Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
By
Jay Elkin, Wampum Hardware Company
Douglas Bartley, DBA Consulting
The state of Pennsylvania was at one time one of the leading coal
producing states in the east. However, legislation and industry trends over the
last 10 years have adversely affected the amount of bituminous coal mined in
Pennsylvania and the whole eastern United States. The application for and
approval of a new mining permit is a very costly and arduous task. When a new
mining operation is established it is crucial that nothing within the operators
control causes the operation to stop producing. This paper discusses the action
taken by a small mine in Pennsylvania when their blast induced vibrations rose to
levels that typically would have resulted in a total mine shut down by the
regulatory body governing such operations.
The Rosebud Mining Co. in Gastown, PA is owned by Mr. Cliff Forest of
Kittanning, PA and is located in Armstrong County, western PA. The Big Mac
Leasing Co. has been contracted to perform the actual mining operations. The
Big Mac Leasing mining method consists of block stripping with 2 D-11 Cat
Dozers, and a Cat 992 supported with 3 Cat 777 rock trucks. The overburden on
the coal reaches depths of 85 feet (26M).
The intent of the permit was to strip mine the low-cover coal using
conventional mining methods and then do a face-up for a deep mine operation
entry. The permit application and proposed blasting activity were challenged by
the local residents for many months prior to the eventual permit approval by the
PA DEP (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) in 1999. The
actual mining operations were begun in early 2000. Many site and environmental
problems were encountered from the very start of excavation. The initial blasts
were sinking shots with no relief resulting in very perceptible ground vibration
levels. This exacerbated the already negative public opinion of the blasting
operations, but the low dominant frequency seismic recordings were still below
PA DEP regulations. The public disapproval and reaction to the mining operations
were very publicized.
As the mining approached the nearby town of Gastown, the vibration levels
increased in magnitude. During the third cut of the mining cycle the mine once
again received numerous complaints concerning the blasting activity. The mining
permit was issued before the PA DEP regulations adopted the USBM RI8507
(United States Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigations 8507) Z-curve in July of
2001. The mandated vibration criteria stipulated in the mining permit was a flat
Page 1
1.0 inch per second (25.4mm/s) peak particle velocity. As the complaints
increased in frequency, Big Mac Leasing started getting numerous field
inspections by the DEP. In Pennsylvania, the DEP can suspend a mining permit
because of what is termed, being a nuisance. After several heated public
meetings and two low frequency seismic recordings right at the vibration limit,
the DEP informed both Rosebud Mining and Big Mac Leasing that they had to
mitigate the problem or they would suspend the mining permit.
The mining company then requested that the blasting contractor (Wampum
Hardware Co.) develop with a new blast design that would resolve the vibration
issues. A meeting between the mining operator, the blasting contractor and DBA
Consulting (Blast and Vibration Consultants) concluded that there were 2 viable
options that could reduce the ground vibrations.
1. Decking the blast holes to reduce the amount of explosives detonated per
delay period (higher scaled distance).
2. The implementation of electronic detonators and a signature hole waveform
technique to modify ground vibrations and improve blast performance.
The mining operator decided to initially attempt to resolve the problem by
decking the blast holes before the introduction of electronic detonators. The next
scheduled blast consisted of 28 holes. The holes were loaded with 2 delays or
decks per hole and a maximum amount of explosives of 261 pounds (119 kg) per
deck, less than one-half the amount of explosives previously detonated per delay
period. This blast was initiated using non-electric pyrotechnic blasting caps and
resulted in a seismic reading of 1.04 inches per second (26.4 mm/s) PPV with
dominant low frequencies. The shot duration was doubled to a length of 800 ms
due to the decking design. This long duration blast vibration coupled with low
dominant frequencies spawned numerous homeowner complaints to the PA DEP
regional office. The PA DEP immediately responded by halting the blasting until
an alternative plan could be established. This plan would maintain the 1.0 inch
per second (25.4 mm/s) PPV or invoke the RI-8507 - Z curve variable vibration
vs. frequency criteria that would reduce the acceptable vibration limits to 0.5 PPV
(12.7 mm) at low frequencies.
DBA Consulting, Wampum Hardware and the Rosebud Mining engineers
met with the DEP to discuss the electronic detonators and the methodology of the
signature hole technique. This technique required the initiation of a single
signature hole loaded with the maximum amount of explosives we thought we
might encounter. The DEP agreed, with the stipulation that if the signature hole
vibrations exceeded the 1.0 ips (25.4 mm/s) PPV they would revoke the mining
permit.
Page 2
Further studies have also shown that there are direct relationships between
the firing times of blast holes in a detonation sequence and the frequency
composition of the ground vibration recorded at a particular structure in
question. These studies have also observed that a total blast sequence is simply
defined as a series of single hole detonations that are separated by a given
amount of time (t). It is the relationship between this t and the geology of the
site that has the most effect on the amplitude and frequency composition of the
ground vibration wave. The geology is generally the constant in the equation but it
will change as the blasting operations move throughout the mine or quarry.
This relationship between timing and geology has led to the development of
several sophisticated computer programs to predict and modify ground
vibrations. These programs will process the ground vibration signal recorded
through the detonation of a single hole blast at a given production blast location.
The computer then performs thousands of mathematical iterations that generate
a synthesized complex waveform determining waveform amplitude and frequency
composition for any given t between adjacent holes in a row and t between
consecutive rows in a blast.
The major limitation of these software systems since their development has
been the inherent inaccuracy of the pyrotechnic delay elements currently
available in todays explosives market. The application of these computer
prediction and control programs, often will recommend optimum delay timing
intervals that are not available. Even if the computer times are achievable through
combinations of available surface and in hole detonators, the inherent scatter in
pyrotechnic detonators will cause the blast sequence to fire at times other than
the designed firing time. These variances from the nominal firing times can
potentially result in magnifying the impact rather than mitigating it. The
introduction of a high accuracy electronic detonator into the commercial
explosives market has had many positive effects in the area of predicting and
controlling blast induced ground vibrations. It has been the experience of the
author that without the implementation of electronic detonators the above
software techniques are very ineffective.
Electronic detonators also offer the flexibility in blast timing design that
has never before been achievable. All commercial detonators to date have been
manufactured with pre-set firing times that have evolved around vibration criteria
and statistics that have since been questioned as to their relevance, ie. the 8
millisecond criteria.
Prior to the introduction of user programmable electronic detonators, an
optimized site specific timing sequence that would provide maximized benefits in
terms of vibration control, fragmentation, muck pile configuration and heave were
Page 4
unobtainable. The firing times were chosen from the limited selections available
to the consumers. The introduction of the high accuracy detonators will provide
the opportunity to design blasts based upon the desired results required by the
user.
The detonator used in conjunction with this study is the Daveytronic
Programmable Electronic Blasting System. This detonator is manufactured by the
Davey Bickford Company in France. The Daveytronic Blasting System pictured
below, is capable of firing up to 1,500 detonators in a single blast with firing
times from 1 ms to 4,000 ms with a firing accuracy of 0.1 ms.
The Daveytronic
DAVEYTRONIC
6. Firing capacitor.
7. Fuse head.
3. Crimped plug.
8. Primary charge.
4. Logic capacitor.
9. Base charge.
5. ASIC processor.
Page 5
Distance
From Seis
FT / M
720 / 219
830 / 253
Depth
Diameter
Burden
FT / M
41 / 12.5
41 / 12.5
IN / mm
6.75 / 172
6.75 / 171
FT / M
15 / 4.6
15 / 4.6
Explosive
Weight
Lbs. / KG
521 / 236
521 / 236
The ground vibrations from the blasting operations were recorded at the
Woods and VanHorne residences located on Route 210 in Gastown. The Woods
residence is a two-story frame structure located north of the test hole. The
VanHorne residence is a one-story frame structure located west of the test hole.
Page 6
Signature Hole
Page 7
Row (ms)
89
The delay intervals of 22ms between adjacent holes in a row and 89ms
between rows results in 2 holes being detonated within the 8 millisecond criteria.
The DEP inspectors had a very hard time accepting that this new design would
effectively double the amount of explosives detonated per 8 ms delay. Approval
was eventually given by the DEP to implement the new blast design with the
electronic detonators with the stipulation that if the recorded PPV exceeded the
1.0 (25.4mm) PPV, they were going to revoke the mining permit.
Page 8
Page 9
detonator blasts were fired on November 13, 2001. The 16 hole blast consisted
of 2 rows of 8 holes with 832 pounds (378 KG) of explosives firing within 8 ms.
The preceding vibration recordings are from the November 13, 2001 blast. Note
the lack of PV data points below 10 hertz and the reduced peak particle velocity
at both the recording locations. The PPV of this blast was 0.35 inches per second
(8.89 mm/s), representing 35% of the PPV of the decked pyrotechnic blast.
The blast induced ground vibrations that were recorded were dramatically
lower than the decked blast with pyrotechnic detonators. The blast duration was
also reduced by 557 ms from 800 ms to 243 ms. It is the duration of a vibration
that can cause an above ground structure to amplify the vibration through
resonance. A shorter duration blast will always be perceived as a better blast by
adjacent homeowners because of this.
The second electronic detonator blast was fired on December 5, 2001. We
fired 30 holes with a maximum of 1210 lbs (550 KG) per delay. The Scaled
Distance worked out to 15.8. Our seismic recordings indicated that we were on
the right track. The following seismic recordings were from the December 5th
blast at the Gastown Permit.
The following chart summarizes the blast information and vibration data
for the initial electronic blasting conducted at the mine. The electronic timing
designs consistently resulted in dominant frequencies above 20 hertz providing
less restrictive (RI 8507) vibration limits.
Page 10
Date
Seis.
No.
Distance
FT / M
12/5/01
1478
550 / 168
12/13/01
1477
12/14/01
Ch. Wght.
Lbs / KG
SD
PPV
Ips / mms
Hz
Location
1160 / 527
16.1
0.72 / 18.3
36.4
WOOD
700 / 213
772 / 351
25.2
0.46 / 11.7
15.0
VANHORNE
1477
630 / 192
386 / 176
33.7
0.41 / 10.4
12.0
VANHORNE
12/14/02
1477
700 / 213
708 / 322
26.3
0.55 / 14
13.0
VANHORNE
12/17/01
1477
700 / 213
704 / 320
26.3
0.40 / 10.2
13.2
VANHORNE
12/18/01
1477
630 / 192
386 / 176
32.1
0.39 / 9.9
13.4
VANHORNE
1/4/02
1478
600 / 183
466 / 212
27.7
0.39 / 9.9
32.0
WOOD
1/4/02
1478
520 / 158
370 / 168
27.0
0.34 / 8.6
30.1
WOOD
1/7/02
1478
580 / 177
402 / 183
28.0
0.46 / 11.7
28.8
WOOD
1/16/02
1478
530 / 162
482 / 219
24.1
0.49 / 12.4
24.3
WOOD
1/17/02
1478
510 / 155
498 / 226
22.9
0.65 / 16.5
28.4
WOOD
1/18/02
1478
510 / 155
530 / 241
22.2
1.00 / 25.4
26.9
WOOD
1/22/02
1478
457 / 139
457 / 208
22.7
0.95 / 24.1
26.9
WOOD
1/23/02
1478
375 / 114
750 / 341
13.7
0.71 / 18.0
32.0
WOOD
1/24/02
1478
425 / 130
375 / 171
21.9
0.87 / 22.1
34.1
WOOD
1/29/02
1478
435 / 133
400 / 182
21.7
0.68 / 17.3
36.5
WOOD
1/30/02
1478
430 / 131
425 / 193
20.8
0.67 / 17.0
32.0
WOOD
1/31/02
1478
430 / 131
425 / 193
20.8
0.60 / 15.2
34.1
WOOD
2/1/02
1478
435 / 133
425 / 193
21.1
0.58 / 14.7
36.5
WOOD
2/5/02
1478
437 /131
450 / 205
20.6
0.64 / 16.3
18.2
WOOD
2/6/02
1478
440 / 134
480 / 219
20.1
0.42 / 10.7
34.1
WOOD
2/7/02
1478
500 / 152
492 / 224
22.5
0.42 / 10.7
21.3
WOOD
2/7/02
1478
443 / 135
510 / 232
19.6
0.42 / 10.7
21.0
WOOD
2/11/02
1478
535 / 163
640 / 291
21.1
0.75 / 19.1
18.0
WOOD
2/12/02
1478
545 / 166
656 / 298
21.2
0.57 / 14.5
22.2
WOOD
2/19/02
1478
690 / 210
516 / 235
30.3
0.39 / 9.9
28.4
WOOD
Page 11
As the mining progressed the filter or geology between the blast location
and the recording locations changed resulting the vibration signals being
conditioned differently. The characteristics of the vibration recordings indicated
that a second signature hole study should be conducted to again determine the
optimum timing sequence to mitigate the negative vibration impacts. This second
study was conducted on January 3, 2002.
The blast geometry and loading details of the test hole was as follows:
Location
Of Hole
East Side
Distance
From Seis
FT / M
550 / 168
Depth
FT / M
Diameter
IN / mm
Burden
FT / M
30 / 9
6.75 / 172
15 / 4.5
Explosive
Weight
Lbs. / KG
342 / 156
The vibration recordings were again obtained from the Woods and the
VanHorne residence for use in this study. Each of the test hole blast recordings
were processed individually with higher weighting placed on the VanHorne data
recording due to its closer proximity to the blast area. The table below indicates
the recommended hole-to-hole and row-to-row timing.
Hole (ms)
33
Row (ms)
76
The above timing sequence was implemented on January 18, 2002. The
seismic recordings below depict the blast induced ground vibrations generated by
the production blast. Again, the timing configuration of the blast resulted in 2
holes being fired within the 8 millisecond criteria effectively doubling the reported
maximum pounds detonated per delay period.
Page 12
The preceding seismic analysis again indicates that the technique has
effectively produced seismic signals without high levels of energy in the low
frequency band. In fact, the following blasts resulted in peak particle velocity
levels at higher frequencies that provided maximum allowable PPV limits greater
that the flat 1.0 inch per second (25.4 mm/s) in the original mining permit.
PA DEP Site Regression Study
The implementation and success of this technique at the Rosebud Mine has
been and is still currently being closely monitored by the PA DEP. During the
months of blasting using the electronic detonators at the mine, the DEP has
conducted their own seismic monitoring and analysis study. This study was to
make sure the operator did not exceed the regulatory limit and to gain a better
understanding of electronic detonators and their effect on blast vibrations. The
vibration study was conducted by Mr. William Shush, a blasting inspector from
the Greensburg, Pennsylvania office of the PA DEP.
During the months following the initial implementation of the Daveytronic
Programmable electronic detonators the DEP has monitored the ground
vibrations in several locations adjacent to the mine site. They also conducted a
linear regression analysis study at the Rosebud Mining Permit.
Page 13
The study first correlated the data gathered prior to the implementation of
electronic detonators to determine the regression characteristics of the
pyrotechnic detonators. Then an array of 9 seismographs were installed to
monitor blasting operations for a total of 5 electronic blasts from April 4, 2002 to
May 23, 2002. Using this electronic detonator data from the attenuation line of
seismographs and the units installed at residential structures adjacent to the
mine, the DEP determined the site regression characteristics of the electronic
detonators. The table containing the blasting data and vibration data collected
by the PA DEP to determine the site characteristics of the Gastown Site using the
Electronic Detonators is in the appendix of this report.
The following chart exhibits the comparison between the actual electronic
detonator PPV recordings and the predicted pyrotechnic PPVs using the
regression attenuation formula of:
Predicted: PPV
pyrotechnic
= 145 (SD)
1.4
10
9
8
7
PPV
6
PPV Actual
Predicted WC Pyro.
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
10
20
30
40
Scaled Distance
Page 14
50
60
Actual: PPV
electronic
= 74 (SD)
1.49
The comparison of the prediction formulas demonstrates both the better fit
of data when using precision electronic data and the lower Site Constant resulting
in a lower predicted PPV for the same blast when using electronic detonators.
This goodness of fit has been a consistent trait of the electronic detonators in
practically every application where vibrations were closely monitored. It provides
a higher level confidence to a blast design as to the expected magnitude of the
vibration impacts.
Conclusion
The introduction of electronic detonators at the Rosebud Coal Mine in
Gastown, PA has enabled the mine to stay in business. The public outcry against
the blasting operations placed the mine under high scrutiny by the regulatory
bodies that issue the permits and monitor the compliance of the mining
operations. The PA DEP was poised and ready to revoke the mining permit at the
Gastown Mine due to the impacts of the blasting operations.
The implementation of electronic detonators in conjunction with State of
the Art analytical and design techniques has successfully demonstrated the
usefulness of programmable electronic detonators. It is the opinion of the authors
that this scenario can and will be repeated with the same level of success in our
industry as we embrace the technology and benefits the electronic detonator has
to offer.
Page 15
Appendix
Page 16
Date
Shot # 1
Shot #2
Shot # 3
SD
PPV
FL
FT
FV
AOP
Location
4/4/01
2747
1660
756
27.5 60.4
S-1-3
4/4/01
2746
1450
756
27.5 52.7
S-1-2
4/4/01
4900
885
756
27.5 32.2
S-1-1
4/26/01
4904
2215
378
19.4 113.9
0.03
S-2-11
4/26/01
4108
1833
378
19.4 94.3
4/26/01
4899
1799
378
19.4 92.5
0.03 17.2
6.3 15.6
S-2-9
4/26/01
2746
1654
378
19.4 85.1
0.05 33.3
25 27.7 114
S-2-8
4/26/01
2747
1380
378
19.4 71.0
0.06
6.7
10 45.4
S-2-7
4/26/01
4900
1377
378
19.4 70.8
0.11
0.09
S-2-6
4/26/01
4105
1350
378
19.4 69.4
S-2-5
4/26/01
4085
1060
378
19.4 54.5
S-2-4
4/26/01
4903
925
378
19.4 47.6
0.19 0.11
4/26/01
4106
400
378
19.4 20.6
4/26/01
4107
265
378
5/22/01
2644
147
5/22/01
4085
5/22/01
0.1 0.11
9.4
S-2-3
S-2-2
19.4 13.6
S-2-1
612
24.7
5.9
3.52
S-3-8
1861
612
24.7 75.2
S-3-7
4105
1368
612
24.7 55.3
8.2 117
S-3-6
5/22/01
4106
1141
612
24.7 46.1
0.11
S-3-5
5/22/01
4899
648
612
24.7 26.2
25 123
S-3-4
5/22/01
4900
807
612
24.7 32.6
S-3-3
5/22/01
4903
983
612
24.7 39.7
0.50 0.32
S-3-2
5/22/01
4904
1756
612
24.7 71.0
S-3-1
0.5
S-2-10
10
Page 17
0.1
4.5 117
Shot # 4
Shot # 5
5/22/01
2644
526
486
22.0 23.9
1.48
5/22/01
4085
1580
486
22.0 71.7
5/22/01
4105
1176
486
5/22/01
4106
913
5/22/01
4107
5/22/01
S-4-9
0.07
25 117
S-4-8
22.0 53.3
S-4-7
486
22.0 41.4
S-4-6
316
486
22.0 14.3
S-4-5
4899
790
486
22.0 35.8
0.80
S-4-4
5/22/01
4900
913
486
22.0 41.4
0.28
S-4-3
5/22/01
4903
1106
486
22.0 50.2
0.15
S-4-2
5/22/01
4904
1861
486
22.0 84.4
0.20 0.19
S-4-1
5/23/01
4085
1525
612
24.7 61.6
0.04
5.3 13.9
5.5 116
S-5-7
5/23/01
2747
1453
612
24.7 58.7
0.07
S-5-6
5/23/01
4108
1330
612
24.7 53.8
0.18 0.11
S-5-5
5/23/01
4106
1120
612
24.7 45.3
0.21
S-5-4
5/23/01
4107
924
612
24.7 37.4
S-5-3
5/23/01
4900
900
612
24.7 36.4
20 123
S-5-2
5/23/01
4899
730
612
24.7 29.5
S-5-1
Page 18
0.7 1.48
0.8 0.52
0.2
0.1
9.6 11.1