Basic Coal Exploration to Production

Muh Dwiki Satrio Wicaksono

Exploration Geologist PT Bukit Asam Tbk
Friday 4th, September 2020
Outline
❑ Preface

❑ Basic Skill/Knowledge and Preparation

❑ Coal Exploration Stages

❑ Closing
Preface
The Importance of Exploration

Main objectives of coal exploration are to

determine coal location, coal distribution
(geometry), and coal quality.

Exploration aims to improve geological model

accuracy to minimize geological risk so that
the geological conditions and coal quality are
mapped well.

Because geological risks have been

minimized, planning and mining can run
smoothly.
Preface
The Importance of Exploration

Coal exploration activities are not only

carried out in areas that haven’t been mined
(greenfield), but also in areas that have been
actively mined (brownfield).

As long as coal hasn’t been mined or extracted,

exploration will continue to be needed.
 Preface Geologist as
The Importance of Exploration Competent Person Indonesia (CPI)
• Pelaporan Hasil Eksplorasi (PHE)
Berupa konsep geologi yang menyatakan
kisaran potensi kuantitas dan kadar dari
target eksplorasi.

• Estimasi Sumberdaya (ES)

Memiliki keprospekan beralasan yang pada
akhirnya dapat diekstraksi secara ekonomis.

• Estimasi Cadangan (EC)

Bagian dari sumberdaya terukur yang dapat
ditambang secara ekonomis dan telah
mempertimbangkan faktor pengubah.
Relationship between Exploration Results, Mineral Resources,
and Mineral Reserves (Code of KCMI 2017)
Business Process Overview
EXPLORATION PLANNING MINING DISTRIBUTION MARKETING
DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT

By belt conveyor/DT
INPUT LONG TERM SHORT TERM OVERBURDEN COAL
LIVE STOCK PORT
REMOVAL GETTING
• Geological Mapping
• Drilling • Mine Design • Mine Design • Stock Sampling • Port Sampling
• Stock Measurements • Stock Measurements
• Geophysical Survey
• Geochemical Survey
• Schedulling for
next 5 years
• Schedulling yearly,
monthly, and daily
Disposal Temporary • Single Product • Fine Tunning
• Probable Reserve • Probable Reserve Area Stockpile • Blending Product
• Proven Reserve • Proven Reserve • Volume and Quality • Volume and Quality

By Train
By HD/DT By DT Mine Brand Market Brand
OUTPUT By belt conveyor By vessel/barge

• Contour Structure & TRAIN LOADING

CUSTOMER
Isopach Map conduct front/mine sampling as iso-quality model cross check STATION
• Iso-Quality Map
• Resource Map conduct monthly pit monitoring as model geology cross check • Wagon Sampling • Double Check
• Delivering coal into Sampling
Port • Delivering coal into
Port

Re-check
Geologist = Technical Risk
Re-check Not
Risk Business Risk Suitable
Suitable
Basic Skill/Knowledge
and
Preparation
Skill/Knowledge Requirements
Basic Knowledge Useful Knowledge Basic Skill
• Coal geology • Regional geology • Mapping skill
• Sedimentology • Basin evaluation • Mapping software
• Petrology • Mine evaluation • “Sense” of geology
• Organic petrology
• Structural geology
• Geological mapping
Preparation
Things to note

Tools and Materials

• Geological hammer
• Grain comparator
• Notes and stationary
• GPS, magnifier, and compass
• Plastic sample
• Topographic maps
• Regional geological maps
• Previous research (if any)
• Satellite image (if any)
• Drill data (if any)
• Historical geological reports (if any)
• Existence of coal outcrops from
previous reports (if any)
Preparation
Things to note

Legal Conditions
• The regulatory conditions for each region might be different (central and local government)
• Depending on the type and stage of exploration
❖ Preliminary study or general investigation or scoping study
❖ Preliminary feasibility study
❖ Feasibility study
• Considering the contract time, a coal explorer must be able to adjust and determine the
exploration strategy, so that the time given is sufficient to obtain data accurately.
Preparation
Things to note

Budgeting
• In general, this includes :
❑ Access location ❑ Coal sample analysis
❑ Geological mapping ❑ Logistics
❑ Drilling and downhole logging ❑ Consultant services (if necessary)
❑ Topographic maps ❑ Local helper (if necessary)
❑ Transportation ❑ Employee salaries
❑ Communication ❑ Post land revegetation
❑ Documentation ❑ Reports
❑ Data storage ❑ Etc.
Preparation
Things to note

Social & Environment Condition

• Ensure to know the social and environmental conditions, such as permit and
administration issues, as well as the habits and beliefs of the surrounding community.
• Good communication with surrounding people will highly support the exploration
activities.
 Several
Exploration Stages Exploration
Target

Literature Data
Review Compilation
REGIONAL
GEOLOGICAL MODEL
Scoping Study
• Structural Geology?
• Basin Evaluation?
Reconnaissance
• Mine Evaluation?
• Tectonic Setting?

REGIONAL GEOLOGICAL
MODEL OF COAL
NO Is it
STOP PROSPECT ?? • Coal location?
• Coal distribution?

YES

Exploration
Program
Design

Exploration
Target
Selection
Exploration Stages Target
Area

IMPLEMENTATION
PROGRAM

• Detail mapping
Preliminary • Drilling operational
Feasibility Study • Outcrop description
• Geophysical survey Coal Geology
• Geochemical survey Study
Feasibility Study

Coal Quality &

Geometry Model

Coal Resource and Feasibility

Reserve Estimation Study

Is it YES Coal Resource &

NO
PROSPECT ?? Reserve Simulation and Reserve
STOP Evaluation Calculation
Geologists Role in Coal Industry
Preliminary Detail Mine
Exploration Exploration Production
Coal Deposit Discovery Resource to Reserve Coal Production

• PIT Monitoring :
• Literature review • Detail Mapping ❑ Mine progress
• Previous studies • Resource Drilling measurements
• Regional Mapping • QAQC & Data Analysis ❑ Fault mapping
• Drilling and Wellsite • Geo-database ❑ Coal impurities mapping
Geology • 2D and 3D Modelling • Quality Control :
• Geophysical Survey ❑ Front & stockpile
• Resource and Reserve
sampling
• Geochemical Survey Estimation
• Coal Reconcile :
• Acid Mine Drainage • Geotechnical Eng. ❑ Survey/ Wight Bridge to
Model Model
• Geo-database • Slope Stability
Geological Mapping
Coal Deposit Discovery

• Determine the starting point and the

trajectory path
• Plotting location, coordinates measurements
(x,y,z) using GPS and compass
• Outcrops description and documentation
• Outcrop and Coal sampling
• Output : Geological Mapping Report
Drilling & Logging
Wellsite Geologist

• Control drilling progress and record

all the data from drilling activities
• Description (coring and cutting) and
conduct drilling sampling
• Supervise logging activities and
logging data validation
Drilling & Logging
Wellsite Geologist

Make sure :
• Accurate drill collar survey
• Core handling, core sampling, and
core documentation
• Downhole geophysical log
• Detail geologist description
(DDR:Daily Drill Report)
All data must follow the SOP and must be
checked and verified by geologist

This kind of data must be well stored and

documented
Acid Mine Drainage Model
Preliminary study for Environment

• Determine Potential Acid Forming (PAF) and

Non Acid Forming (NAF) formation
• Conduct trial test to determine which
formulation is best practice for disposal area
• Give recommendation for disposal and
reclamation area
Geodatabase
Data bank for further analysis

Collecting all exploration data, from collar, lithology, and quality

Drill Distribution Map Make sure all the data already validated
Geomodelling
Coal Seam and Coal Quality Model

Instrusi

Instrusi
Borehole Distribution

Coal Seam Model

Coal Quality Model
Model section
Geotechnical Eng.
For mining safety

• Conduct geotechnical monitoring and

slope stability analysis
• Provide geotechnical evaluations and
recommendations to mine planners and
operations Slope Stability Analysis

Inclinometer Monitoring Poles Slope Stability Radar

 PIT Monitoring
Mine Progress Measurements

• Update and validate model geology

• Make sure the model is still relevant
• As a basis for coal reconciliation
• Production control, check out how far coal Before After
being mined
Seam A1
Mine Sequence
Topography
Seam A2 Fault zone??
Coal Seam A1
Seam B
Seam A2
Seam A1

Overburdeen Seam B
Seam A2
Seam B

Mine Progress Measurements Measurements Results Topography vs Mine Sequence

PIT Monitoring
Structure Mapping Intrusi Coal

• Some faults and other structures detected after the

mine opened and difficult to model
• Unmodeled faults or intrusion can provide bias and
interfere mine operation
• Need adjustment from geologist to serve data as real Intrusi
Intrusi
as possible
Coal

fault
???

Coal
PIT Monitoring
Coal Impurities Mapping

• Impurities within coal can cause

problems, technically and
businessly.
• Geologist must provide detail
information about these presence. Impurities within coal

Coal Impurities Information Warning Sign

PIT Monitoring
Coal Impurities Mapping

Giving information on the

existence of impurities in
the mining sequence
Quality Control
Coal Sampling for Quality Assurance

• Conduct pit/front sampling to evaluate

quality model
• Compare quality data from borehole, front
area, stockpile, wagon, to port
• Model validation and evaluation
Quality Control
Coal Sampling for Quality Assurance Intrusion

Mine Sequence vs Quality Model

Coal sampling point

Stockpile vs Wagon Sampling
Reconciliation
to Recheck Model Accuracy and Precision

• Evaluating the quality of the model (tonnage, assay)

in use based on actual measurements
• Resource and reserve validation
• To understand mining performance
• Looking for room of improvement and where it
should be made

Mine Mine Ritase/

Borehole Coal Model Reserve Survey
Plan Production Weight Bridge

Quality Front Mine Port

Borehole Model
Reserve Mine Plan
Mine Stockpile
Wagon Stockpile
End User
Reconciliation
to Recheck Model Accuracy and Precision
Customer Data Geology
Database
Scope of Work Government Technology

• Long-term planning Infrastructu Diversificati

re on
• Short-term planning
• Environment Business
Developme Marketing
• Mining engineer nt

• Product control Geology

Distribution End User
• Distribution & marketing
• Business development
Product
Mining
• Infrastructure Control

• Government Environmen
t
Short-term
planning
Long-term
planning
Closing
• Good understanding in basic geological science related to coal geology

• Never do exploration without any preparation, literature review and previous

study is a must

• Geologists has important role to provide geological data accurately to optimize

and maximize mine operations and company business process in general
 Q&A
Session