5
Index (GPI), which identifies the parts of a formation that
produce the most gas.
DRILLING MANAGEMENT
The Yabby GeoSensing system has the potential to sig-
nificantly increase the value of information from in-seam
directional drilling, making the underground in-seam drill
rig an important exploration tool in underground min-
ing. Practical changes on an operational level will include a
reduction of the need for tangential exploration boreholes,
roof and floor touches, for example, and increase the use
of the underground directional drill rig beyond just rou-
tine gas drainage. The Yabby GeoSensing system increases
underground in-seam exploration capability and can
decrease the cost of in-seam drilling for gas drainage.
Additional benefits to drill operators include the
real-time rig performance parameters that enable rapid
decision-making. The real-time supply of geological data
to drill operators, drilling supervisors, mining clients and
consultants simultaneously using underground networks
allows for more timely decision-making. Driller supervisors
and mine managers will understand more about individual
driller performance, making the Yabby Geosensing System
a valuable tool for training purposes.
CONCLUSIONS
Underground in-seam drilling has been used as an explo-
ration tool and has supplied driller-interpreted data and
driller-based positional and limited geophysical (focused
gamma) information to coal mine operators over the past
thirty years. The Yabby GeoSensing technology transforms
the underground drilling rig to the most important geolog-
ical interpretation tool in underground mining. Combined
with advanced analytical software, the potential exists for
Yabby-derived data to provide the necessary spatial infor-
mation within a coal seam to significantly improve gas
drainage and geologic modelling for mine planning and
mine safety.
The Yabby Geosensing System can be applied to under-
ground and surface directional drilling exploration projects
performed for evaporite and hard rock mines, to improve
identification and characterization of geologic features,
including quantifying the relative magnitude of water pro-
duction from different features, improving hydrogeologic
models and benefiting mine planning and mine safety.
REFERENCES
Brunner, D.J., Schwoebel, J.J. &Thomson, S. 1999. A new
direction. World Coal, CBM Review, March 1999.
Gray, I, and Wood, J. 2015. Outburst risk determination
and associated factors. ACARP Project C23014. 2015.
Gray, I., Clemence, P., Paradise, G., Charlton, S., Dixon,
R., &Hatherly, P. 2002. The development of a geo-
steering tool for in-seam drilling, ACARP Project
C5029, 2002.
Hungerford, F. 1995. Status of underground drilling
technology. 1994. International Symposium-cum-
Workshop on Management and Control of High Gas
Emissions and Outbursts in Underground Coal Mines.
In Lama (ed). Wollongong, 20–24 March 1995.
Prochon, E. 2016. Advanced logging tool, phase II. ACARP
Project C16018. 2016.
Lunarzewski, L. 1994. Gas detection technique and
equipment to continuously monitor gas in drill fluid.
ACARP Project C3077. 1994.
Thomson, S. 1998. Directional drilling for safety in coal
mining. China Coal Bed Methane, Serial No. 4, Dec.
1998.
Thomson, S. 1999. In-seam exploration drilling: mine
planning applications. Bowen Basin Geological
Symposium, 1999.
Thomson, S., Adam, S. &Hatherly, P. 2006. Enhanced
geological modelling through advances in logging
and interpretation of inseam boreholes. Sydney Basin
Symposium, Nov. 2006.
Thomson, S. &MacDonald, D.C. 2003a. A question
of balance—dispelling the myth of ‘boggy ground’
and other spurious claims in coal seam drilling. 35th
Sydney Basin Symposium, Sep. 2003.
Thomson, S., Lukas, A. &MacDonald, D.C. 2004.
Maximising coal seam methane extraction through
advanced drilling technologies. 2nd Australian Coal
Seam and Mine Methane Conference, Mar. 2004.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. in
press. Towards a new approach to outburst risk assess-
ment and control for non-Bulli mines. Bowen Basin
Geological Symposium Proceedings, in press.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. 2020a.
Underground in-seam continuous gas analysis system.
Provisional Patent IP 2020902446, July 2020a.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. 2020b.
Bimodal sampling gas test for coal mining applications.
Provisional Patent IP 20200903359, September 2020.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. 2020c.
Geological sensing system for longwall automation
and other mining applications. Provisional Patent IP
2020900713, March 2020.
Thomson, S. &Qzn, Z. 2009. Review of inseam drilling
practice. ACARP Project C15075, 2009.
Index (GPI), which identifies the parts of a formation that
produce the most gas.
DRILLING MANAGEMENT
The Yabby GeoSensing system has the potential to sig-
nificantly increase the value of information from in-seam
directional drilling, making the underground in-seam drill
rig an important exploration tool in underground min-
ing. Practical changes on an operational level will include a
reduction of the need for tangential exploration boreholes,
roof and floor touches, for example, and increase the use
of the underground directional drill rig beyond just rou-
tine gas drainage. The Yabby GeoSensing system increases
underground in-seam exploration capability and can
decrease the cost of in-seam drilling for gas drainage.
Additional benefits to drill operators include the
real-time rig performance parameters that enable rapid
decision-making. The real-time supply of geological data
to drill operators, drilling supervisors, mining clients and
consultants simultaneously using underground networks
allows for more timely decision-making. Driller supervisors
and mine managers will understand more about individual
driller performance, making the Yabby Geosensing System
a valuable tool for training purposes.
CONCLUSIONS
Underground in-seam drilling has been used as an explo-
ration tool and has supplied driller-interpreted data and
driller-based positional and limited geophysical (focused
gamma) information to coal mine operators over the past
thirty years. The Yabby GeoSensing technology transforms
the underground drilling rig to the most important geolog-
ical interpretation tool in underground mining. Combined
with advanced analytical software, the potential exists for
Yabby-derived data to provide the necessary spatial infor-
mation within a coal seam to significantly improve gas
drainage and geologic modelling for mine planning and
mine safety.
The Yabby Geosensing System can be applied to under-
ground and surface directional drilling exploration projects
performed for evaporite and hard rock mines, to improve
identification and characterization of geologic features,
including quantifying the relative magnitude of water pro-
duction from different features, improving hydrogeologic
models and benefiting mine planning and mine safety.
REFERENCES
Brunner, D.J., Schwoebel, J.J. &Thomson, S. 1999. A new
direction. World Coal, CBM Review, March 1999.
Gray, I, and Wood, J. 2015. Outburst risk determination
and associated factors. ACARP Project C23014. 2015.
Gray, I., Clemence, P., Paradise, G., Charlton, S., Dixon,
R., &Hatherly, P. 2002. The development of a geo-
steering tool for in-seam drilling, ACARP Project
C5029, 2002.
Hungerford, F. 1995. Status of underground drilling
technology. 1994. International Symposium-cum-
Workshop on Management and Control of High Gas
Emissions and Outbursts in Underground Coal Mines.
In Lama (ed). Wollongong, 20–24 March 1995.
Prochon, E. 2016. Advanced logging tool, phase II. ACARP
Project C16018. 2016.
Lunarzewski, L. 1994. Gas detection technique and
equipment to continuously monitor gas in drill fluid.
ACARP Project C3077. 1994.
Thomson, S. 1998. Directional drilling for safety in coal
mining. China Coal Bed Methane, Serial No. 4, Dec.
1998.
Thomson, S. 1999. In-seam exploration drilling: mine
planning applications. Bowen Basin Geological
Symposium, 1999.
Thomson, S., Adam, S. &Hatherly, P. 2006. Enhanced
geological modelling through advances in logging
and interpretation of inseam boreholes. Sydney Basin
Symposium, Nov. 2006.
Thomson, S. &MacDonald, D.C. 2003a. A question
of balance—dispelling the myth of ‘boggy ground’
and other spurious claims in coal seam drilling. 35th
Sydney Basin Symposium, Sep. 2003.
Thomson, S., Lukas, A. &MacDonald, D.C. 2004.
Maximising coal seam methane extraction through
advanced drilling technologies. 2nd Australian Coal
Seam and Mine Methane Conference, Mar. 2004.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. in
press. Towards a new approach to outburst risk assess-
ment and control for non-Bulli mines. Bowen Basin
Geological Symposium Proceedings, in press.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. 2020a.
Underground in-seam continuous gas analysis system.
Provisional Patent IP 2020902446, July 2020a.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. 2020b.
Bimodal sampling gas test for coal mining applications.
Provisional Patent IP 20200903359, September 2020.
Thomson, S., MacDonald, D.C. &Thomson, D.S. 2020c.
Geological sensing system for longwall automation
and other mining applications. Provisional Patent IP
2020900713, March 2020.
Thomson, S. &Qzn, Z. 2009. Review of inseam drilling
practice. ACARP Project C15075, 2009.