Discussion on solutions to reduction of rock mass stress around coal seam roadway in Quang Ninh underground mines

Abstract

At present, underground coal mines in the Quang Ninh region are increasingly being developed deeper and extending production areas further from the center, leading to a larger volume of tunnel excavation and increased pressure. According to statistics, the annual volume of roadways supported and cut in underground coal mining units ranges from 56,000 to 76,000 meters (approximately 25 to 30% of the total new tunnel excavation), which increases costs and raises safety risks during the mining process. This has a significant impact on labor safety and the efficiency of underground coal mining units. In this paper, the authors conducted research and synthesized analyses of solutions to enhance the stability of coal seam roadways. The solutions include calculation methods, the selection of support structures and rock pressure reduction techniques, as well as the mechanisms for pressure reduction and their application conditions in various countries around the world. Based on this, the paper proposes solutions to reduce stress in the rock mass surrounding the roadways tailored to the geological and technical conditions of underground coal mines in the Quang Ninh region with the aim of improving roadway stability and reducing the volume of support and cut required during production.