The complex hydro-geological situation, particularly in terms of groundwater, has been a constant threat to the mining carried out at the Velenje colliery since its inception. Of particular interest to the authors are the difficulties presented to the colliery by the adjacent sand aquifers, as the water pressure within these sands directly impacts mining safety, and the aquifers themselves are most directly affected by dewatering. In order to monitor water levels and estimate dewatering at the Velenje wells, multi-layered modelling using 3D Finite Difference Method (FDM) has already been carried out. However, FDM is not optimal due to its greater dependence on cell size than on water flow. In 2017 in Velenje, a series of wells will be terminated as a result of mining and mining-induced subsidence, leading to dewatering and danger of flooding. As part of a plan to address this by replacing dewatering structures, a series of drive-in filters will be implemented around the entry and exit point tunnels of a longwall face. Because FDM seems to be inadequate for purposes of optimizing this process, the Finite Elements Method (FEM) was applied in this case. Based on such an application of FEM, a prediction of the optimization of drive-in filters was carried out by the authors.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1622367
The Velenje coal mine (VCM) is situated on the largest Slovenian coal deposit and in one of the thickest layers of coal known in the world. The thickness of the coal layer causes problems for the efficiency of extraction, since the majority of mining operations is within the coal layer. The selected longwall coal mining method with specific geometry, increasing depth of excavations, changes in stress state and naturally given geomechanical properties of rocks induce seismic events. Induced seismic events can be caused by caving processes, blasting or bursts of coal or the surrounding rock. For 2.5D visualization, data of excavations, ash content and calorific value of coal samples, hanging wall and footwall occurrence, subsidence of the surface and coal burst source locations were collected. Data and interpolation methods available in software package Surfer®12 were statistically analyzed and a Kriging (KRG) interpolation method was chosen. As a result 2.5D visualizations of coal bursts source locations with geomechanical properties of coal samples taken at different depth in the coal seam in the VCM were made with data-visualization packages Surfer®12 and Voxler®3.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1616735
Geochemical and isotope monitoring of coalbed gases at excavation fields of mining areas in Velenje coal basin have been ongoing since year 2000 with the aim of obtaining better insights into the distribution and origin of coalbed gases. Results from the mining areas Pesje and Preloge (active excavation fields) are presented here from year 2000 to now. Composition and origin of coalbed gases were determined using mass spectrometry at the Jožef Stefan Institute. From a larger database of geochemical samples, 119 samples were used for the analysis and spatial presentation in a GIS (Geographical Information system) environment. We have used geochemical (CH4, CO2, N2) and isotopic (d13CCO2, d13CCH4) tracers for geochemical and isotopic characterization of coalbed gases from the active excavation fields. Concentrations of CO2 and CDMI index in the southern part of the basin are higher than in northern part of the basin due to the vicinity of the active Šoštanj fault. Value of d13CCH4 at active excavation field indicates a bacterial origin with values above -50‰, and only some boreholes show elevated d13CCH4 quantities as a consequence of the CO2 reduction process in Velenje coal Basin. Value of d13CCO2 indicates bacterial and endogenic origin of carbon.
COBISS.SI-ID: 30102823
The geochemical and isotopic composition of groundwater in the Velenje Basin, Slovenia, was investigated between the years 2014 to 2015 to identify the geochemical processes in the major aquifers (Pliocene and Triassic) and the water–rock interactions. Thirty-eight samples of groundwater were taken from the aquifers, 19 in the mine and 19 from the surface. Groundwater in the Triassic aquifer is dominated by HCO3–, Ca2+ and Mg2+ with δ13CDIC values in the range from -19.3 to -2.8 ‰, indicating degradation of soil organic matter and dissolution of carbonate minerals. In contrast, groundwater in the Pliocene aquifers is enriched in Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, K+ and Si, and has high alkalinity, with δ13CDIC values in the range of -14.4 to +4.6 ‰. Based on the δ13CDIC values in all the aquifers (Pliocene and Triassic), both processes influence the dissolution of carbonate minerals and dissolution of organic matter and in the Pliocene aquifers, methanogenesis as well. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and on geochemical and isotopic data we conclude that the following types of groundwater in Velenje Basin are present: Triassic aquifers with higher pH and lower conductivity and chloride, Pliocene, Pliocene 1 and Pliocene 2 aquifers with lower pH and higher conductivity and chloride contents, and Pliocene 3 and Pliocene 2, 3 aquifers with the highest pH values and lowest conductivities and chloride contents. 87Sr/86Sr tracer was used for the first time in Slovenia to determine geochemical processes (dissolution of silicate versus carbonate fraction) in Velenje Basin groundwater of different aquifers dewatering Pliocene and Triassic strata. 87Sr/86Sr values range from 0.70820 to 0.71056 in groundwater of Pliocene aquifers and from 0.70808 to 0.70910 in groundwater of the Triassic aquifer. This indicates that dissolution of the carbonate fraction prevails in both aquifers, while in Pliocene aquifers, an additional silicate weathering prevails with higher 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29666855