North Goonyella Mine Fire 4th October 2018. “Professor David Cliff commented that the gas composition sampled from the tube bundle line at H9 shaft are signature of Methane combustion.”
MRE – North Goonyella – 04.10.2018
On Thursday 4 October 2018 Inspectors Geoff Nugent and Robert Sherwood attend the North
Goonyella Mine Accommodation Village to attend a meeting in regard to progress on dealing with the spontaneous combustion event, Inspectors arriving at 7:30am.
Update Meeting at 8:30am Thursday 4 October 2018
Attendees —
Gareth Prichard (Electrical Maintenance Planner), John Anger (SSE), Geoff Nugent (Mines Inspector),
Chris Markowski (Tech Services), Rob Sherwood (Mines Inspector), Peter Baker (VP Peabody Australia)
Dial in — Marek Romenski (UMM), David Cliff (Consultant), Shaun Dobson (Deputy Chief Inspector), Neville Impson (Compliance Manager), Mike Carter (SSE Millennium Mine)
Past 24 hours
Damaged stabiliser ring and injectors required GAG to be stood at 2120hrs 3 October 2018 and recommenced at 0730hrs 4 October 2018.
QMRS were instructed to seal up bleeder fan housing and GAG in case shaft breathed in.
Bleeder Shaft was breathing out while GAG off, Bag Samples taken and posted 4 October 2018.
Tube Bundle sampling point into H9 Shaft established first results posted 1815hrs 3 October 2018
Issues with drilling GN2701, Focusing on drilling GN2702 aiming to hole through 4 October 2018
GAG Servicing completed during unplanned shut down overnight and no planned maintenance will be conducted today.
Next 24 hours
Borehole GN2702 hole through to be completed Borehole GN2701 hole through to be completed
Borehole GN2703 continuing drilling
At completion of GN2702 borehole today a Tube Bundle sampling tube and camera will be lowered into hole for observation underground and attempt to conduct environmental sampling. NGC Mine intends to use Nitrogen in the hole to provide inert atmosphere for camera.
Trend analysis of all Gas Sampling locations will be commenced by SIMTARS and distributed accordingly.
Meeting Notes
NGC will revise continued Nitrogen injection into the goaf and consider other locations in the mine workings due to the high CH4 and low Oxygen environment currently in the goaf
Due to the potential damage to GAG components operating GAG at 2% oxygen output, GAG will be operated at 4% oxygen output to maximise longevity of GAG components.
Due to both H9 Shaft and Bleeder Shaft breathing out while GAG not operating NGC believe air is being supplied to the underground workings. NGC is conducting a visual audit of all known boreholes into the mine workings.
Professor David Cliff commented that the gas composition sampled from the tube bundle line at H9 shaft are signature of Methane combustion.
NGC will conduct an assessment of Methane infrastructure and potential gas make to determine if system compromised.
NGC has sourced further tube bundle supply for establishing additional gas monitoring locations, the expected arrival of tube bundle;
3km from Metropolitan Colliery NSW —4/10/18
5km from Ensham Colliery Queensland — 4/10/18
10km (Black tube Bundle) from Melbourne — expected 7/10/18
60km from Melbourne — expected 14/10/18
