OPENING OF THE SEALED OFF WORKING NO. 28731 AFFECTED BY SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF COAL

Ostrava-Karvina coal mines (OKD) belong to a group of highly gassy coal mines, where spontaneous heating of coal occurs very often which leads to an underground fire. In such conditions a fire in endangered site should extinguished or the process of self-ignition should be suppressed - often the last option is to seal off such a site. After a certain period of time a sealed off area should be re-opened. In case of an incorrect or a bad conduct while ventilating the site the re-ignition of coal mass can take place and such a site should be sealed off again. This article attempts to solve the problem of a sealed off coal extraction area and shows correct proceedings during re-opening of this extraction area resulting from the necessity of removal of all equipment (a shearer and powered support) that was operating in the affected extraction region.