Bord and Pillar Depillaring

Introduction
• When a panel or an area in a seam is
developed by Bord and Pillar method, the
developed pillars in the panel are finally
extracted. This process of extraction of the
developed pillars is called Depillaring.
• Depillaring operation should always
commence from the dip most pillar of the
panel or the mine and progress to the rise
side.
Advantages of depillaring from dip most pillar
• The goaf line i.e. the line adjacent to the worked
out areas lies along the dip side, preventing flow
of water, gas etc to the other workings
• In the event of fire or spontaneous heating,
isolation of the area is easier.
• The goaf area may be filled with water, thereby
preventing spontaneous heating.
• In case of stowing, the stowing water does not
come to the working area.
 Methods of depillaring
• Depillaring with caving
• Depillaring with stowing
• Partial extraction
 Depillaring with caving

• In this case, the roof strata above the worked out

area is allowed to cave for filling the goaf.
• This method is applicable when
– There is no surface feature to be protected
– No seam in the overlying strata to be worked in future
– Seams not liable to sp. Heating
– Full thickness of seam can be extracted in one
sequence
– The roof rock is cavable, massive sandstone is
difficult to cave
 Depillaring with stowing
• In this case, the goaf area is filled with stowing
material usually by hydraulic sand stowing.
• Applicable in all conditions of depillaring where
caving can not be applied.
• Stowing is essential for working thick seam in
slices, protecting surface features, overlying seams,
working below water bodies, railways etc.
• Stowing is a costly method and less productive and
hence the method should be applied only when it is
essential.
• For working of coal seams prone to fire or
spontaneous heating, stowing is the best method.
 Partial extraction
• It is a depillaring method in which sufficient
coal, depending on the depth of working, is
left for protection of surface features. The
void so formed, may be filled with stowing
material or allow to stand.
 Permissible height of extraction in
depillaring operation
• During development, the height of
extraction is limited to 3m.
• During pillar extraction, extraction height is
limited to 4.8m in conventional methods of
depillaring. In case of conventional methods
of depillaring, where vertical supports are
ued between roof and floor , seams more
than 4.8m thick can not be extracted in one
section.
• In case of certain other methods of
depillaring viz. cable bolting, hydraulic
mining, blasting gallery etc, the extraction
height may be more than 4.8m.
• The extraction height is limited to 4.8m
only because of the bending tendency of
longer supports, non-availability of such
suitable supports and difficult handling of
longer and heavy supports.
 Manner of Pillar Extraction
• The method of pillar extraction largely depends on the size
of the pillar, gradient and depth of workings.
• In any method of pillar extraction, the operation consists of
dividing the pillars into a few equal parts either 2,4,6 or 9
by driving split galleries.
• The dimension of the split galleries is restricted to 4.8m x
3m but not more than the size of original galleries.
• These split galleries are driven in dip-rise direction or level
direction or both, thus forming stooks.
• This operation of dividing the pillar is called Splitting of
Pillars.
• After splitting, each part of the stook so formed can be
extracted in different manners
Splitting of a Pillar

Stook
Method of extraction of Stooks
Full moon method

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
RP
Half moon method

I II III IV V
Half moon method with remnant pillar

I II III
 Slicing method
• Each pillar is divided into two equal parts either
by driving a level split or a dip split.
• Each stook is then extracted by taking slices one
after another leaving a rib of about 1-1.5m in
between two slices, which can be robbed down
as much as possible during retreat.
• The maximum width of the slice is permitted upto
4.8m. The allowable area of exposure in any
slice vary depending on the conditions of roof
and depth of working. This is generally 60m2,
90m2, 120m2 or 150m2.
 Slicing method
For caving operation, at any point of time, extraction of more
than one slice in a pillar is not permitted. In case of stowing,
two slices in a pillar can be under extraction at any point of
time.

Rib
Slice
 Sequence of pillar extraction
• The success of depillaring operation with
caving depends on the correct line of
fracture of strata and rate of roof break.
• After depillaring, settlement of the goaf is
advantageous for the miners as well as
mining, at the same time, the working
faces needs to be kept safe.
• In abnormal conditions where roof does not
break, the following operations are done:
– The length of goaf line is increased so that the roof
breaks.
– No remnant pillar is left near the goaf line.
– If necessary, drilling and blasting may be adopted for
breaking the roof.
– The orientation of goaf line should be chosen such
that the roof breaks.
– Large overhang roof should not be allowed.
 Orientation of goaf line
• Straight line of extraction
• Diagonal line of extraction
• Step diagonal line of extraction
• Steep diagonal line of extraction

A orientation of goaf line is selected on the basis of

roof condition, properties of coal seam and the
requirement of loading and transport machines to
be used during pillar extraction
 Straight line of extraction

• This orientation of goaf line is adopted in order to

– facilitate mechanization in the depillaring operation
– reduce the problem created due to excessive splitting in
soft coal
• The goaf line advances from dip to rise and lies
along the level direction, alternately it may advance
along the level and lie along the dip-rise direction
• The development pillars are extracted like a longwall
face where heavy continuous machineries can also
be used. In this case, roof breaks more effectively at
the initial period as well.
Straight line of extraction

1 2

1
3 2
3 3 3 3 3

1
2 22 2 2 2 2

11 12 1 1 1 1
 Diagonal line of extraction

• Most commonly used orientation of goaf line

for extraction of pillars in India
• The goaf line moves at an angle of
45degree with the panel barrier
– The length increases and the working faces
become more stable along the goaf line, as
there is a solid stook or half pillar for each
slice/stook under extraction.
Diagonal line of extraction

4 3

4 3 2

4 3 2 1
 Step Diagonal line of extraction
• The goaf line moves at an angle of 30 degree with
the panel barrier laid along the strike direction
– During extraction of any two slice in a pillar, the next
slice remains safe.
– This type of goaf line becomes necessary to have wider
face under weak layer of roof.
– Due to regular roof fall, the extraction of middle slices
becomes easier.
– If the caving of roof strata gets delayed due to high
strength, then two slices or stooks when extracted,
allow the roof to get caved.
Step Diagonal line of extraction

12 11 10 9 8 7

10 9 8 7 6 5

8 7 6 5 4 3

6 5 4 3 2 1
 Steep Diagonal line of extraction

• The goaf line moves at an angle of 60

degree with the panel barrier laid along the
strike direction
– Advantageous for mechanised loading system
Steep Diagonal line of extraction

14 12 10 8 6 4

13 11 9 7 5 3

12 10 8 6 4 2

11 9 7 5 3 1
Requisites of depillaring operation
• Depillaring operations are so planned and
connected that (a) there is least danger to the
safety of the mine and the miner.
• Maximum possible extraction is achieved.
• Extraction of other seam/section is not
hampered
• Extraction is economic
• Danger from premature collapse of pillars, influx
of noxious gases, inundation etc are avoided.
 Preparatory arrangement before
depillaring
• The following arrangements are necessary before
depillaring operation is started:
– Determination of panel size taking into account
incubation period and rate of extraction, if development
has not been done by panel system
– Obtaining permission from DGMS for depillaring in all
cases, from railway authority if depillaring is to be
conducted below railway line and from the district
authority if depillaring is conducted below district board
roads.
• For depillaring with caving method, dewatering of
old water logged working, if any, either by putting
in-seam pumps or by burn side safety boring
machine
• Plans to be updated showing all features
• Adjacent mines, likely to be affected, are informed
• Adequate number of supervisory staffs and
workers having experience in depillaring have to
be appointed.
• There shall be adequate stocks of supports, fire
fighting equipment, stone dust, lime, bricks etc
• Completion of preparatory stopping all around
the panel, if development has not been done in
panel system
• Adequate provision of pumping arrangement
• Establishment of ventilation network
• Advance supporting up to 2 pillars, ahead of the
pillar under extraction, or 60m whichever is more
in all direction as per the approved systematic
support rule.
 An exercise on planning of a Bord
and Pillar depillaring panel
Statement
• A coal seam 4m thick, dipping at 1 in 10, occurring
at a depth of 130m have been developed on Bord
and Pillar system along the floor of the seam with
4.5m wide galleries and 30m x 30m c/c pillar.
Describe the method of depillaring of the seam and
propose a suitable design for such a depillaring
panel. Assume your own conditions. Estimate the
production and productivity from the panel.
1. Statement of Basic Assumptions
We assume that there is no surface structure to
be protected, it is proposed to depillar the
seam by caving method with the help of LHD
as loading machine and a combination of
chain conveyor and rope haulage as
district/panel transport.
• 2. State of the Principle
– The layout of the depillaring panel with caving has
been shown in the enclosed drawing.
– After completing all the preparatory arrangement,
such as construction of preparatory stoppings,
grant of permission from DGMS, advance
supporting as per SSR up to 2 pillars etc,
depillaring operation is started from the dip most
pillar in the panel.
– It will progress towards the rise side following
diagonal line of extraction as shown in the
drawing:
3. Splitting operation
– Each pillar is divided into two equal parts by
driving a level split of 4.5 m width and 3 m height,
leaving 1m coal at the roof.
– The splitting operation is restricted up to 2 pillars
or 60m, whichever is less, ahead of the pillar
under extraction.
– However, when the pillar extraction is about to
complete, splitting operation can be extended up
to 4 pillars or 120m from the first pillar to be
extracted.
 Extraction of the stook
• After the pillar is splitted, each stook is
extracted by driving a dip slice of 4.5m
width and 3m height, leaving 1m coal at
the roof.
• A rib of coal about 1.5m wide is left in
between two consecutive slices which is
judiciously reduced as much as possible
during retreat.
• The total area of exposure under a slice is
restricted up to 150m2 or the limit specified by
DGMS in the permission letter.
• Only one slice in any one pillar is under
extraction at any point of time. When the slice
is completed, the 1m roof coal is blasted
down in stages during retreat from the slice.
• The splits and slices are supported during
advancing as per S.S.R. once a slice is
completely extracted, the supports from that
slice are completely withdrawn with the help
of chain sylvestor prop withdrawer, and the
roof is allowed to cave.
• A new slice is then started in the similar
manner after setting out goaf edge
supports.
 Sequence of operation
The sequence of operations during drivage of
splits and slices are as follows:
– coal winning is affected by drilling 36mm
diameter holes of 1.5m length on parallel cut
pattern using hand held electric coal drill
machine.
– The face is blasted off the solid using P3 or P5
type explosives in conjunction with electric delay
detonators.
– clearance of fumes, face dressing and erection
of temporary supports.
– Loading and transport
• The blasted coal from the face is loaded by
LHD which discharges it on to LDCC laid along
the level split galleries.
• These conveyors discharge the coal onto
MDCC installed along dip-rise gallery.
• Finally, coal is loaded on to 1t coal tubs at the
loading point through a short length bridge
conveyor for onward transport to pit
bottom/surface through a series of endless and
direct rope haulages.
– Support
•All the working slices, original and split
galleries, junctions, and goaf edges
upto 2 pillars ahead of the pillar under
extraction are to be supported as per
SSR approved by DGMS.
•The ideal SSR shall be as follows:
 Systematic support rule

• Support of original and split galleries

• Support at the slices
• Support at the junction
• Support at the goaf edge
Support of original and split galleries

• Original and split galleries are supported by three

rows of supports.
• The central row is supported by roof bolts placed
at 1.2m interval.
• The rise side of the gallery is supported by steel
chock and roof bolts put alternately at every 1.2m
interval.
• The dip side of the gallery is supported by
alternate timber/steel props and roof bolts at every
1.2m interval.
 Support at the slices

• The mouth of the slice is supported by two

steel chocks with a cross bar above these
chocks.
• The central portion of the slice is supported
by roof bolts at an interval of 1.2m.
• The one side of the slice (generally the goaf
edge side) is supported by steel chock and
roof bolts at an interval of alternate 1.2m.
• The front row of support at the slice must not
lag more than 1.8m from the advancing face.
 Support at the junction

• All the junctions up to 2 pillars ahead of the

pillar under extraction is supported by four
numbers of steel chocks with wooden cross
bars or steel girders.
 Support at the goaf edge
• The goaf edges are supported by steel
chocks and wooden props skin-to-skin all
across the width of the gallery.
The above depicted support system is
depicted in the drawing given.
• After the panel is exhausted, it is isolated all
around by completing the preparatory
isolation stoppings prepared before the
commencement of depillaring operation.
 Estimation of production
• With the layout given, it is expected that 4 split
faces and 4 slice faces would be available all the
time.
• The cycle time of operation at any face would be:
– Drilling time : 45 min
– Charging and blasting : 45min
– Fume clearance, dressing and erection of support :
60min
– Loading by LHD : 75min
– Support: 60min
• Total cycle time : 305 min = say 5 hr

Therefore, 1 blast per face per shift can be achieved

easily.
Production per blast from a split face =
4.5x3x1.5x0.85x1.5 = 24t
Similarly, production per blast from a slice face
= 24t
Therefore, production per shift = 8x24 = 192t
Daily production = 192 x 3=576t
Assuming 75% availability of the faces,
expected production = 0.75x576 = 400t
Estimation of No. of LHD required
• Assuming hourly productivity of LHD =16t,
if the LHDs are effectively used for 3 hours
per shift, No. of LHD required =
400/(3X3x16) = 3+1 = 4
 Manpower requirement
• Assistant manager : 1x3 = 3
• Under manager: 1x3 = 3
• Assistant engineer:1x3 = 3
• Overman:3+1
• Foreman:3
• Mining Sirdar:3
• Explosive carrier:9
• Driller:18
• Support gang:27
• LHD operator:12
• LHD helper:24
• Roof dresser:6
• Water sprayer:3
• Line mistry:6
• Material supply gang:6
• Heavy tyndel:6
• E&M fitter:6
• E&M fitter helper:6
• Conveyor operator:12
• EH operator:3
• Misc = 20
Total = 183
OMS = 400/183 = 2.22
 List of equipment in the panel
• LHD, 1.5m3 = 4
• LDCC=4
• Drill m/c =4
• Aux fan with duct = 3
• Endless haulage = 1
• Face pump =1
• Roof bolter =01
 Air Blast
• When the roof falls in a depillaring area,
i.e. on the goaf, the air in the goaf is
displaced as the roof is filled by the broken
strata.
• The displacement is so quick that the air is
pushed out at a high speed towards the
working areas, resulting in air blast, if
limited outlet remain to escape the air.
• Intensity of the air blast depends on the volume of
air that is displaced, which again depends on the
area of standing goaf and the number of passages
through which the air displaces.
• If the immediate roof of coal is hard, then fall does
not take place for a long time even after withdrawal
of supports. When large area is exposed, roof fall
occurs suddenly after a long time, dissipating large
volume of air towards working areas at a very high
speed endangering the workmen and machineries,
supports etc.
 Precautions against air blast
• At the planning stage, depillaring with
caving should not be adopted in the area
where roof is very hard consisting of
massive sandstone.
• In any depillaring area, all workmen should
be withdrawn to a safe place when the
indication of roof fall is observed.
Sometimes, work may be suspended for 2
hours before the roof fall occurs.
• More number of openings as far as practicable
should be kept opened in the panel so that the
displaced air gets path to escape with reduced
velocity.
• Stooks/ribs must not be left or at least reduced as
far as practicable from the depillaring area.
• After every blast, there is usually a thick cloud of
coal dust in suspension, which may ignite resulting
into coal dust explosion. Therefore, all the
electrical switches should be put off before such
air blast is anticipated.
• Construction of few preparatory stoppings with
small weak zone or opening breakable by air
speed.
• Sufficient number of manhole should be provided
along the galleries where person can take shelter
during air blast.
• During air blast, the workers should lie down along
the floor if it is not possible to take shelter during
the airblast.
• After the air blast has taken place, all the supports
must be reset/checked before the work is started.
Precautions against fire and spontaneous
heating during depillaring
• The coal left in the goaf in the form of rib or
stook during depillaring operation with caving is
conductive to spontaneous heating as air may
leak through the goaf and the heat of oxidation
may not be dissipated due to insufficient oxygen.
Therefore, it is necessary to take steps to
prevent spontaneous heating.
• The following steps may be taken for this
purpose:
 (i) Depillaring must be done in panel system
leaving barrier of coal pillars on three sides. This
barrier will prevent the spreading of fire, if it
occurs.
(ii) Size of the panel should be selected judiciously
so that the panel can be extracted and isolated
within the incubation period of the coal.
(iii) If the development has already been done in
open system, preparatory isolation stopings
should be erected all around the panel which
can be quickly completed in the event of
fire/spontaneous heating.
 (i) Depillaring operation should be done from dip to
rise so that the goaf can be submerged with
water, if necessary.
(ii) An attempt should be made not to leave any
coal in the rib as far as possible.
(iii) Prevention of breathing of air through cracks to
the surface due to caving of roof. The cracks at
the surface needs to be blanketed.
(iv) Provision of fire fighting equipment, sand, lime,
nitrogen flushing etc in the panel.
 Mining of Contiguous
seams/sections
• A set of seams or sections of workings is said to be
contiguous when they occur within 9m of each other.
• Scientifically, a pair of seam would be contiguous
when the workings of one of the seam interacts or
affects the other. This is generally governed by the
geo-mechanical properties of the rocks.
• According to Russian approach, the minimum
thickness of an interlayer which permits interaction to
proceed in the overlying bed is given by,
M=(12h+3.5)m, where h is the extraction height in m.
 Statutory rules for working of
contiguous seams
• Workings shall not be made in more than one
section in any seam, nor the workings shall be made
in any two seams within 9m of each other without
prior permission of each other.
• When two or more of such seams or sections are
developed in a mine by Bord and pillar method, the
pillars of one seam/section must be imposed over
the other unless the strata are inclined at an angle
of more than 30 degree.
• The parting left between any two such seams or
sections shall not be less than 3m at any place.
 Method of working contiguous seams
A. When the parting between two seams/sections is
less than 3m
(i) Work the bottom seam/section first, stow it and extract
the top seam either by caving or stowing as the case
may be.
(ii) Work the top seam with caving, leave sufficient time
(more than 2 years) to settle the goaf and then extract
the lower seam either by caving or stowing
(iii) Develop the bottom seam first. Take entries to top seam
while depillaring bottom seam with stowing and then,
develop and depillar the top seam simultaneously. The
development of top seam being always lagging behind
from that of bottom seam.
B. When the parting between two seams/sections
is more than 3m
(i) Both the seams are developed with super
imposition of pillars. Depillaring in both the
seam/section must proceed simultaneously. In
case of caving, the line of extraction in both
the seams must lie on the same vertical plane.
– In case of stowing, the bottom seam may advance
by about 30m or one pillar than the top seam.
(ii) Both (i) and (ii) as mentioned in Case (A) can
be adopted
 Precautions to be taken while
working contiguous seams
• To co-ordinate the work in both the sections/seams, both the
panels should be under control of the same supervision.
• For effective supervision, staple pits must be provided
between two sections at alternate junctions. These pits are
provided with either ladder or steps.
• An accurate correlation plan of the two seam on a scale of
1:1200 must be made available to the supervisory staffs
which should be kept updated.
• A good system of communication between two
sections/workings either by means of signalling bells or
telephones must be provided.
• The goaf line of both the seam must move simultaneously in
case of caving. The supports from the superimposed slices in
both the seams must be withdrawn at the same time.
• The verticality (superimposition) of pillars and the parting
should be checked at regular interval.