The characteristics and main influencing factors affecting coal and gas outbursts in Chinese Pingdingshan mining region

The Pingdingshan mining region in China has witnessed severe coal and gas outbursts. A total of 153 coal and gas outburst accidents have occurred in this mining region. As the mining depth progressively increase, mining conditions in the region have become more complex, and gas outburst disasters have become more severe. This research statistically analyzed the 153 outburst accidents in the Pingdingshan mining region. Additionally, based on historical data and typical outburst cases, the characteristics and primary factors affecting coal and gas outbursts within the mining region were obtained. The results indicate that the outburst accidents in this mining region were primary influenced by the following factors: geological structure, mining depth, seam thickness, the lithology of roof and floor, and the mode of operation. As mining depth increased, the geotechnical environment and the mechanical properties of coal varied. Moreover, under the combined action of high stresses and considerable amounts of high-pressure gas accumulated within the coal and rock mass, the structures of both coal seam and rock strata in the mining faces or roadways were destroyed instantly. Therefore, coal and gas outbursts occurred. The outburst intensity increased significantly when mining depth is greater than 500 m. Coal and gas outburst accidents happened most frequently and severely in regions with geological structures containing such features as faults and folds due to the increasing gas pressure and sharply rising ground stress. Moreover, variation of seam thickness and the lithology of the roof and floor of the seam have significant control effect on coal and gas outburst. In addition, engineering disturbance was an external factor inducing coal and gas outbursts. For example, blasting and coal cutting caused changes in the stress state in the coal at the end of excavation roadways and mining faces.