North Goonyella Fire MRE 13th September 2018. “The Mine Must Revise the Sealing Management Plan in Light of the Current Situation” Yet No Directive Issued

MRE – North Goonyella – 13.09.2018.pdf

Two Paragraphs I want to draw attention to in particular

1. We discussed various options should the inertisation plan not be successful. Again, the inspectors stressed that, whether using an alternate recovery plan or the original shield recovery and sealing plan, the Mine must revise the sealing management plan in light of the current situation. The Plan should have specific reference to monitoring and ongoing inertisation. The Mine should consider whether the current TARPS are still relevant given the events of the past few weeks.

So the Mines Inspectors say the Management “must” revise the sealing plan.

Why is there no Directive Issued?

What exactly does “Should consider whether the current Tarps are still relevant” mean in plain English?

Does it mean revise the triggers UP? 

2) Following the meeting Inspector Marlborough at the request of the Mine Management and SSHR, attended a crew briefing where the Mine Management gave the workforce an update. I answered various questions from the Coal Mine Workers and explained current situation and the role of the Inspectors in the IMT process.

It seems to have taken 10 days, but at last an Inspector has stated he talked to a whole shift of workers.

I am sure both the Shift Briefing by Management of an “Update” on status of Mine and Inspectors answers on both that and the role of Inspectors in the IMT would have been interesting.

Did the Inspectors inform the workforce about telling the Management about telling Management they “Must”

revise the sealing management plan in light of the current situation. The Plan should have specific reference to monitoring and ongoing inertisation. The Mine should consider whether the current TARPS are still relevant given the events of the past few weeks?

Today, 12 Sep 2018 1, Inspector Les Marlborough, and Inspectors Keith Brennan and Richard Gouldstone attended a meeting at North Goonyella Mine to discuss the status of the high CO in 9N TG. We were met by Acting UMM Mr Mike Carter.

Meeting

Attending the meeting was;-

Mr John Anger, SSE (Video Link);

Mr Mike Carter, Underground Mine Manager (Acting);

Mr Nev Impson, Compliance Manager;

Mr Dennis Black, Ventilation Officer

Mr Charles Lilly, Peabody Senior Director of Engineering;

Ms Sneza Bajic, SIMTARS (Video Link);

Mr David Pitt, Longwall Coordinator;

Mr Rick Sewell, GM South Project Manager; Mr Casey Moore, SSHR;

Mr Jeff Perks, HST Superintendent (Scribe).

In addition, the meeting was joined by video conference by;

Mr Darren Brady;

Mr Michael Brady;

Mr  Watkinson (SIMTARS).

Meeting

Last 24 Hours;-

Continued monitoring gases and injection of inert gas as per plan;

Continued inspections and critical work underground as per the re-entry plan;

Foam going down Hole 2690 with Floxal gas;

New hole on MG side of TG Chute Road drilled to 100 m. Expected to hole around Mid-day Friday;

Setting up pad for new hole # 3 if required (agreed to hold off on this in case it is not required at this location. More likely to be required on MG side of TG Chute Road;

The Mine opened up a surface borehole behind MG9 North 5 CT seal, The hole was breathing out strongly, with over 90% methane;

Measured 350 1/s Floxal gas going into 3 CT and 400 going into 4 CT.

Current Status;-

Gas readings for the previous 24 hours were provided and discussed.

Tube 24 Stable and inert;

Tube 29 showed a slow decrease in CO level by approximately 20 ppm over the past 24 hours. The modified Graham’s Ratio showed a continuing and steady downward trend. This was seen as a positive result. We explained that the rate of CO reduction was not expected to be rapid at this stage. This was confirmed by Mr Brady;

As expected, Tube 28 reflected the Tube 29 results with dilution from double doors etc.

Plan for the next 24 Hours;-

Continue Floxal injection as per current status;

Continue inspections, monitoring and essential work as per the re-entry plan;

Continue drilling of new hole at MG side of TG Chute Road. When this holes through the Mine will measure the gases coming out of the hole (expected to breath out after holing) and the temperature of this gas. Then the Floxal units from Hole 1991 and 2470 will be redirected to the new borehole.

We discussed various options should the inertisation plan not be successful. Again, the inspectors stressed that, whether using an alternate recovery plan or the original shield recovery and sealing plan, the Mine must revise the sealing management plan in light of the current situation. The Plan should have specific reference to monitoring and ongoing inertisation. The Mine should consider whether the current TARPS are still relevant given the events of the past few weeks.

Copies of the current gas data spreadsheets, the Incident Action Plan and a plan showing the injection points being used and the quantities of inen gas being injected were provided.

Following the meeting Inspector Marlborough at the request of the Mine Management and SSHR, attended a crew briefing where the Mine Management gave the workforce an update. I answered various questions from the Coal Mine Workers and explained current situation and the role of the Inspectors in the IMT process.

I thanked the people for their time and explained that Inspector Marlborough would return to the Mine at 9:00 AM on Friday 14 September to review progress and to discuss plans going forward