26
The Raise Boring of Large Diameter (>7.0mØ ) Vertical Shafts on a South African Colliery Greg Trivett, Senior Project Engineer, Projects and Technology Services, Sasol Mining, SYNOPSIS A requirement was identified at Sasol Mining to harness the cost, safety and time advantages associated with raise-boring as a shaft sinking method with the ever increasing requirements for ventilation volume. Previously a maximum diameter of 6.1 meters had been raise bore reamed; this allowed for a maximum air volume of a little over 560 m3/s for a single raise bored upcast shaft. Sasol Mining required upcast ventilation installations on two of its Collieries, which could each deliver in the region of 760 m3/s. Simply put, the solution for this requirement was to either raise bore two shafts, execute a blasting operation or move the boundary for raise boring diameter to at least 7.0m. Sasol Mining (Pty) Ltd and Rucbor (Pty) Ltd have successfully concluded the raise boring of three shafts at >7. 1meters diameter as part of a sequence of nine new shafts on Sasol Mining's Secunda Collieries. This paper discusses the planning and execution of these three large diameter shafts, particular reference is made to the prevailing local geological conditions and to the risk mitigation methods employed to ensure that this technology,-stretching project was completed successfully. "Risks exists, and the successful mining engineer is the one who never accepts a solution at face value, he strives continuously to learn from the past and the present and he is always prepared to sow his knowledge into the future". 373

The Raise Boring of Large Diameter (>7.0mØ ) Vertical ... · The Raise Boring of Large Diameter ... Project pre-feasibility and feasibility study investigations had determined that

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

The Raise Boring of Large Diameter (>7.0mØ )Vertical Shafts on a South African Colliery

Greg Tr ive t t ,Sen io r P ro jec t Eng inee r, P ro jec t s and Techno logy Se rv ices ,

Saso l Min ing ,

S Y N O P S I S

A r e q u i r e m e n t w a s i d e n t i f i e d a t S a s o l M i n i n g t o h a r n e s s t h e c o s t ,s a f e t y a n d t i m e a d v a n t a g e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h r a i s e - b o r i n g a s a s h a f ts inking method wi th the ever increas ing requirements for vent i la t ionv o l u m e .

P r e v i o u s l y a m a x i m u m d i a m e t e r o f 6 . 1 m e t e r s h a d b e e n r a i s e b o r er e a m e d ; t h i s a l l o w e d f o r a m a x i m u m a i r v o l u m e o f a l i t t l e o v e r560 m3/s for a s ingle ra ise bored upcas t shaf t . Sasol Mining requiredu p c a s t v e n t i l a t i o n i n s t a l l a t i o n s o n t w o o f i t s C o l l i e r i e s , w h i c hc o u l d e a c h d e l i v e r i n t h e r e g i o n o f 7 6 0 m 3 / s .

S i m p l y p u t , t h e s o l u t i o n f o r t h i s r e q u i r e m e n t w a s t o e i t h e r r a i s ebore two sha f t s , execu te a b l a s t ing ope ra t ion o r move the boundaryf o r r a i s e b o r i n g d i a m e t e r t o a t l e a s t 7 . 0 m .

S a s o l M i n i n g ( P t y ) L t d a n d R u c b o r ( P t y ) L t d h a v e s u c c e s s f u l l yc o n c l u d e d t h e r a i s e b o r i n g o f t h r e e s h a f t s a t > 7 . 1 m e t e r s d i a m e t e ra s pa r t o f a s equence o f n ine new sha f t s on Saso l Min ing ' s SecundaC o l l i e r i e s .

T h i s p a p e r d i s c u s s e s t h e p l a n n i n g a n d e x e c u t i o n o f t h e s e t h r e ela rge d iamete r shaf t s , pa r t i cu la r re fe rence i s made to the p reva i l ingl o c a l g e o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s a n d t o t h e r i s k m i t i g a t i o n m e t h o d se m p l o y e d t o e n s u r e t h a t t h i s t e c h n o l o g y, - s t r e t c h i n g p r o j e c t w a sc o m p l e t e d s u c c e s s f u l l y.

" R i s k s e x i s t s , a n d t h e s u c c e s s f u l m i n i n g e n g i n e e r i s t h e o n e w h on e v e r a c c e p t s a s o l u t i o n a t f a c e v a l u e , h e s t r i v e s c o n t i n u o u s l yt o l e a r n f ro m t h e p a s t a n d t h e p re s e n t a n d h e i s a l w a y s p re p a redt o s o w h i s k n o w l e d g e i n t o t h e f u t u re " .

373

INT

RO

DU

CT

ION

Thi

s pa

per

to s

erve

s to

doc

umen

t th

e ge

neri

c as

wel

l as

spe

cifi

cin

vest

igat

ive,

des

ign,

pla

nnin

g an

d co

ntro

l w

ork

that

was

und

erta

ken

duri

ng t

he v

ario

us p

roje

ct p

hase

s fo

r th

e es

tabl

ishm

ent

of t

hree

larg

e di

amet

er (

> 7

.0m

∅)

rais

e bo

red

shaf

ts f

or S

asol

Min

ing

atit

's S

ecun

da c

ompl

ex.

The

Secu

nda

com

plex

Sas

ol M

inin

g ha

s op

erat

ions

at

Sas

olbu

rg a

nd S

ecun

da;

the

Sec

unda

oper

atio

ns c

onsi

st o

f th

e se

ven

full

y un

derg

roun

d m

ines

and

the

Syfe

rfon

tein

com

bine

d st

rip

and

unde

rgro

und

oper

atio

n. T

he c

ombi

ned

outp

ut f

rom

the

Sec

unda

min

es i

s 41

mil

lion

ton

s pe

r an

num

.

Bra

ndsp

ruit

, B

osje

sspr

uit,

Mid

delb

ult

and

Syf

erfo

ntei

n C

olli

ers

supp

ly g

assi

fica

tion

coa

l to

the

Sas

ol S

ynth

etic

Fue

ls (

SS

F)

plan

tat

Sec

unda

; T

wis

tdra

ai C

entr

al M

ine

prod

uces

bot

h ga

ssif

icat

ion

and

expo

rt q

uali

ty c

oal

and

the

Tw

istd

raai

Eas

t an

d W

est

min

esar

e de

dica

ted

expo

rt c

oal

prod

ucer

s.

Infr

astr

uctu

re u

pgra

de r

equi

rem

ents

for

ven

tila

tion

, sa

fety

and

logi

stic

al r

easo

ns r

esul

ted

in S

asol

Min

ing

esta

blis

hing

nin

e ne

wve

rtic

al v

enti

lati

on s

haft

s be

twee

n Ju

ne 2

000

and

July

200

1.

•T

wis

tdra

ai C

entr

al C

olli

ery:

1 of

f 6.

1m ∅

dow

ncas

t(D

/C),

125m

dee

p, e

quip

ped

wit

h es

cape

lad

der.

•M

iddl

ebul

t C

olli

ery:

1 of

f 7.1

upc

ast s

haft

,85

, d

eep

1 of

f 8.

6m ∅

dow

ncas

tsh

aft

equi

pped

for

man

and

mat

eria

ltr

ansp

ort.

•B

osje

sspr

uit

Col

lier

y:1

off

7.1m

∅ u

pcas

t ha

ft,

176m

dee

p1

off 7

.1m

∅ d

/cas

t sha

ft,

176m

dee

p

374

•S

yfer

font

ein

Col

lier

y:1

off

5.1m

∅ u

pcas

t sha

ft,

111m

dee

p1

off

4.1m

∅ d

ownc

ast

shaf

t, 1

05m

dee

p

•B

rand

spru

it C

olli

ery

1 of

f 4.8

m∅

upc

ast s

haft

,14

5m d

eep

1 of

f 5.

5m ∅

dow

ncas

tsh

aft,

145

m d

eep.

Pro

ject

pre

-fea

sibi

lity

and

fea

sibi

lity

stu

dy i

nves

tiga

tion

s ha

dde

term

ined

tha

t ra

ise-

bori

ng a

s a

shaf

t si

nkin

g ex

ecut

ion

met

hod

was

the

pre

ferr

ed t

echn

o-ec

onom

ic s

olut

ion.

The

refo

re t

hese

9 s

haft

s ar

e ra

ised

bor

ed a

nd s

hot-

cret

e li

ned

wit

h th

e ex

cept

ion

of t

he M

iddl

ebul

t m

an a

nd m

ater

ial

shaf

t w

hich

was

rai

se b

ored

to

3.8m

∅,

slip

ed t

o 9.

2m ∅

and

con

cret

e li

ned

to f

inal

dia

met

er (

8.6m

) as

req

uire

d fo

r th

e pe

rman

ent

hois

ting

equi

pmen

t.

Pro

ject

s an

d Te

chno

logy

Ser

vice

s (P

& T

S)

Thi

s de

part

men

t, a

div

isio

n of

Sas

ol M

inin

g i

s ba

sed

in S

ecun

daan

d pr

ovid

es a

ful

l P

roje

ct M

anag

emen

t an

d E

ngin

eeri

ng T

echn

ical

serv

ice

to t

he S

asol

Min

ing

oper

atio

ns.

P&

TS

wer

e ap

poin

ted

proj

ect

man

ager

s fo

r th

ese

shaf

t pr

ojec

tsan

d ac

cept

ed r

espo

nsib

ilit

y fo

r al

l en

gine

erin

g, p

rocu

rem

ent

and

cons

truc

tion

man

agem

ent

func

tion

s (E

PC

M),

as

wel

l as

the

sta

tuto

ryre

spon

sibi

liti

es.

Ruc

bor

(Pty

) L

td,

a di

visi

on o

f R

UC

min

ing

wer

e ap

poin

ted

asra

ise

bor

ing

cont

ract

ors

wit

h R

ucm

in (

Pty

) L

td e

xecu

ting

the

slip

ing,

lin

ing

and

equi

ppin

g op

erat

ions

at

the

Mid

dleb

ult

man

and

mat

eria

l sh

aft.

Pie

k M

inin

g (P

ty)

Ltd

wer

e aw

arde

d th

e co

ntra

ct t

o bo

lt,

mes

han

d sh

ot-c

rete

lin

e th

e re

mai

nder

of

the

shaf

ts.

Per

cuss

o B

or (

Pty

) L

td e

xecu

ted

the

pre-

min

ing

grou

nd s

tabi

lisa

tion

wor

k at

the

Bos

jess

prui

t sh

afts

.

375

LA

RG

E H

OL

E R

AIS

E B

OR

ING

-

A T

EC

HN

OL

OG

YIN

SIG

HT

.

Sas

ol M

inin

g ha

s ha

d pr

evio

us e

xper

ienc

e w

ith

rais

e bo

ring

in

the

Hig

hvel

d C

oal f

ield

. An

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

geol

ogic

al c

ondi

tion

san

d th

e ef

fect

the

se c

ondi

tion

s ha

ve o

n a

rais

e bo

ring

ope

rati

onar

e a

pre-

requ

isit

e fo

r su

cces

sful

pro

ject

exe

cuti

on.

The

rai

se b

orin

g te

chno

logy

, eq

uipm

ent

and

oper

atio

nal

met

hods

to b

e us

ed h

ave

to b

e un

ders

tood

in

orde

r to

car

ry o

ut t

he m

inin

gde

sign

and

ass

essm

ent

of r

isk.

The

se r

isk

asse

ssm

ents

mus

t ta

ke i

nto

cons

ider

atio

n th

e m

echa

nica

lpe

rfor

man

ce o

f th

e ra

ise

bori

ng e

quip

men

t as

wel

l as

the

pre

vail

ing

min

ing

and

geol

ogic

al c

ondi

tion

s.

The

tec

hnol

ogy

for

the

smal

ler

diam

eter

(up

to

the

6.1m

∅ r

equi

red

at T

wis

tdra

ai)

rais

e bo

ring

ope

rati

ons

was

ope

rati

onal

ly p

rove

nan

d st

anda

rd r

eam

ing

tool

s w

ere

avai

labl

e.

A d

iam

eter

of

6.1m

was

how

ever

insu

ffic

ient

for

the

vent

ilat

ion

requ

irem

ents

at M

iddl

ebul

tan

d B

osje

sspr

uit

Col

lier

s.

Opt

ing

for

eith

er a

dua

l ra

ise

bore

d sh

aft

syst

em o

ptio

n or

an

alte

rnat

ive

min

ing

met

hod

was

not

cos

t ef

fect

ive

and

Sas

ol M

inin

gre

ques

ted

that

Ruc

bor

inve

stig

ate

the

pote

ntia

l of

rea

min

g to

gre

ater

than

6.1

m ∅

wit

h an

obj

ecti

ve o

f ac

hiev

ing

±7m

.

Ruc

bor

wer

e su

cces

sful

in

achi

evin

g te

chni

cal

solu

tion

s fo

r th

eir

equi

pmen

t re

quir

emen

ts,

and

alth

ough

thi

s m

echa

nica

l de

sign

sti

llha

d to

be

oper

atio

nall

y pr

oven

, em

bark

ed o

n th

is p

roje

ct w

ith

Sas

ol M

inin

g. R

isk

mit

igat

ion

in t

his

rega

rd i

s di

scus

sed

late

rin

thi

s pa

per

.

Add

ress

ing

the

oper

atio

nal

risk

s as

soci

ated

wit

h th

e si

te s

peci

fic

min

ing

cond

itio

ns r

equi

red

deta

iled

inf

orm

atio

n on

the

in

situ

stra

ta c

ondi

tion

s as

wel

l as

an

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

how

the

rel

evan

tst

rata

wou

ld r

eact

und

er r

eam

ing

and

expo

sed

(rap

id w

eath

erin

g)co

ndit

ions

.

GE

OL

OG

ICA

L C

ON

DIT

ION

S

Gen

eral

geo

logy

376

The

Kar

oo s

uper

grou

p se

dim

ents

in

the

Hig

hvel

d C

oal

fiel

d ar

ere

pres

ente

d fr

om t

he b

ase

upw

ard

by t

he D

wyk

a fo

rmat

ion,

the

Pie

term

arit

zbur

g fo

rmat

ion,

the

Vry

heid

for

mat

ion

and

part

iall

yth

e V

olks

rust

for

mat

ion

of t

he E

cca

Gro

up.

The

sed

imen

ts r

ange

thr

ough

coa

l, m

udst

ones

, sil

tsto

nes,

san

dsto

nes,

grit

s an

d ti

llit

es.

Dol

erit

ic d

ykes

and

sil

ls r

elat

ed t

o th

e st

orm

berg

lava

s ex

tens

ivel

y in

trud

e th

e co

alfi

eld.

(A

dden

dum

1)

The

por

tion

of

inte

rest

to

the

rock

eng

inee

r an

d sh

aft

sink

ing

proj

ect

plan

ner

at S

ecun

da C

olli

ers

is t

he p

orti

on o

f th

e st

rati

grap

hyfr

om t

he N

umbe

r 4

Low

er C

oal

Sea

m t

o th

e su

rfac

e. T

here

are

anu

mbe

r of

asp

ects

tha

t af

fect

the

cre

atio

n of

an

exca

vati

on i

nth

is g

roun

d, t

hese

are

:

•T

he w

ide

disp

arit

y of

Uni

axia

l co

mpr

essi

ve s

tren

gths

, fr

om7M

pa f

or C

oal

to >

250M

pa f

or t

he m

ore

com

pete

nt d

oler

ites

.

•T

he r

eact

ion

of i

ndiv

idua

l ro

ck t

ypes

on

oxid

atio

n, t

he r

ocks

wit

h hi

gh c

lay

cont

ent

tend

to

wea

ther

pre

fere

ntia

lly

resu

ltin

gin

neg

ativ

e pr

ofil

es o

n th

e ex

cava

tion

.

•T

he d

isti

nct

join

ting

set

s in

the

Dol

erit

e w

ith

the

prin

cipa

ldi

rect

ions

at

900

to e

ach

othe

r in

the

ver

tica

l ax

is a

nd a

thir

d jo

inti

ng s

et i

n th

e ho

rizo

ntal

axi

s re

sult

ing

in b

lock

ygr

ound

.

The

ove

rbur

den

of t

he N

umbe

r 4

Low

er C

oal

Sea

m c

an b

e cl

assi

fied

as a

seq

uenc

e of

upw

ard

coar

seni

ng s

edim

enta

ry u

nits

eac

h ca

pped

by a

coa

l ho

rizo

n th

at i

s ty

pica

l of

pro

grad

ing

delt

aic

sequ

ence

s.

Spec

ific

geo

logy

: M

iddl

ebul

t an

d B

osje

sspr

uit

(7.1

) sh

afts

The

dis

pari

ty o

f th

e un

iaxi

al c

ompr

essi

ve s

tren

gths

was

les

s ev

iden

tat

Mid

dleb

ult

whe

re t

he s

haft

col

lar

is s

itua

ted

stra

tigr

aphi

call

ybe

low

the

Num

ber

4 D

oler

ite

sill

(B

4) a

nd t

he N

umbe

r 8

Dol

erit

esi

ll (

B8)

doe

s no

t in

ters

ect

the

shaf

t po

siti

on.

The

Mid

delb

ult

shaf

t pr

esen

ted

a lo

w g

eolo

gica

l/m

inin

g ri

sk p

rofi

le.

The

sit

uati

on a

t B

osje

sspr

uit

is h

owev

er q

uite

dif

fere

nt,

both

the

B4

and

B8

sill

s ar

e pr

esen

t at

bot

h sh

aft

posi

tion

s. (

Add

endu

m2) 37

7

The

B8,

alt

houg

h ve

ry h

ard

by k

aroo

seq

uenc

e st

anda

rds

was

wel

lbe

low

the

har

dnes

s of

>45

0 M

pa U

CS

mat

eria

l fr

eque

ntly

enc

ount

ered

duri

ng r

aise

-bor

ing

oper

atio

ns o

n S

outh

Afr

ica'

s pl

atin

um m

ines

.In

add

itio

n, t

his

stra

ta h

as b

een

succ

essf

ully

pil

oted

and

rea

med

seve

ral

tim

es a

t S

ecun

da.

The

str

atif

icat

ion

of t

he B

4 do

leri

te s

ill

was

kno

wn

from

ear

lier

shaf

t pr

ojec

ts t

o pr

esen

t ra

ise

bori

ng c

hall

enge

s, t

he r

easo

ns f

orth

is a

rea

cove

red

in t

he n

ext

sect

ion.

The

Num

ber

4 do

leri

te s

ill

at B

osje

sspr

uit

is c

over

ed b

y 15

met

res

of s

emi-

wea

ther

ed t

o w

eath

ered

ove

r bu

rden

and

has

thr

ee m

ajor

lith

olog

ical

uni

ts:

•T

he l

ower

uni

t is

a 1

0met

res

thic

k fi

ne t

o m

ediu

m c

ryst

alli

negr

anul

ar d

oler

ite

wit

h m

inor

non

-ori

ente

d fe

ldsp

ar l

aths

.It

is

a co

mpe

tent

uni

t w

ith

sem

i ve

rtic

al j

oint

ing

wit

h a

90º

angl

e be

twee

n th

e tw

o pr

inci

ple

join

t di

rect

ions

. T

hesp

acin

g be

twee

n th

e jo

ints

was

ass

esse

d to

be

± 1

.4m

(fi

gure

1).

The

re i

s al

so a

hor

izon

tal

join

ting

com

pone

nt,

the

vert

ical

spac

ing

here

was

det

erm

ined

to

be ±

1.0m

as

obse

rved

at

vari

ous

road

cut

ting

s in

the

Hig

hvel

d C

oal

fiel

d ar

ea.

•T

he n

ext

lith

olog

ical

uni

t, w

hich

is

appr

oxim

atel

y 12

met

res

thic

k co

nsis

ts o

f a

high

ly s

erpe

ntin

ized

fin

e to

med

ium

cry

stal

line

dole

rite

. T

his

unit

is

high

ly j

oint

ed h

oriz

onta

lly,

wit

h a

typi

cal

join

t sp

acin

g in

the

ord

er o

f 5

to 8

cen

tim

etre

s.T

his

unit

wea

ther

s ex

cept

iona

lly

quic

kly

(fig

ure

2).

•T

he u

pper

mos

t li

thol

ogic

al u

nit

is s

imil

ar t

o th

e lo

wer

mos

tun

it.

Thi

s un

it i

s 18

met

res

thic

k an

d ou

tcro

ps o

n su

rfac

ew

ith

the

uppe

r 10

met

res

bein

g hi

ghly

wea

ther

ed. T

he j

oint

ing

agai

n is

sim

ilar

to

the

low

erm

ost

unit

.

378

EX

EC

UT

ION

RIS

K I

DE

NT

IFIC

AT

ION

AN

D M

ITIG

AT

ION

AC

TIO

NS

.

Tab

led

belo

w a

re t

he m

ajor

exe

cuti

on r

isks

ide

ntif

ied

and

the

mit

gati

on a

ctio

ns u

nder

take

n.

Incr

ease

d sh

aft

diam

eter

(M

echa

nica

l ri

sk

379

Cha

llen

ging

geo

logi

cl c

ondi

tion

s (M

inin

g R

isk) Fi

gure

3

Figu

re 3

380

TE

CH

NIC

AL

SO

LU

TIO

NS

TO

RIS

K M

ITIG

AT

ION

RE

QU

IRE

ME

NT

S.

Ens

urin

g th

e m

echa

nica

l in

tegr

ity

of t

he r

aise

bor

ing

equi

pmen

t.(R

isk

1)

Ruc

bor

wer

e su

cces

sful

in

achi

evin

g te

chni

cal

solu

tion

s fo

r th

eir

equi

pmen

t re

quir

emen

ts,

thes

e in

clud

ed:

•T

he a

cqui

siti

on o

f th

e up

grad

ed d

rill

str

ing

requ

ired

for

the

add

itio

nal

torq

ue r

equi

rem

ents

.

•T

he d

esig

n of

ext

ensi

on w

ings

to

be f

itte

d to

a s

tand

ard

6.1m

∅ r

eam

er h

ead

base

and

,

•T

he c

onfi

gura

tion

of

the

ream

ing

cutt

ers

on t

his

exte

nded

ream

er h

ead

to a

chie

ve a

rea

med

dia

met

er o

f 7.

1m.

The

res

ult

was

a r

eam

er h

ead,

whi

ch w

ould

ena

ble

the

exca

vati

onof

the

req

uire

d 7.

1m∅

sha

fts

thro

ugh

the

stra

ta o

verl

ying

the

shaf

t po

siti

ons

at t

he M

idde

lbul

t an

d B

osje

sspr

uit

vent

ilat

ion

shaf

ts.

Act

ions

pri

or t

o ra

ise

bori

ng (

Pre

-min

ing

grou

nd s

tabi

lisa

tion

)

Sta

bil

isat

ion

of

cen

tre

core

for

pil

ot h

ole

dri

llin

g(R

isk

2)

The

fir

st r

equi

rem

ent w

as to

rep

lace

the

uppe

r te

n m

etre

s of

wea

ther

edm

ater

ial i

n th

e sh

aft c

entr

e to

a d

iam

eter

that

wou

ld s

afel

y ac

com

mod

ate

the

381

mm

Ø p

ilot

hol

e. T

his

was

ach

ieve

d by

dri

llin

g a

600m

and

back

fil

ling

wit

h 30

Mpa

mas

s co

ncre

te p

rior

to th

e es

tabl

ishm

ent

of t

he r

aise

-bor

ing

cont

ract

or.

Var

ious

dri

llin

g op

tion

s ar

e av

aila

ble,

inc

lude

d th

e C

ham

ber

ofM

ines

res

cue

dril

l an

d pi

ling

aug

er r

igs.

Due

to

tim

e, s

afet

y an

dlo

gist

ical

con

stra

ints

at

the

tim

e of

exe

cuti

on,

a bu

tton

bit

rea

mer

on a

per

cuss

ion

dril

l ri

g w

as u

sed

to w

iden

a 2

03m

m h

ole,

foa

mw

as a

dded

to

the

dril

l li

quid

to

ensu

re a

dequ

ate

flus

hing

of

the

dril

l ch

ips

wit

h th

e in

crea

sed

annu

lus

of t

he h

ole.

(F

igur

e 4)

381

The

sec

ond

requ

irem

ent

was

to

min

imis

e th

e am

ount

of

pilo

t ho

leer

osio

n in

the

mid

dle

zone

of

the

B4

dole

rite

. E

xten

ding

the

600

mm

ø ho

le t

o a

dept

h of

±50

m w

as u

nacc

epta

bly

cost

ly;

the

sele

cted

solu

tion

was

to

appl

y a

bent

onit

e m

ud a

ddit

ive

to t

he f

lush

ing

wat

er d

urin

g pi

lot

hole

dri

llin

g.

Sta

bil

isat

ion

of

ream

ing

face

(R

isk

3)

A c

olla

pse

or p

arti

al c

olla

pse

of t

he r

eam

ing

face

dur

ing

rod

chan

geou

t w

ill

resu

lt i

n co

stly

del

ays,

ens

urin

g th

at t

he f

ace

rem

ains

inta

ct i

s a

prer

equi

site

.

Sta

ndar

d st

rata

con

trol

pri

ncip

les

are

used

in

desi

gnin

g th

e lo

adbe

arin

g re

quir

emen

ts o

f an

y su

ppor

t sy

stem

em

ploy

ed.

The

rea

mer

fac

e su

ppor

t sy

stem

has

the

fol

low

ing

desi

gn d

rive

rs:

•T

he m

inim

um te

nsil

e fa

ilur

e st

reng

th o

f the

sup

port

s (d

owel

s)sh

ould

be d

eter

min

ed b

y th

e m

ass

of a

"bl

ock"

of

B4

dole

rite

, w

hich

pote

ntia

lly

coul

d ke

y ou

t of

the

rea

min

g fa

ce.

Mas

s=

V

olum

e S

.G=

1.

4m X

1.4

m x

1.0

m X

2.7

m t

ons/

m3

=

5.3

tons

•A

saf

ety

fact

or o

f 1.

1 w

as a

ppli

ed r

esul

ting

in

a te

nsil

e s

tren

gth

requ

irem

ent

of e

ach

supp

ort

dow

el o

f 58

.2 K

n.

•T

he d

owel

s sh

ould

hav

e sh

ear

stre

ngth

as

low

as

poss

ible

and

shou

ld d

efin

itel

y no

t in

clud

e an

y st

eel

so a

s no

t to

inte

rfer

e w

ith

late

r ra

ise

bori

ng o

pera

tion

s sh

ould

a h

ole

devi

ate

into

the

sha

ft.

•D

owel

spa

cing

sho

uld

ensu

re c

over

age

of th

e fu

ll s

haft

dia

met

erta

king

acc

ount

of

the

1.4m

spa

cing

of

the

vert

ical

joi

nts

in t

he B

4 D

oler

ite.

A 1

0mm

ø f

ibre

gla

ss r

einf

orce

d pl

asti

c ro

d w

ith

a sp

ecif

ied

tens

ile

stre

ngth

of

50K

n w

as s

ourc

ed;

thre

e ro

ds a

re u

sed

in e

ach

com

posi

tedo

wel

. T

wen

ty d

owel

s ar

e in

stal

led

in e

ach

shaf

t

382

Thr

ee t

est

dow

els

wer

e m

ade

up a

nd f

ailu

re t

este

d at

CS

IR M

inin

gT

ek w

ith

the

foll

owin

g re

sult

s:

Tes

t on

e-

Max

imum

loa

ds c

arri

ed =

61.6

Kn.

Tes

t tw

o-

Max

imum

loa

d ca

rrie

d =

71.3

Kn.

Tes

t th

ree

-M

axim

um l

oad

carr

ied

=58

.8 K

n.

Sta

bil

isat

ion

of

shaf

t si

de

wal

ls (

Ris

ks

4,5

and

6)

The

kno

wn

inst

abil

ity

of t

he u

pper

10m

wea

ther

ed o

verb

urde

nas

wel

l as

the

pro

pens

ity

of t

he f

riab

le a

nd r

abid

ly w

eath

erin

gm

iddl

e zo

ne o

f th

e B

4 D

oler

ite

to s

elf

min

ing

dict

ated

tha

t a

mea

ns b

e fo

und

to e

ffec

t th

e fo

llow

ing:

•S

truc

tura

lly

rein

forc

e th

ese

regi

ons

to n

egat

e th

e ef

fect

of

any

late

ral

forc

es o

n th

e sh

aft

side

wal

l/

•A

rres

t an

y ov

er m

inin

g th

at m

ay o

ccur

.

Not

e 1

Con

side

rati

on w

as g

iven

to

the

inje

ctio

n of

a r

esin

bas

ed m

atri

xin

to t

he w

eath

ered

are

as a

s w

ell

as t

he s

erpe

ntin

ised

dol

erit

e zo

ne,

the

idea

bei

ng t

hat

a co

nsol

idat

ed c

ore

roug

hly

the

diam

eter

of

the

shaf

t w

ould

be

crea

ted

whi

ch c

ould

the

n be

rea

med

. F

ield

tria

ls s

how

ed t

hat

a re

sin

mix

ture

inj

ecte

d th

roug

h a

76m

m ∅

hole

did

not

mig

rate

suf

fici

entl

y th

roug

h th

e st

rata

to

reac

h th

esh

aft

peri

met

er a

nd i

n fa

ct t

ook

the

shor

test

rou

te,

whi

ch w

asdi

rect

ly i

nto

the

feed

hol

e di

rect

ly a

bove

the

poi

nt i

njec

tion

.

Hig

h-pr

essu

re c

emen

t gr

outi

ng t

echn

olog

y co

uld

not

be a

ppli

ed,

as t

he n

atur

e of

the

str

ata

is n

ot c

ondu

cive

to

this

tec

hnol

ogy.

The

sol

utio

n op

ted

for

was

to

inst

all

a ri

ng o

f re

info

rced

"sp

iles

"ou

tsid

e th

e pe

rim

eter

of

the

shaf

t. E

ach

spil

e co

nsis

t of

a 2

50m

vert

ical

hol

e dr

ille

d fr

om s

urfa

ce t

o be

low

the

B4

Dol

erit

e, a

50m

m∅

ste

el p

ipe

is i

nser

ted

alon

g th

e fu

ll l

engt

h of

the

hol

ean

d th

e ho

le i

s fu

ll c

olum

n ce

men

t gr

oute

d th

roug

h th

e pi

pe.

A t

otal

of

51 "

spil

es"

are

inst

alle

d ar

ound

eac

h sh

aft

at 5

00m

msp

acin

g be

twee

n ce

ntre

s, t

he n

et e

ffec

t is

a r

ing

of 2

50m

m ∅

rein

forc

ed c

oncr

ete

pile

s sp

aced

250

mm

apa

rt a

nd t

o a

dept

h of 38

3

60m

aro

und

each

sha

ft,

accu

racy

of

dril

ling

ver

tica

lity

was

clo

sely

mon

itor

ed.

The

int

egri

ty o

f th

is s

olut

ion

was

ver

ifie

d by

tes

ting

a d

esig

npr

opos

al b

y m

eans

of

num

eric

al m

odel

ling

, th

is w

ork

was

car

ried

out

by C

SIR

Min

ing

Tek

and

enta

iled

the

use

of

prop

riet

ary

soft

war

epr

ogra

ms.

The

des

ign

prop

osal

mod

elle

d in

clud

ed a

dou

ble

ring

of s

pile

s as

was

pro

pose

d fr

om p

revi

ous

expe

rien

ce.

Wha

t th

e m

odel

ling

sho

wed

was

tha

t a

sing

le r

ing

of s

pile

s w

assu

ffic

ient

; th

is r

esul

ted

in a

con

side

rabl

e co

st s

avin

g fr

om e

stim

ates

duri

ng t

he d

esig

n ph

ase.

Con

tin

uou

s op

erat

ion

in

B4

Dol

erit

e (R

isk

6)

Obs

erva

tion

of

the

serp

enti

sed

B4

zone

of

the

geol

ogic

al c

ore

(fig

ure

2) i

ndic

ated

tha

t se

vere

wea

ther

ing

of t

his

zone

wou

ldoc

cur

wit

hin

two

wee

ks o

f ex

posu

re t

o ai

r. T

his

mea

nt t

hat

the

serp

enti

ne i

n-fi

ll b

etw

een

dole

rite

joi

nts

wou

ld d

isap

pear

and

that

the

5 t

o 8

cent

imet

re j

oint

spa

cing

in

this

zon

e w

ould

res

ult

in r

apid

ly u

nrav

elli

ng s

trat

a.

Pla

nnin

g w

as i

n pl

ace

to a

pply

a l

ayer

of

shot

Cre

te t

o th

is z

one

as s

oon

as p

ossi

ble

afte

r ac

cess

cou

ld b

e ob

tain

ed t

o se

al t

hear

ea f

rom

the

atm

osph

ere

and

ther

efor

e ha

lt t

he w

eath

erin

g pr

oces

s.

The

exp

ecte

d ad

vanc

e of

the

rai

se b

orer

was

± 5

m/d

ay t

hrou

ghth

e B

4 D

oler

ite,

as

this

zon

e is

40-

50m

bel

ow s

urfa

ce i

t w

ould

take

at

leas

t 8

days

fro

m i

niti

al e

xpos

ure

of t

his

zone

to

com

plet

ion

of t

he r

eam

ing

oper

atio

n. R

eam

ing

oper

atio

ns t

here

fore

had

to

be c

onti

nuou

s on

ce t

he B

4 D

oler

ite

had

been

int

erse

cted

, fo

r th

isre

ason

cut

ter

and

ream

er m

aint

enan

ce w

as d

one

prio

r to

the

B4

bein

g re

ache

d.

Imm

edia

te r

emov

al o

f re

amer

an

d r

aise

bor

e eq

uip

men

t(R

isk

6)

For

the

sam

e re

ason

s as

not

ed a

bove

, re

mov

al o

f th

e re

amer

and

rais

e bo

ring

equ

ipm

ent

from

the

sha

ft s

houl

d ta

ke p

lace

wit

hin

24hr

s of

hol

ing.

Onc

e th

e re

amer

had

hol

ed t

o su

rfac

e th

is w

asac

hiev

ed b

y us

ing

a 55

0-to

n cr

ane

to f

irst

lif

t th

e 85

t ra

ise

bore

mac

hine

and

the

n th

e 10

5-to

n re

amer

hea

d. (

Fig

ures

5a.

& 5

b.)

384

Rap

id s

eali

ng

of B

4 d

oler

ite

(Ris

k 6

)

Now

tha

t th

e sh

aft

was

cle

ar o

f ra

ise

bori

ng e

quip

men

t a

laye

rof

sho

t-C

rete

was

app

lied

to

the

shaf

t si

dew

all.

The

req

uire

men

tsw

ere

as f

ollo

ws:

•A

pply

a 4

5mm

thi

ck s

eal

(fla

sh-c

oat)

to

the

shaf

t si

dew

all

from

the

col

lar

to a

dep

th o

f 60

m.

•E

nsur

e th

at t

he s

hot-

Cre

te w

ould

att

ain

a fi

nal

stre

ngth

of

35M

pa a

nd s

uffi

cien

t ea

rly

stre

ngth

tha

t w

ould

all

ow s

afe

acce

ss o

f w

orkm

en b

elow

new

ly a

ppli

ed s

hot

crea

te.

•C

ompl

ete

this

fla

sh-c

oat

wit

hin

72 h

rs o

f th

e re

amer

bei

ngre

mov

ed f

rom

the

sha

ft.

As

the

sche

dule

req

uire

men

ts p

recl

uded

any

sci

enti

fic

test

ing

ofsh

ot c

rete

for

log

isti

cal

reas

ons,

tri

als

wer

e co

nduc

ted

wit

h va

riou

sm

ixes

of

cem

ent

and

acce

lera

tors

, a

best

opt

ion

sele

cted

and

ast

anda

rd o

pera

ting

pro

cedu

re d

raw

n up

to

ensu

re t

he c

orre

ct a

ndsa

fe e

xecu

tion

of

this

ope

rati

on.

The

sho

t-cr

ete

was

a d

ry m

ix a

ppli

ed m

anua

lly

from

a b

osun

'sch

air.

Mix

and

wat

er w

ere

supp

lied

via

su

spen

ded

hose

s fr

omsu

rfac

e.

Fig

ure

6 is

a b

irds

eye

vie

w o

f th

e B

osje

sspr

uit

upca

st s

haft

pri

orto

the

ins

tall

atio

n of

the

sup

port

sta

ge a

nd t

empo

rary

acc

ess

syst

em.

B8

DO

LE

RIT

E A

NO

MA

LY

The

B8

dole

rite

has

nev

er b

een

the

caus

e of

any

fai

lure

or

non-

conf

orm

ance

at p

revi

ous

shaf

t sin

king

ope

rati

ons

at S

ecun

da. A

ltho

ugh

the

mat

eria

l, a

t 25

0-35

0 M

pa i

s ha

rd b

y K

aroo

seq

uenc

e st

anda

rds,

the

net

resu

lt o

f th

is h

ardn

ess

in a

rai

se b

orin

g op

erat

ion

is u

sual

lyli

mit

ed t

o a

slow

er a

dvan

ce r

ate

and

incr

ease

d cu

tter

wea

r.

The

B8

dol

erit

e w

as p

rese

nt a

s ex

pect

ed a

t bo

th t

he u

pcas

t an

ddo

wnc

ast

shaf

ts a

t B

osje

sspr

uit

Col

lier

y; a

t th

e up

cast

sha

ft,

whi

chw

as r

aise

bor

ed f

irst

, th

is d

oler

ite

was

enc

ount

ered

whe

re e

xpec

ted

385

and

man

aged

as

plan

ned.

At

the

dow

ncas

t sh

aft,

the

Dol

erit

e w

as e

xpec

ted

to b

e ±

12m

thi

ckas

per

a c

ore

hole

dri

lled

5m

fro

m t

he s

haft

per

imet

er,

inst

ead

this

int

rusi

on w

as w

edge

sha

ped

(Add

endu

m 3

) w

ith

a th

ickn

ess

vary

ing

betw

een

7.46

m a

nd 1

2.40

m o

ver

the

7.1m

dia

met

er o

fth

e sh

aft.

Thi

s an

omal

ous

situ

atio

n of

har

d (2

50 M

pa)

and

soft

(55M

pa)

mat

eria

l on

the

sam

e re

amin

g el

evat

ing

resu

lted

in

the

ream

er h

ead

bein

g pu

lled

off

lev

el a

nd t

he r

eam

er s

tem

fai

ling

caus

ing

the

ream

er t

o dr

op t

o sh

aft

bott

om.

The

loa

ding

sta

ndar

d op

erat

ing

proc

edur

e en

forc

ed e

nsur

ed t

hat

no p

erso

ns o

r eq

uipm

ent

wer

e at

ris

k w

hen

this

hap

pene

d. T

hene

t re

sult

was

a d

elay

of

six

wee

ks o

n th

e pr

ojec

t sc

hedu

le a

ndco

nsid

erab

le r

epai

r co

sts.

Thi

s ri

sk h

as b

een

mit

igat

ed i

n fu

ture

sha

fts

by d

rill

ing

core

sam

ples

fro

m f

our

posi

tion

s ar

ound

the

sha

ft,

a pr

acti

ce t

hat

isno

w s

tand

ard

proc

edur

e.

CO

NC

LU

SIO

N

•T

he c

ost,

saf

ety

and

sche

dule

adv

anta

ges

of r

aise

bor

ing

as a

sha

ft s

inki

ng m

etho

d ve

rtic

al v

enti

lati

on s

haft

s ar

ew

itho

ut q

uest

ion

for

the

cond

itio

ns p

reva

ilin

g at

Sec

unda

Col

lier

s.

•T

he te

chni

cal f

easi

bili

ty o

f th

e 7.

1m d

iam

eter

rea

min

g op

erat

ion

has

been

pro

ven,

les

sons

lea

rnt

wit

h th

e un

ique

con

diti

ons

expe

rien

ced

at t

he B

osje

sspr

uit

dow

ncas

t sh

aft

have

bee

nw

ell

docu

men

ted

and

the

requ

ired

add

itio

nal

mit

igat

ion

acti

ons

for

futu

re s

haft

pro

ject

s al

read

y in

stit

uted

.

•T

he p

roje

ct m

anag

er,

whe

n ap

proa

chin

g su

ch w

ork

whe

rene

w d

evel

opm

ent

and

sign

ific

ant

risk

s ar

e en

coun

tere

d m

ust

ensu

re th

at te

chni

call

y co

mpe

tent

con

trac

tors

, wit

h a

prof

essi

onal

atti

tude

are

app

oint

ed a

s pa

rtne

rs i

n th

e pr

ojec

t de

velo

pmen

t.

•A

gre

ater

app

reci

atio

n is

als

o he

ld f

or t

he n

eed

to m

anag

eou

t, w

here

pos

sibl

e, a

s m

any

assu

mpt

ions

and

geo

logi

cal

inte

rpre

tati

ons

base

d on

ass

umpt

ion

as p

ract

ical

ly p

ossi

ble.

386

It i

s a

stro

ngly

hel

d be

lief

tha

t ha

ving

det

aile

d in

form

atio

n on

the

prev

aili

ng g

eolo

gica

l an

d m

inin

g co

ndit

ions

, an

d be

ing

able

to s

ucce

ssfu

lly

synt

hesi

se t

his

know

ledg

e w

ith

the

oper

atio

n to

be u

nder

take

n is

a r

equi

rem

ent

for

succ

essf

ul p

roje

ct p

lann

ing

and

impl

emen

tati

on. T

he m

ore

com

plet

e th

e te

chni

cal i

nput

info

rmat

ion,

the

grea

ter

the

succ

ess

of t

he r

isk

mit

igat

ion

acti

ons

and

the

low

erth

e ri

sk o

f no

n-co

nfor

man

ce.

The

deg

ree

to w

hich

the

sha

ft s

inki

ng p

roje

ct m

anag

er i

s pr

epar

edto

inve

st in

the

acqu

isit

ion

of g

eo-t

echn

ical

and

geo

logi

cal i

nfor

mat

ion

has

to b

e ev

alua

ted

wit

h re

fere

nce

to t

he f

ollo

win

g fa

ctor

s.

•W

hat

prev

ious

exp

erie

nce

in s

imil

ar g

eolo

gica

l co

ndit

ions

have

bee

n su

itab

ly d

ocum

ente

d

•H

ow c

onsi

sten

t an

d un

ifor

m a

re t

he g

eolo

gica

l st

ruct

ures

in t

he a

rea?

i.e

. to

wha

t de

gree

can

ass

umpt

ions

be

mad

eon

spe

cifi

c co

ndit

ions

?

•H

as a

ll t

he t

echn

olog

y an

d eq

uipm

ent

to b

e em

ploy

ed b

een

oper

atio

nall

y pr

oven

?

Ult

imat

ely

thou

gh,

min

ing

rem

ains

as

alw

ays,

a s

cien

ce f

or t

hepr

agm

atic

.

"Ris

k ex

ists

, an

d th

e su

cces

sful

min

ing

engi

neer

is

the

one

who

neve

r ac

cept

s a

solu

tion

at

face

val

ue,

he s

triv

es c

onti

nuou

sly

to l

earn

fro

m t

he p

ast

and

the

pres

ent

and

he i

s al

way

s pr

epar

edto

sow

his

kno

wle

dge

into

the

fut

ure"

.

RE

FE

RE

NC

ES

Mod

elli

ng o

f su

ppor

t fo

r ve

ntil

atio

n sh

aft

at B

osje

sspr

uit

Min

e,D

P R

ober

ts e

t al

, C

SIR

div

isio

n of

Min

ing

Tec

hnol

ogy,

Nov

embe

r20

00.

Geo

tech

nica

l as

sess

men

t of

str

ata

cond

itio

ns a

nd c

omm

ents

on

supp

ort

desi

gn f

or v

enti

lati

on s

haft

s at

Cha

rl C

illi

ers,

Dr.

B.

Mad

den,

Dec

200

0.

387

The

rai

se b

orin

g of

lar

ge d

iam

eter

(>

7.0m

ø)

vert

ical

sha

fts

ona

Sou

th A

fric

an C

olli

ery,

Pre

sent

atio

n to

SA

CM

A,

G.

Tri

vett

,A

ugus

t 20

00.

Sas

ol M

inin

g, P

roje

cts

- G

eote

chni

cal

aspe

cts

of t

he s

inki

ng o

fsh

afts

in

the

Hig

hvel

d C

oalf

ield

, J.

Spa

rrow

, S

asol

Min

ing,

Mar

ch20

01.

AC

KN

OW

LE

DG

EM

EN

TS

The

aut

hor

ackn

owle

dges

and

giv

es t

hank

s fo

r th

e co

ntri

buti

ons

of t

he f

ollo

win

g co

llea

gues

.

For

the

ir c

onti

nued

tru

st a

nd e

ncou

rage

men

t:

Mes

srs.

Jan

nie

Van

Der

Wes

thui

zen,

Fri

k G

robb

elaa

r, J

acki

e V

ersl

uis,

Nic

o V

an E

ck,

Gar

y L

eibb

rand

t an

d Jo

han

Van

Zyl

of

Sas

ol M

inin

g.

For

the

ir t

echn

olog

y in

puts

:

To

Koo

s D

e be

er a

nd B

arne

y B

este

r fo

r th

eir

past

exp

erie

nces

in

rais

e bo

ring

at

Sec

unda

, D

awid

Pos

tma

and

Bri

an V

orst

er f

or t

heir

rock

eng

inee

ring

con

trib

utio

ns a

nd t

o Jo

hn S

parr

ow f

or h

is g

eolo

gica

lin

sigh

ts.

For

the

ir p

artn

ersh

ip r

oles

:

Coe

n R

oos,

Man

agin

g D

irec

tor,

Ruc

bor

(Pty

) L

tdIv

an W

alke

r, M

anag

ing

Dir

ecto

r, P

iek

Min

ing

(Pty

) L

tdP

iete

r P

reto

rius

, M

anag

ing

Dir

ecto

r, P

ercu

sso

Bor

(P

ty)

Ltd

Kal

li L

e R

oux

and

Roe

lf D

u P

reez

Ack

now

ledg

emen

t al

so t

o al

l th

e co

llea

gues

on

the

proj

ect

team

san

d on

the

min

es f

or t

heir

pro

fess

iona

lism

and

ded

icat

ion.

388

Fig

ure

1:

900

Ver

tica

l jo

inti

ng o

f B

4 D

oler

ite

•N

ote

cam

era

lens

cov

er f

or i

ndic

atio

n of

sca

le

389

Figure 2 :Serpen t in i sed zone in B4 Dole r i t e

• A l l t h e l i g h t e r, s e r p e n t i n e b a n d s i n t h i s c o r e d i s a p p e a r e d wi th in two weeks o f exposure to a i r r e su l t ing in a to t a l un rave l l ingo f t h i s 1 2 m t h i c k z o n e

• N o t i c e a l s o t h e v e r t i c a l f r a c t u r i n g p r e s e n t

390

Fig

ure

3:

Sha

ft c

olla

r re

ady

for

Rai

se b

ore

mac

hine

•N

ote

dow

els

and

spil

es c

ompl

eted

pri

or t

o ra

ise

bori

ng

391

Fig

ure

4:

600m

m Ø

per

cuss

ion

dril

l re

amer

for

cen

tre

core

rem

oval

392

Fig

ure

5a:

Sin

gle

lift

(85

ton

s) o

f W

irth

Rai

se b

ore

mac

hine

fro

m s

haft

wit

hin

6 hr

s of

hol

ing

393

Figure 5b: S ing le l i f t (106 tons ) o f 7 .1mø ra i se bo re r eamer f rom sha f t w i th in 12 h r s o f ho l ing .

394

Fig

ure

6:

Bir

ds-e

ye v

iew

of

7.1m

ø ra

ise

bore

d sh

aft

afte

r re

mov

al o

f ra

ise

bore

equ

ipm

ent

•S

pile

s ar

ound

sha

ft•

Ten

denc

y of

B4

Dol

erit

e to

sel

f m

ine

but

arre

sted

by

spil

e(t

op l

eft

of s

haft

)

395

Ad

den

du

m 1

396

Ad

den

du

m 2 39

7

Ad

den

du

m 3

BO

SJE

SS

PR

UIT

- C

HA

RL

CIL

LIE

RS

DO

WN

CA

ST

SH

AF

T

398