ACARP KEY FINDINGS - DECEMBER 2006 BENCHMARKING STUDY Gary Gibson, ACARP

ACARP

KEY FINDINGS - DECEMBER 2006 BENCHMARKING STUDY

Gary Gibson, ACARP

Australian Coal Association Research ProgramAustralian Coal Association Research Program

ACARP Project C15005 2

DECEMBER 2006 BENCHMAKING STUDY

Angus Place

Appin

Ashton

Austar

Baal Bone

Beltana

Broadmeadow

Crinum

Dendrobium

Douglas

Grasstree

Kestrel

Manadalong

Metropolitan

Moranbah North

Newlands North

Newpac No 1

Newstan

North Goonyella

Oaky No 1

Oaky North

Tahmoor

Ulan

United

West Cliff

West Wallsend

BENCHMARKING STUDY 6 MONTHS TO END DECEMBER 2006 - STATUS REPORT



Findings now to be separately reported to respondents and workshop participants, with close-off of responses 6 April 2007


JULY 2006 BENCHMAKING STUDY

July 2006 Roadway Development Benchmarking Study

Only 15 mines responded of 26 mines surveyed Data provided for 36 continuous miner units, with

performance data provided for only 24 of those units Data analysed by UOW undergraduate mining engineer

as part of research thesis

Some interesting relationships were highlighted in the data, however broader participation required from industry to enable those relationships to be tested and quantified

Figures over show some of the relationships indicated by July 2006 survey



“Continuous Miner Units achieving more than 1,750 m” highlighted. Figure 1 shows that “Depth of Cover” has little affect on metres achieved

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Typical Depth (m)



Figure 2 demonstrates that all units mining greater than 1,750 m in the period were mining two-heading gateroads

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Number of Headings



Figure 3 illustrates the benefit of having six bolting rigs mounted on the continuous miner (ie; 4 roof and 2 rib bolting

rigs).

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Total Number of Rigs



Installing 1500 mm rib bolts also appears to limit development rates, with those continuous miners achieving higher production levels all installing 1200 mm rib bolts

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Rib Bolt Length (m)



Installing 1500 mm rib bolts also appears to limit development rates, with those continuous miners achieving higher production levels all installing 1200 mm rib bolts

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Rib Bolt Length (m)



“Continuous Miner Units that achieved less than 1,000 m”, Figure 6 shows that with the exception of one Eimco Dash 3, the continuous

miner units that achieved less than 1,000 m were all Joy 12CM30

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Eimco Dash 3 Joy 12CM12 Joy 12CM30 VAMT ABM-20 VAMT ABM-25

Continuous Miner



However “mines producing less than 1,000 m” were all installing 2100 mm roof bolts.

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Roof Bolt Length (m)



However “mines producing less than 1,000 m” were all installing 2100 mm roof bolts, and were only utilising 2 bolting rigs.

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Roof Bolt Length (m)



Figure 10 illustrates that the mains development units driving five-heading mains achieved less metres overall during the 3 month period than those units that drove four-heading mains.

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Number of Headings



Figure 11 suggests that narrower pillars

may be a factor

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Heading Centres (m)



Figure 12 shows that longer pillars may also contribute to improved development rates, a factor which is at odds with current beliefs and perceptions

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Cut Through Centes (m)



Figure 13 again illustrates the potential effect of increasing the number of roof bolting rigs on the continuous miner

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Number of Roof Bolting Rigs



Figure 14 illustrated that higher roof bolting densities didn’t necessarily slow development rates, which suggested a strong relationship between bolting density and the number of bolting rigs actually fitted

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Number of Roof Bolts/Cycle



PRELIMINARY PERFORMANCE DATA

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Operating Hours per Week

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Metres/Operating Hour SingleCM Units

Metres/Operating HourDual/Super Units

Metres/Operating Hour SingleCM within Dual Units

Documents

ACARP KEY FINDINGS - DECEMBER 2006 BENCHMARKING STUDY Gary Gibson, ACARP