-
Date submitted2021-10-14
-
Date accepted2022-01-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Monitoring of compressed air losses in branched air flow networks of mining enterprises
Compressed air as a type of safe technological energy carrier is widely used in many industries. In economically developed countries energy costs for the production and distribution of compressed air reach 10 % of the total energy costs. The analysis of compressed air production and distribution systems in the industrial sector shows that the efficiency of the systems is at a relatively low level. This is due to the fact that insufficient attention is paid to these systems since the compressed air systems energy monitoring has certain difficulties – the presence of complex and branched air pipeline networks with unique characteristics; low sensitivity of the equipment which consumes compressed air; the complexity of auditing pneumatic equipment that is in constant operation. The article analyzes the options for reducing the cost of production and compressed air distribution. One of the promising ways to reduce the compressed air distribution cost is timely detection and elimination of leaks that occur in the external air supply network of the enterprise. The task is solved by hardware-software monitoring of compressed air pressure at key points in the network. The proposed method allows real-time detecting of emerging air leaks in the air duct network and sending commands to maintenance personnel for their timely localization. This technique was tested in the industrial conditions of ALROSA enterprises on the air pipeline network of the Mir mine of the Mirninsky Mining and Processing Plant and showed satisfactory convergence of the calculated leakage values with the actual ones. The practical significance of the obtained results is that the developed method for monitoring air leaks in the air duct network is simple, it requires an uncomplicated software implementation and allows to localize leaks in a timely manner, thereby reducing unproductive energy costs at the enterprises.
-
Date submitted2021-10-18
-
Date accepted2022-01-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Development of a hydrocarbon completion system for wells with low bottomhole temperatures for conditions of oil and gas fields in Eastern Siberia
The paper presents the results of investigations on the influence of low bottomhole temperatures in the intervals of productive formations on the technological properties of solutions used for drilling and completion of wells in order to determine the possibility of increasing gas recovery coefficient at the field of the “Sila Sibiri” gas pipeline. The analysis of technological measures determining the quality of the productive horizon drilling-in was carried out. It was found out that the dispersion of bridging agent in the composition of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud selected from the existing methods does not have significant influence on the change in the depth of filtrate penetration into the formation in conditions of low bottomhole temperatures. The main reason for the decrease in the near-bottomhole zone permeability was found out – the increase in plastic viscosity of the dispersion medium of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud under the influence of low bottomhole temperatures. A destructor solution for efficient wellbore cleaning from hydrocarbon-based solution components in conditions of low bottomhole temperatures was developed. The paper presents the results of laboratory investigations of hydrocarbon-based drilling mud and the developed destructor solution, as well as its pilot field tests. The mechanism of interaction between the destructor solution and the filter cake of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud ensuring the reduction of the skin factor in the conditions of the geological and hydrodynamic structure of Botuobinsky, Khamakinsky and Talakhsky horizons of the Chayandinskoye oil and gas condensate field has been scientifically substantiated.
-
Date submitted2021-09-22
-
Date accepted2022-03-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Predicting dynamic formation pressure using artificial intelligence methods
Determining formation pressure in the well extraction zones is a key task in monitoring the development of hydrocarbon fields. Direct measurements of formation pressure require prolonged well shutdowns, resulting in underproduction and the possibility of technical problems with the subsequent start-up of wells. The impossibility of simultaneous shutdown of all wells of the pool makes it difficult to assess the real energy state of the deposit. This article presents research aimed at developing an indirect method for determining the formation pressure without shutting down the wells for investigation, which enables to determine its value at any time. As a mathematical basis, two artificial intelligence methods are used – multidimensional regression analysis and a neural network. The technique based on the construction of multiple regression equations shows sufficient performance, but high sensitivity to the input data. This technique enables to study the process of formation pressure establishment during different periods of deposit development. Its application is expedient in case of regular actual determinations of indicators used as input data. The technique based on the artificial neural network enables to reliably determine formation pressure even with a minimal set of input data and is implemented as a specially designed software product. The relevant task of continuing the research is to evaluate promising prognostic features of artificial intelligence methods for assessing the energy state of deposits in hydrocarbon extraction zones.
-
Date submitted2021-03-23
-
Date accepted2022-01-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Justification of the technological scheme parameters for the development of flooded deposits of construction sand
- Authors:
- Vladimir V. Ivanov
- Denis O. Dzyurich
The article describes the main types of technological schemes for working out the flooded strata of sand deposits using hydraulic shovel excavators. The analysis of scientific and technical literature describing the experience of using hydraulic shovel excavators in the open-pit mining, including pits for the extraction of construction sand, has been carried out. The proposed technological scheme is that the development of reserves of the flooded strata without preliminary water reduction is carried out by a hydraulic shovel excavator from under water by a downward digging with the storage of the extracted rock mass in bulk (for dewatering), placed in such a way that when working out the next mining bench width, it is located within the working area of the excavator for simultaneous processing of the next bench width and loading of dewatered sand from the pile. Calculations of the parameters of the operating platform and the excavator block of the proposed technological scheme for conducting open-pit mining were carried out. The dependence for determining the minimum length of the mining operations front of an excavator for drawing up a technological scheme of operation of a backhoe hydraulic excavator on working out the flooded strata with the pile formation for dewatering sand and its subsequent uploading from the pile by the same excavator is presented.
-
Date submitted2021-07-05
-
Date accepted2022-01-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Ensuring the excavation workings stability when developing excavation sites of flat-lying coal seams by three workings
- Authors:
- Oleg I. Kazanin
- Andrei A. Ilinets
On the basis of analysis of mining plans and field studies at mines of JSC SUEK-Kuzbass, it is shown that in conditions of increasing the size of excavation columns during the development of flat-lying coal seams the stress-strain state of the rock mass along the workings length changes significantly. The necessity of predicting the stress-strain state at the design stage of the workings timbering standards, as well as subsequent monitoring of the workings roof state and its changes in the mining operations using video endoscopes, is noted. The results of numerical studies of the stress-strain state of the rock mass during the development of excavation sites by three workings for various combinations of width of the pillars between the workings for mining-geological and mining-technical conditions of the “Taldinskaya-Zapadnaya-2” mine are provided. The stresses in the vicinity of the three workings are compared with the values obtained during the development of the excavation sites by double drift. A set of recommendations on the choice of the location of the workings, the width of pillars, timbering standards that ensure the stable condition of the workings throughout the entire service life at the minimal losses of coal in the pillars is presented.
-
Date submitted2021-10-08
-
Date accepted2022-01-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Methodology for thermal desorption treatment of local soil pollution by oil products at the facilities of the mineral resource industry
- Authors:
- Mariya A. Pashkevich
- Marina V. Bykova
The analysis of the main environmental consequences of leaks and local spills of petroleum products at the enterprises of the mineral resource complex is presented. It is established that the problem of soil contamination with petroleum products at the facilities of the mineral resource complex and enterprises of other industries is caused by significant volumes of consumption of the main types of oil products. Based on the results of the author's previous field research, a series of experiments was carried out, consisting in modeling artificial soil pollution with petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, highly refined oil, motor oil, and transmission oil, followed by their purification by heat treatment at temperatures of 150, 200, and 250 °C. The 250 °C limit of the heating temperature was set due to the need to partially preserve the structure and quality of the soil after heat treatment to preserve its fertility. When the processing temperature rises to 450 °C, all humates are completely burned out and, as a result, productivity is lost. Confirmation is provided by the results of experiments to determine the humus content in uncontaminated soil and soil treated at different temperatures. It was found that at a maximum processing temperature of 250 °C, about 50 % of the initial organic carbon content is preserved. According to the results of the conducted experimental studies, the dependences of the required processing temperature on the concentration of petroleum products to reduce the concentration of petroleum products to an acceptable level have been established. The methodology of thermal desorption cleaning of soils with varying degrees of contamination at enterprises of the mineral resource complex is presented.
-
Date submitted2021-10-27
-
Date accepted2022-01-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Prediction of the geomechanical state of the rock mass when mining salt deposits with stowing
The technogenic impact of mining on the environment is analyzed and the transition to geotechnology with stowing to reduce the impact of mining operations is proposed. The results of the research work devoted to the justification of parameters of the development of salt deposits with stowing and the definition of the influence of stowing on the dynamics of deformation of the underworked rock massif are presented. The relevance of research aimed at creating a safe and efficient technology for the transition from systems with natural maintenance of stoping space to systems with stowing has been substantiated. The results of studies on qualitative and quantitative assessment of the state of the rock massif (by the finite element method using FLAC3D software), worked out by combines, are given and the dynamics of the impact of mining operations on the rock mass and the change in the maximum stresses during the hardening of the stowing in the chambers are revealed. The numerical modeling method is used to analyze the conditions of change in the state of the underworked rock mass, to establish the mechanisms of its deformation at various stages of development. It is recommended to use this approach for geotechnical assessment of the rock mass state in conditions of using development systems of different classes.
-
Date submitted2021-05-19
-
Date accepted2022-04-07
-
Date published2022-04-29
On the possibility of reducing man-made burden on benthic biotic communities when mining solid minerals using technical means of various designs
The paper analyses features of the species composition and diversity of biotic communities living within the ferromanganese nodule fields (the Clarion-Clipperton field), cobalt-manganese crusts (the Magellan Seamounts) and deep-sea polymetallic sulphides (the Ashadze-1, Ashadze-2, Logatchev and Krasnov fields) in the Russian exploration areas of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Prospects of mining solid minerals of the world’s oceans with the least possible damage to the marine ecosystems are considered that cover formation of the sediment plumes and roiling of significant volumes of water as a result of collecting the minerals as well as conservation of the hydrothermal fauna and microbiota, including in the impact zone of high temperature hydrothermal vents. Different concepts and layout options for deep-water mining complexes (the Indian and Japanese concepts as well as those of the Nautilus Minerals and Saint Petersburg Mining University) are examined with respect to their operational efficiency. The main types of mechanisms that are part of the complexes are identified and assessed based on the defined priorities that include the ecological aspect, i.e. the impact on the seabed environment; manufacturing and operating costs; and specific energy consumption, i.e. the technical and economic indicators. The presented morphological analysis gave grounds to justify the layout of a deep-sea minerals collecting unit, i.e. a device with suction chambers and a grip arm walking gear, selected based on the environmental key priority. Pilot experimental studies of physical and mechanical properties of cobalt-manganese crust samples were performed through application of bilateral axial force using spherical balls (indenters) and producing a rock strength passport to assess further results of the experimental studies. Experimental destructive tests of the cobalt-manganese crust by impact and cutting were carried out to determine the impact load and axial cutting force required for implementation of the collecting system that uses a clamshell-type effector with a built-in impactor.
-
Date submitted2021-09-02
-
Date accepted2022-01-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Complex processing of high-carbon ash and slag waste
The paper considers a current issue of ash and slag processing for the Polyus Aldan JSC, that has accumulated over 1 million tons of this waste. Following the results of the review of Russian and foreign literature, four promising areas of their use were selected: road construction, building materials, reclamation of disturbed lands, and inert aggregates. To assess the possibility of implementing the selected disposal directions, the samples of ash and slag waste of the enterprise were sampled and analyzed. Fuel characteristics, chemical and mineral composition, as well as physico-chemical and mechanical properties of waste were determined. Taking into account the results of complex laboratory studies and the requirements of regulatory documents, each of the selected areas of using ash and slag waste was evaluated. It was found that their disposal by traditional methods has limitations, mainly related to the high content of unburned fuel residues. The high content of combustible substances and the high specific heat of combustion with a relatively low ash content suggested the possibility of thermal disposal of the studied waste. Based on the literature data, the characteristics of the preparation of organic coal-water suspensions based on the studied ash and slag waste were selected. As a result of a series of experiments on their flaring, the expediency of using the obtained fuel at the enterprise under consideration has been proved. The authors note the possibility of using ash obtained after thermal waste disposal in the road construction industry. The prospects for further research of technologies for the preparation and combustion modes of suspension fuel based on ash and slag waste are determined.
-
Date submitted2021-09-16
-
Date accepted2022-02-24
-
Date published2022-04-29
Production of microfluidic chips from polydimethylsiloxane with a milled channeled surface for modeling oil recovery during porous rock waterflooding
Microfluidic chips with porous structures are used to study the flow of oil-containing emulsion in the rock. Such chips can be made from polydimethylsiloxane by casting into a master mold. At the initial stages of research, fast and cheap prototyping of a large number of different master molds is often required. It is proposed to use milling to make a channeled surface on a polymethyl methacrylate plate, from which a negative image should be taken, which is the master mold for casting positive polydimethylsiloxane chips in it. Several epoxy compositions have been tested to make this master mold. The main requirement in the search for the material was the exact replication of the geometry and sufficiently low adhesion to polymethyl methacrylate and polydimethylsiloxane for removing the product with minimal damage to the mold. It was possible to make master molds from all the materials used, but with defects and various degrees of damage. One of the epoxy compositions was found suitable for making a master mold with many elements simulating the grains of a porous medium (height to width ratio 2:3). The developed method makes it possible to use polydimethylsiloxane for prototyping chips simulating the porous structure of an oil rock.
-
Date submitted2021-10-14
-
Date accepted2022-04-07
-
Date published2022-04-29
The influence of the shape and size of dust fractions on their distribution and accumulation in mine workings when changing the structure of air flow
The results of the analysis of statistical data on accidents at Russian mines caused by explosions in the workings space have shown that explosions of methane-dust-air mixtures at underground coal mines are the most severe accidents in terms of consequences. A detailed analysis of literature sources showed that in the total number of explosions prevails total share of hybrid mixtures, i.e. with the simultaneous participation of gas (methane) and coal dust, as well as explosions with the possible or partial involvement of coal dust. The main causes contributing to the occurrence and development of dust-air mixture explosions, including irregular monitoring of by mine engineers and technicians of the schedule of dust explosion protective measures; unreliable assessment of the dust situation, etc., are given. The main problem in this case was the difficulty of determining the location and volume of dust deposition zones in not extinguished and difficult to access for instrumental control workings. Determination of the class-shape of coal dust particles is a necessary condition for constructing a model of the dust situation reflecting the aerosol distribution in the workings space. The morphological composition of coal mine dust fractions with dispersion less than 0.1 has been studied. Particle studies conducted using an LEICA DM 4000 optical microscope and IMAGE SCOPE M software made it possible to establish the different class-shapes of dust particles found in operating mines. It was found that the coal dust particles presented in the samples correspond to the parallelepiped shape to the greatest extent. The mathematical model based on the specialized ANSYS FLUENT complex, in which this class-form is incorporated, is used for predicting the distribution of explosive and combustible coal dust in the workings space. The use of the obtained model in production conditions will allow to determine the possible places of dust deposition and to develop measures to prevent the transition of coal dust from the aerogel state to the aerosol state and thereby prevent the formation of an explosive dust-air mixture.
-
Date submitted2021-03-11
-
Date accepted2021-04-12
-
Date published2022-04-29
Operation mode selection algorithm development of a wind-diesel power plant supply complex
- Authors:
- Yaroslav E. Shklyarskiy
- Daria E. Batueva
The power supply system is affected by external disturbances, so it should be stable and operate normally in compliance with power quality standards. The power supply system goes into abnormal modes operation when, after a short-term failure or disturbance, it does not restore normal mode. The electrical complex, which includes a wind power plant, as well as a battery and a diesel generator connected in parallel, is able to provide reliable power supply to consumers which meets the power quality indicators. The article develops an algorithm that is implemented by an automatic control system to select the operating mode depending on climatic factors (wind) and the forecast of energy consumption for the day ahead. Forecast data is selected based on the choice of the methods, which will have the smallest forecast error. It is concluded that if the energy consumption forecast data is added to the automatic control system, then it will be possible to increase the efficiency of the power supply complex. In the developed algorithm the verification of normal and abnormal modes of operation is considered based on the stability theory. The criteria for assessing the normal mode of operation are identified, as well as the indicators of the object’s load schedules for assessing the load of power supply sources and the quality standards for power supply to consumers for ranking the load by priority under critical operating conditions and restoring normal operation are considered.