Energy West Mining Company In preparation for longwall mining beneath a 345-kV electrical transmission line, AAI was retained to evaluate the impacts of surface subsidence to a series of power line towers. AAI proprietary software was used to back-analyze subsidence data from previously mined panels at the mine and to develop a numerical model for [...]
Longwall Mining
Longwall Gateroad Analysis AAI performed a comparative stability evaluation for the East Longwall Panel 8 Gateroads. Four different gateroads were analyzed, including three- and four-entry layouts. Analyses were performed using SALT4 and EXPAREA, both of which can model time-dependent salt behavior. SALT4 was used for two-dimensional analyses of gateroad profile stresses, while EXPAREA was used [...]
West Ridge Resources, Inc. (WRRI) commissioned Agapito Associates, Inc. (AAI) to analyze subsidence potential from planned longwall mining in the vicinity of the Grassy Trail reservoir adjacent to the West Ridge Mine in Whitmore Canyon in 2004. The reservoir and earthen dam were constructed in the late 1950s and are a principal water source for [...]
A longwall feasibility study was performed, including review of geologic and geotechnical data, determination of longwall panel orientation, gateroad design, mains, barrier pillars and start-up/recovery rooms, and shield capacity. In-situ stress measurements and strength testing were performed, and a ventilation analysis was conducted. Agapito Associates, Inc. (AAI) conducted geotechnical investigations in support of the planned construction [...]
West Elk Mine—Somerset, CO AAI has provided underground geotechnical engineering services to Mountain Coal Company’s West Elk Mine since the 1980s. Services include installation of geotechnical instrumentation, in-situ stress measurements, laboratory rock properties testing, periodic ground control reviews, pillar and barrier sizing analysis, shield size specification, geotechnical characterization for shaft design, subsidence evaluation, and geological [...]
Longwall Optimization In 1997, AAI conducted three studies for West Ridge prior to mine development. The first study addressed longwall panel orientation based on local fracture mapping, conducted by AAI, and a review of local and regional geologic data. The second report dealt with preliminary gateroad design and pillar sizing. The third report described mine [...]
Canyon Fuel Company Longwall Mining—Shield Support Densities AAI has performed a full range of geotechnical analyses for SUFCO in support of their longwall operations, including pillar design, longwall shield support evaluations, and subsidence analyses. SUFCO currently mines with two-legged 970-T Joy shields in the Pines Tract (Upper Hiawatha Seam) under nominally 1,000 ft of cover. [...]
Geotechnical Evaluation and Longwall Feasibility AAI performed geotechnical and economic evaluations for the feasibility study of longwall mining at the Trapper Mine for Mencon, LLC. A geotechnical evaluation was conducted for the purpose of (1) identifying geotechnical hazards to longwall mining and (2) establishing geotechnical parameters for mine design. The tasks of the geotechnical program [...]
Numerous projects have been performed for Andalex. A technical review and recommendations were presented on the feasibility of converting mining operations in three seams from room-and-pillar to longwall. The project included reviews of the geologic setting, lithology, structure, and longwall mineable reserves, as well as evaluation of mine ventilation plan, methane control, ground control plan, [...]
