ENGINEERING

ENERGY

WATER

MARINE

MINING

TUNNELLING

Developments in Construction and Lining of Mine Shafts

by

John Zeni

10 September, 2015

25th Mechanical

Engineering Safety

Seminar

COPYRIGHT

Please note that this document and the

information contained herein is the property of

Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure. It shall not

be reproduced, copied in part or in entirety, or

given to any individual without the prior written

consent of the Managing Director of Abergeldie

Complex Infrastructure

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

PART 1: Introduction to Shaft Drilling

and Lining Methods

Process for installing composite shaft

linings into a blind bored shaft

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

Extremely heavy, watertight and pressure-bearing lining options can be

installed using blind boring methods and equipment.

6.2 m steel liner installation

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

450 tonne rig floating 3,200 tonne assembly of 5.3 m ID composite lining

Comparison with Other Shaft Construction Processes: Raise boring - requires underground access for muck removal, limited lining options, unsuitable

through poor ground conditions and cutter changes can be hazardous

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

Other Shaft Construction Processes: Conventional Drill and Blast shaft sinking – hazardous work environment, costly in poor ground conditions

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

Other Shaft Construction Processes : Down hole drills

1990 Ballarat Goldfields access shaft

4.7 m diameter bucket sinking through

soft clay temporarily supported by a

heavy bentonite slurry.

Steel surface liner installation

PART 2: Evolution of mechanised shaft boring

in Australia, 25 years and beyond

1990 Ballarat Goldfields access shaft with steerable Vertical Shaft Drill

1993 Northparkes Mine

ventilation shaft

5 m dia. x 215 m deep

lifting capacity: 317 tonnes

drilling torque: 350,000 Nm

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’ 1994 Dartbrook Coal ventilation shaft - 4.9 m dia. x 187 m deep, lined to

4.4 m dia. Steel casing with removable bulkhead doors at 3 seam levels

lifting capacity: 150 tonnes

drilling torque: 350,000 Nm

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’ 1995 - Henty Gold Mine, Tasmania 3.1 m dia. to 405 m deep

underground access shaft

1995 – 96 Osborne Mine: 3.7 m dia. x 570 m deep access shaft and

3.1 m dia. x 640 m deep ventilation shaft drilled concurrently

1996 -97

BHP Tower Colliery

Vent Shaft No 3

5.8 m dia. down ream of

2.4 m pilot raise

fibrecrete lining with bolts and

mesh

thrust capacity: 300 tonnes

drilling torque: 500,000 Nm

PART 3: New generation blind boring equipment and lining methods First shaft drilled using safer, larger drilling rigs, tools and drill pipe 2002 BHP Dendrobium Mine Vent Shaft No 1 4.25 m dia. x 186 metres deep remotely applied fibrecrete lining

lifting capacity: 350 tonnes

drilling torque: 700,000 Nm

2003 - Springvale no. 3 ventilation shaft - 4.25 m dia. x 365 m deep,

lined with 3.5 m internal dia. concrete and steel composite casing.

The first of it’s type in Australia

2006 – North Goonyella

Mains Ventilation shaft no 2

6.15 m dia. x 270 m deep

lifting capacity: 400 tonnes

drilling torque: 700,000 Nm

2010 - Austar ventilation shaft

5.5 m dia. x 465 m deep

4.5 m dia. composite liner

lifting capacity: 450 tonnes

drilling torque: 750,000 Nm

2015 - Appin Mine - 6.2 m dia. x 516 m deep with 5.5 m dia. watertight

composite liner weighing approximately 9,000 tonnes

Part 4: Evolution of Safety in blind boring methods

Eliminating risk: Blind bored shafts are excavated and lined entirely from the

surface with no personnel having to enter the shaft or the mine

Removing personnel from

hazards:

Abergeldie rigs can be

operated by remote control with

all the recognised benefits of

optimum vision and safety for

the operator and surrounding

personnel.

The site safety management

tool kit of 25 years ago was

not nearly as extensive as

today

‘Providing the complex infrastructure needed to build a better community’

References and acknowledgements: 1 Google Earth image of Douglas Park shaft site