6
contents were in the 400 to 500 cu ft per ton range. The
start up, early portions of the panel were mining down dip
which creates a pathway for methane towards the struc-
tural high within the continuous portions for the coal bed.
(Karacan 2023, Van Dyke et al., 2018).
GROUND MOVEMENT RESULTS
Figure 8 shows the predicted vertical stress distribution
across the panels 28 Right to 31 Right (R28 to R31): the
red line is in-situ stress distribution the blue line is stress
redistribution after R26 to R31 panels mining. The vertical
stress distribution across the panels indicates a subcritical
load distribution and agrees with the recent stress measure-
ments performed at the mine.
Figure 9 shows the predicted vertical overburden dis-
placement after the extraction of panels from 26 Right to
Figure 7. A. Image of panels 1 and 2 South with gas content trends for the Pocahontas No. 3 coal
bed. B. Panels 30 and 31 Right are shown with the Pocahontas No. 3 coal bed gas contents
Figure 8. The Vertical stress distribution across the panels 29
Right to 31 Right (R29 to R31)