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PostMinQuake: Potential Learnings of induced seismicity during post-mining in European coal regions

The task of this European research project (PostMinQuake) is to identify mechanisms, relevant parameters and dependencies causing post-mining seismicity for several European coal regions.   When closing an underground coalmine, the mine water raises by stopping mine water pumping, which can lead to micro seismic events due to the final change of the geomechanical stress-regime. The consortium partners (FZN-THGA, GFZ, BRGM, INERIS, CMI, SUT, SRK, IGN, Green Gas, DIAMO) will collect and analyse information from the coal basins Gardanne (France) and Upper Silesia (Czech Republic and Poland). In Germany, we will focus in the Ruhr Basin and Ibbenbüren (North-West Germany), which are places with centuries of hard coal mining history and where mining ceased in 2018. In order to detect the processes that cause micro-seismicity, we are gathering information in the basins regarding geology; mining methods and monitoring protocols; and post-mining situation and seismicity. This information will be analysed to identify similar approaches to develop a synthesis of good practices, compulsory and desired improvements, as well as an post-mining seismicity map for post-mining seismicity diagnosis. We also aim to develop a Ground Motion Prediction Equation, and the elaboration of criteria of hazard rating. The final guideline could help the mining industry and decision-making bodies to manage the risks of post-mining micro seismicity, also of interest in old petroleum reservoirs when used to storage H2 or even for geothermal energy. Acknowledgements: The Research Fund for Coal and Steel funds the PostMinQuake project under the grant agreement No 899192.

Details

Author
Maria Paloma Primo Doncel, Peter Goerke-Mallet, Stefan Möllerherm, Tobias Rudolph
Institutionen
Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau - Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola, Germany
Veranstaltung
GeoKarlsruhe 2021
Datum
2021
DOI
10.48380/dggv-7sab-0t19
Geolocation
Europe