a suitable anchor prop may not always be available for
operation of prop withdrawer. In such case a piece of rail is fixed in a half metre deep hole
in the floor. Its serves the purpose of anchor prop. Alternatively a strong bar fixed in the
coal pillar may be used to serve the object. Care should be taken to see that the anchor
prop or other pros which provide safety to the timber men operating the prop withdrawer
should not be dislodged under withdrawal when it is released.
 2.3.1 Caving System
The caving system is a method of roof control in which the roof control which the
roof is allowed to collapse behind the last row of face supports, no packs being built except
at the sides of the roadways.

The working area must be rigidly supported to permit of only limited bed separation
and there must be a strong back row of supports (either props or chocks fitted with
mechanical release device) to cause me roof to break off behind it and to prevent weights
from the wasre over-riding the face supports under these conditions, the fulcrum for the
bending action in the immediate roof beds lies above the breaker low. Rigidity at this Point
is essential for success.

In the goaf, the fallen debris occupies 25% to 50% more space when broken than in
the solid and, provided that a sufficient thickness collapses, it occupies all the available
space, being finally compressed tight as the higher strata subside.

Advantages of Caving: The main advantage is the low labour force required during the
repair shift, the men so freed being available for productive work. It is also claimed that

(1) Roof pressures at the face are low;

(2) Convergence of roof and floor is minimised;

(3) Floor lift at the face is unlikely to occur;

(4) Surface subsidence is likely to be more uniform than when strip packs are built.

Conditions suitable for Caving : Caving is chiefly applicable to thin seams, or seams of
medium thickness where packing material is not readily available and where there are no
special dangers to guard against, e.g. self-heating’s in the goaf, damage to adjacent seams,
or working under water-logged ground. Ideally, the immediate roof should be a tough bed
which will span the working area, while the beds above should readily breakdown when the
tough bed has been fractured; but the method has been successfully applied with ordinary
shale roofs and even with sandstone roofs. It would clearly be illogical to apply the caving
system (because of its low cost) in seams where there is a surplus of dirt available for
packing and then go to the expense of disposing of the dirt at the surface.

Difficulties associated with Caving :

(a) The roof may be so thick and strong that it forms an overhanging cantilever which does
not break off regularly but only fractures at intervals of 10 or 12 cuts, when a heavy weight
occurs which might completely close the face.

(b) The roof may be so well stratified that the resulting slabs fail to occupy the required
volume of goaf and so fail to give support to the higher beds.

(c) In thick seams the volume of the goaf is so large that it cannot be filled unless an
excessive and uncontrollable thickness of roof material is induced to collapse.

(d) Unless the broken material actually fills the goaf, large open spaces may be left in which
gas may accumulate.

(e) Caving may be regarded as unsuitable districts where valuable seams occur in close
proximity, or where the ground is badly faulted, or under built up areas at shallow depths
or when mining underwater- logged ground. If faulted ground is met with, the face should,
if possible, be laid out at right-angles to the faults so as to avoid the danger of the whole
face collapsing along a fault in it.

2.3.2 Local Fall

After timber has been withdrawn the unsupported roof tends to fracture. The lower
strata of the immediate roof separate and fill in the goaf. The fall which takes place soon
after withdrawal of supports is called local fall. Where the strata are well stratified
sandstone or shales, the local fall takes place within 24 to 48 hours of the withdrawal of
timber. Such local fall does not extend to the surface and rocks within a height of only a few
metres above the seam are affected. The intensity of the booming sound in the goaf due to
roof movement gradually increases after withdrawal of supports and ceases after the local
fall.

2.3.3 Air Blast and it’s Precautions

Air blast:

When a roof fall takes place, the air in the goaf area is displaced as the latter is filled
by the broken roof rocks. The displacement is so quick that the air is pushed out at the high
speed resulting in air blast if the air has limited outlets to escape. The intensity of the air
blast upon the volume of the air that is displaced. If the immediate roof is massive
sandstone of has a sill, local fall does not occur for a long period even after withdrawal of
supports. The volume of air that is displaced in such case when a roof fall takes place is
large. Similarly the of air displaced in a thick scam is also large. The air blast in these cases is
strong and dislodges roof supports and ventilation doors, damages isolation stoppings and
injures workers in the path of the air bIast. The dislodged roof supports may initiates some
additional roof collapse.

Precautions:

1. Steps should be taken to sec that an extensive area of uncollapsed goaf does not
exist at a time. Where possible, steps should be taken to bring down the roof at
regular intervals.

2. In any depillaring district, all the workers should be withdrawn to a safe place
when the usual indications of imminent roof fall are observed. Where immediate
roof is well stratified sandstone and shale, the work has often to be suspended for 2
to 3 hours or more before the roof fall takes place. If the roof consists of massive
sandstone, the sound of roof-movement in the goaf lasts for 8 to 16 hours and coal-
getting operations in the area have practically to be suspended for such a long
period. The mining sardar or overman should warn the workers by a whistle to
retreat to a safe place which is not directly in the path of air blast.

3. Apart from the entries for ventilation and haulage, additional roadways-should be
kept open in a thick seam.

4. After every blast there is usually a thick cloud of coal dust in suspension in the air.
The electric switches should be put off before such anticipated air blast and put on
only after coal dust has settled down.

5. Construction of a few isolation stoppings with an easily breakable zone (by air
blast) should receive attention.

After the roof fall has taken place all the supports and the roof should be examined
before workers are allowed to the working place. Special attention should be given to the
goaf edges which should be well fortified by supports after the roof fall.

2.3.4 Main Fall

The local does not extend to the surface as the broken shale and sandstone occupy a
large volume after breaking and fill up the void caused by coal extraction. It has been
observed that when the area of extraction is nearly equal or more than, the square of the
depth, the cracks due to depillaring extend up to the surface. The roof fall which affects the
surface is known as main fall and takes place long after the first roof fall (local fall) in the
depillaring district. If the seam is at a shallow depth air leaks through the cracks to the coal
buried in the goaf and is responsible for spontaneous heating. Such spontaneous heating
has been the cause of fires in the areas near Jharia and Katras towns.

The main fall is expedited if (a) area is near a fault plane and (b) if the upper seam
has been depillared. At Bhagaband colliery, Jharia field where the top seam is depillared, it
is observed that during depillaring of bottom seam, main falls takes place much earlier than
the period normally observed during depillaring of top seam.

Depillaring operations in the vicinity of faults need more than normal vigilance and
precautions for roof control. Water seepage or emission of gas may take place near a fault.
The line of goaf should not be parallel to the fault, but nearly at right angles to it. Heavy
roof fall and even premature collapse may take place if line of goaf is parallel to the fault.
The unsupported roof may slide along the fault plane. It is a sound practice to leave some
barrier of solid coal near the fault.

2.3.5 Hydraulic Stowing

The term hydraulic stowing is applied to that system of stowing or packing in which
water is used as a medium for transporting the stowing material and depositing it in the
required position in the goaf. It has been adopted in many countries and also in India where
beds of loose sand in close proximity to the mines have furnished a cheap source of suitable
stowing material.

This process is widely used in India in those collieries which are situated within 16km
of rivers giving plentiful supplies of sand, the commonest stowing material in our mines.
The following factors have made stowing possible in many Indian mines :

1. Availability of sand from rivers flowing near the collieries within 16 km.

2. Roof and floor of seams are not affected by water.

3. Seams not being very deep, humidity is not a major problem.

4. Mines are usually at depth exceeding 100 m and the seams are inclined. Hydraulic
sand stowing is not successful where the seam is at a low depth from the surface and is
flatter than 5°.

Advantages of Hydraulic Stowing :

(1) Surface subsidence is minimised. This matter is of great importance when working
under valuable property or under flat and low-lying country disorganisation of
surface drainage would result in flooding. When sand is used for packing, the amount
of vertical subsidence may be reduced to as little as 5% of the thickness of coal
extracted.

(2) Danger from spontaneous combustion is removed. This is of special importance in

thick seams where, without packing, a large amount of coal is inevitably left in pillars
and stocks.

(3) In thick seams, a larger proportion (or even the whole) of the coal may be
extracted.

(4) Greater safety to life and property ensues owing to the better support given to
the roof.

(5) Better ventilation can be maintained.

(6) The system lends itself to mechanical coalcutting and conveying on longwall face.

(7) In the case of thick shalow seams, less surface water finds its way underground
during the rainy season.

Disadvantages of Hydraulic Stowing:

(1) High energy costs of pumping.

(2) Large wear of pumps and pipes.

(3) Large water consumption. ' -^

(4) Requires good quality stowing materials.

 (5) Weakens roof strata.

(6) Hydraulic stowing is not applicable for stowing at long horizontal distances with
short vertical heads and where the seam is flatter than 5°. It is prohibitive for deep
and hot mines because of the cost of pumping and the increase of humidity at the
face.

The factors which have contributed to a large scale hydraulic stowing in Indian mines are:

(a) Availability of sand from rivers flowing within 16 km of the collieries.

(b) Absence of bad effect of water on the roof and floor of the seams.

(c) Comparatively low depths of mines, which do not pose the problems of humidity
and high cost of pumping.

(d) Inclination of the majority of the seams beyond 5° and the availability of a
sufficient head for stowage.

Hydraulic stowing, however, is not applicable for stowing at long horizontal distances
with short vertical heads and where the seam is Flatter than 5°. It is prohibitive for deep
and hot mines because cost of pumping and the increase of humidity at the face.

Sources of Material:

The usual sources of material for hydraulic stowage are river, sand, crushed stone, washery
debris. For efficient stowage, the material should be inert, free from too large or too fine
sizes, and easily and economically available. Too fine particles slow down the rate of
percolation and give rise to a fluid pack. Overburden of opencast mines, surface gravels,
sandstone and shale outcrops, washery rejects will perhaps be extensively used in future.

2.3.6 Hydraulic Profile and H / L Ratio

It is essential that the pipe layout in a hydraulic stowing installation should conform to a
correct hydraulic profile. Incorrect profile will cause cavitation and then the full available
head cannot be pressured to use; high local velocities will cause considerable wear on the
pipes and the entrapped air will set up pulsations in the system. The length (I,) of the pipe
range through which sand water slurry can be transported depends mainly upon the
vertical head or height between the mixing chamber and the point at which slurry is
discharged (H). The ratio H/L (height/length) available in practice for a stowing range
indicates its efficiency. Generally this ratio is 1/7 for reasonably good slowing rate.
 2.3.7 Underground Stowing Arrangements
and operations
Before a goaf is packed a boxing (a barricade of bamboo matting) should be
constructed as near the face as possible, leaving place for conveyor path, coal cutting
machine and roof supports. On a long wall face the width between previous boxing of
sand pack and new boxing under construction is generally 4 to 5 m. With smaller widths
of packs, cost of boxing becomes high and face work gets disrupted frequently. Materials
used for boxing of narrow packs. 1.5 m to 1.8 m in width should be stronger than those
for packs of larger widths say 3.5 m to 4.5 m, as the pressure developed on boxing in
narrow packs due to sand is more. Bamboo matting or hessian cloth is generally used,
and in some installations coir matting has been tried. The latter, though costly, can be
used 3 to 4 times and has thus an economic advantage over the bamboo matting has been
tried. The latter, though costly, can be used 3 to 4 times and has thus an economic
advantage over the bamboo matting or hessian cloth which can be used only once.
Wooden props or telescopic rails are erected along the new boxing line and the hessian
cloth or bamboo mating is fixed to it by wire nails or strings from the floor to the roof. In
some cases props are placed slightly inclined. For this, two chalk lines are marked on the
roof by stretching strings to indicate position of the top and bottom ends of props Ideal
inclination would be the angle of repose of sand, but due to limited space it is not
practicable and the prop has in inclination of 100 with the vertical, the top end leaning
towards goaf. In such cases recovery of props and coir mattings is easy if the boxing is
made vertical, the sand buries the coir matting which is, therefore, difficult to recover
when props or rails are withdrawn. The dip side boxing is made stronger with double
bamboo matting, and sometimes, with wooden planks or coir matting for a simple
reason; the dip level may be •drainage level or it may carry gate belt or tracks for tubs
and bursting of the packing may foul the level road. Chocks are preferred to props on
such dip side packing. When the new boxing is complete, the old boxing is dismantled
and props, coir matting, planks, etc., are recovered from it, unless the old boxing is
requires protecting equipment of gate roads.

Telephone is extended to a convenient place near the new boxing when stowing of
goaf is to be undertaken.

At the commencement of stowing the stowing range is extended so as to keep the

end of stowing pipe nearly 7.5 m away from the dip side boxing.

To stop the stowing, the flow of sand into the mixing chamber at the surface
should be stopped first and then, after 3-4 minutes, the flow of water should be stopped
with the discharge through the nozzle is only of water. This avoids pipe jam.