North Goonyella Mine Fire 8th October 2018. “D. Cliff stressed “that after further consideration a coal fire had been evident but that products from a separate methane fire were also present.”

MRE – North Goonyella – 08.10.2018.pdf

 

Discussion

H9 readings continuing steady downward trends in terms of CO/ H2/ C2H2/ C2H6, with CH4/ C02/ N2/ and 02 relatively steady. The limitations of the current sampling points were highlighted — this will be reviewed once immediate priorities were dealt with.

D. Cliff explained his email of the previous day relating to his interpretation of the mine environment. He stressed that after further consideration a coal fire had been evident but that products from a separate methane fire were also present.

With the uncertainty of varying ventilation patterns in is difficult to provide an accurate diagnosis. Plugging and sealing the longwall should remove some variables. Flow path from the GAG to the longwall remains uncertain.

 

Inspector Richard Gouldstone arrived at NGC Mine Camp at 07:25am on Monday 8 October 2018 to attend a meeting in regard to progress on dealing with the spontaneous combustion and subsequent underground fire event.

Update Meeting at NGC Camp @ 8:30am

Present —

Richard Gouldstone (Mines Inspector)

John Anger (SSE)

Marek Romanski (UMM)

Kris Markowski (TS Superintendent)

Gareth Pritchard (Group Planner — Scribe)

John Fitzpatrick (MSO) Casey Moore (ISHR)

By dial in –

David Cliff (Consultant)

Darren Brady (Consultant)

Shaun Dobson (Deputy Chief Inspector)

Dennis Black (VO)

Stephen Woods (ISHR)

Mike Carter (Millennium SSE 1MT member)

Peter Baker (Peabody Operations Manager)

Neville Impson (Compliance Manager)

Martin Watkinson (Simtars)

No major changes in direction in the last 24 hours

Last 24 Hours

• Gag running apart from 90mins lost due to a pump failure and docking issues. 48 hours shutdown now planned for 14 October. o MG belt road plug in place.
• Borehole GN2703 (MG Hdg 2 CT) — now drilled and ready for rocsil plug to be This will be the next plug as difficulty with GN2701 has prevented that plug being placed as at 9am today. There is concern over the potential loss of the rocsil nozzle.
• Borehole GN2701 (MG Chute Road) Rocsil material placed at the bottom of the borehole instead of roadway — work in progress to free the borehole so relocating to MG A Hdg 1-2 CT plug.
• GN2704 (TG Roadway) — Down to 310m at 4am. Hope to be casing at dam today.
• GN2705 — Rig 1226/1265 swapped due to hole design and rig capability.
• Floxal Unit #6 set up over 42 CT (Stone Dust Silo) @ 7501/s. This is running e Floxal Unit #2 at 6 CT in the Corridor. Run all night @ 3201/s. This running continuously.

e Borehole monitoring, H9 4hourly, GN2700, 1946, 2695, 2698, 36CtD-E, and 44Ct E Hdg all at 6hourly intervals and set up 25Ct 9N

• Emergency sealing preparation works continued at H40 & 1 in 4
• H9 temperature at 57 degrees C, compared with heat gun at 42 to be further assessed for correlation
• UIS flaring 2Ct & 4 Ct MGIOS.

Next 24 Hours

Continue GAG operations

GN2701 Rocksil Plug works

Continue drilling for LW containment

Validate heat temperature reading at H9 Shaft

Continue Sampling Regime

Revise Floxal Strategy

Preparation of sealing strategy

Conducting prep work for Radon heat survey.

Discussion

H9 readings continuing steady downward trends in terms of CO/ H2/ C2H2/ C2H6, with CH4/ C02/ N2/ and 02 relatively steady. The limitations of the current sampling points were highlighted — this will be reviewed once immediate priorities were dealt with.

D. Cliff explained his email of the previous day relating to his interpretation of the mine environment. He stressed that after further consideration a coal fire had been evident but that products from a separate methane fire were also present.

With the uncertainty of varying ventilation patterns in is difficult to provide an accurate diagnosis. Plugging and sealing the longwall should remove some variables. Flow path from the GAG to the longwall remains uncertain.

I completed an induction which will allow me to access the Mine site but remain outside the exclusion zones established by the Mine. This will be only under the close personal supervision of a Mine representative.