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Mine Fire Diagnostics at the Large Mine Site

Public Domain


Details

  • Personal Author:
  • Description:
    The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has developed a Mine Fire Diagnostic Methodology to determine the location and extent of combustion zones in abandoned mines, to monitor the progress of extinguishment, and to identify the point at which a fire can be considered extinguished. In the USBM's method, a characteristic fire signature is based on the ratio of higher molecular weight hydrocarbons (Ci to C5) to total hydrocarbons. Initially, samples are obtained at the bottom of boreholes under baseline or static conditions. A second set of samples is obtained under communication, i.e., when a suction fan is used to influence the direction of gas movement at the base of each borehole. Temperature and pressure data are also obtained to define the degree of communication between boreholes. The value of the ratio under communication conditions is taken as a measure of subsurface fire activity related to a particular flow direction. Using a Venn diagram technique, the results are mapped as quadrants on a borehole map of the site. Repetition of the communication tests provides overlapping quadrants that define hot, cold, and indeterminate areas. In a field study at the Large site in Allegheny County, PA, Mine Fire Diagnostic Methodology indicated that a mine fire extended for approximately 152 m parallel to the buried outcrop. The combustion zone also extends into the mine, possibly more than 180 m. Additional, noncontiguous, heated areas were detected in the project area. [Description provided by NIOSH]
  • Subjects:
  • Keywords:
  • Series:
    Mining Publications
  • Publisher:
    U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines
  • Document Type:
    Text
  • Genre:
    Proceedings
  • Place as Subject:
  • CIO:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • Division:
    PRC - Pittsburgh Research Center
  • Topic:
    Workplace Safety & Health
  • Location:
    North America
  • Pages in Document:
    139-147
  • Volume:
    4
  • NIOSHTIC Number:
    nn:20050442
  • Citation:
    Proceedings of the International Land Reclamation and Mine Drainage Conference and Third International Conference on the Abatement of Acidic Drainage April 24-29, 1994, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh, PA: United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Special Publication SP 06C-94, 1994 Apr; 4:139-147
  • Federal Fiscal Year:
    1994
  • Peer Reviewed:
    False
  • Source Full Name:
    Proceedings of the International Land Reclamation and Mine Drainage Conference and Third International Conference on the Abatement of Acidic Drainage April 24-29, 1994, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:28baa2164c5013e17a957c34351e409dc40cef942899ea5e605b0b8b39e28905cf3a4c945a06f70e74b9d91e2fee9f89a44a35e9c683e98ccce7c6acd0250a5b
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 305.00 KB ]
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