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Mining Publication: Field-Scale Void Detection in Coal Piles Using Resistivity Imaging

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Original creation date: July 2002

Image of publication Field-Scale Void Detection in Coal Piles Using Resistivity Imaging

To reduce fatalities resulting from personnel falling into voids formed above feeders in coal piles, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the Spokane Research Laboratory established a project to monitor coal surge piles to detect the formation of voids. A resistivity imaging method has been developed by GECOH Exploration, of Lexington, KY, in which a geophysical technique known as vertical electrical sounding (VES) is used to scan for these voids. VES operates by measuring the electrical field produced by a current in the ground at the bottom of the coal pile. This paper summarizes the results obtained from a field-scale test and shows that mapping voids within a coal pile is possible.

Authors: R Rodriguez, H Rodriguez, M Lhamond, JC Johnson, SR Iverson

Conference Paper - July 2002

NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20030439

NARMS-TAC 2002, "Mining and Tunnelling Innovation and Opportunity," Proceedings of the 5th American Rock Mechanics Symposium and the 17th Tunnelling Association of Canada Conference, July 7-10, 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Hammah R, Bawden W, Curran J, Telesnicki M, eds., Toronto, Ontario, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2002 Jul; 1:415-419

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