Has Grosvenor Mine Detected Ethylene LW 104A Goaf Stream a sign of advanced Spontaneous Combustion? RSHQ refuses to say and only Anglo can say Yes or No. Anglo, it is not a hard question to answer.
For a week I have been trying to get a response from RSHQ CEO Mark Stone and Resources Minister Scott Stewart into reports of the Presence of Ethylene from Tailgate Goaf Stream bag samples at the Grosvenor Mine.
The CEO Stone has refused to make any comment at all and referred me to their public safety alert tab.
https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-notices/mines/failure-of-goaf-well-skid-safety-system
Can Anglo then see fit to make a public announcement?
Have you detected ethylene before and since last weeks storm?
These initial bag samples would have to been taken prior to storm and electrical strike on the gas sled arrestor.
Amongst the information communicated to the CEO and Minister was
- they found a Utube dislodged from a seal and goaf sucking oxygen yesterday…. floor heave.
- during the events peds didn’t work emergency dac calls didn’t work. Phone used to contact men UG.
- It appears there was a fourth incident in 104 … smouldering fire at the boot end.
- Bag sample results now from the goaf stream ….. still ethelyne issues…….
Is this is how how Grosvenor systems work less than a month after the RSHQ allowed them to restart longwall mining?
After all that Inquiry found and recommended.
After all that was in the secret RSHQ Investigation and Prosecution brief.
The Grosvenor Inquiry in FINDING 69 noted
e) There were increases in carbon monoxide concentrations, Graham’s Ratio and CO/CO2 Ratio, as well as traces of ethylene and higher hydrocarbon gases in the goaf, in the lead up to 6 May 2020. This is evidence of a heating in the goaf having reached at least 100°C, the point beyond which thermal runaway to a temperature sufficient to ignite an explosible mixture of methane and air is possible;
f) The combination of the explosible mixture of methane and air, and a heating beyond the point of thermal runaway, can result in a methane explosion;
The CEO of RSHQ has told me that it is not my business under the Coal Mining Act and Regulations to receive any information until RSHQ decides to state something publicly
Accordingly, I do not consider it is appropriate for me to provide you with the information you have requested directly, and outside other channels available to members of the public. This includes government publications and access under the Right to Information Act 2009.
RSHQ regularly publishes safety information relating to Queensland coal mines. You can find details at https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-notices
Well one thing I do know, is that neither the RSHQ and Anglo have ever been forthcoming to the Public with information about the Grosvenor Mine.
It must be wonderful to be in an airconditioned high rise office in the Brisbane CBD and the closest you get to the mine is maybe the administration building on a mine site once or twice a year for a photo op.
I also included Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Office and the Leader of Opposition’s Office in the emails
https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-notices/mines/failure-of-goaf-well-skid-safety-system
To: “Resources” <Resources@ministerial.qld.gov.au>; dpc@premiers.qld.gov.au; mark.stone@rshq.qld.gov.au; leader@opposition.qld.gov.au
Sent: Friday, 11 Mar, 2022 At 10:18 AM
Subject: Grosvenor Mine Evacuated, Ethylene Detected, Spon Com
Dear Resource Minister, Premier and Opposition Leader.
I received the following message about fifteen minutes ago.
Grosvenor…. big storm last night… lightning strike on gas sled arrestor out in the paddock…. mine evacuated inspector here today… risk assessment to re enter mine… also bag sample from goaf stream in LW104A has traces of ethelyne.. potential spon com in the goaf… they found a Utube dislodged from a seal and goaf sucking oxygen yesterday…. floor heave.
Could someone from the Resources Department or RSHQ please respond to confirm this and what action the RSHQ Inspectorate is undertaking?
Yours in Safety
To: resources@ministerial.qld.gov.au; dpc@premiers.qld.gov.au; leader@opposition.qld.gov.au; “Mark Stone” <Mark.Stone@rshq.qld.gov.au>
Sent: Monday, 14 Mar, 2022 At 6:32 AM
Subject: Fwd: Grosvenor Mine Evacuated, Ethylene Detected, Spon ComDear Minister Stewart;
Sent: Monday, 14 Mar, 2022 At 6:32 AM
Subject: Fwd: Grosvenor Mine Evacuated, Ethylene Detected, Spon ComDear Minister Stewart;
As of yet I have received no reply either from RSHQ or your office for any of the emails in relation to Grosvenor over the last nearly 2 weeks.
I can confirm that I have received further reports on Saturday that confirmed the presence of Ethylene as well as several other issues.
When is anybody either from yourself or RSHQ going to stop hiding and respond to my serious queries?
The lack of response tells me that you and RSHQ are too scared to actually answer my queries.
Minister Stewart your lack of response is nothing short of an absolute disgrace.
Have you no shame?
Yours in Safety
Stuart Vaccaneo
Directive from the inspectorate no cutting in the longwall till the investigation on the gas skid is complete and satisfactory…. during the events peds didn’t work emergency dac calls didn’t work. Phone used to contact men UG. It appears there was a fourth incident in 104 … smouldering fire at the boot end. bag sample results now from the goaf stream ….. still ethelyne issues…….
