News & Events
Final field tests of the HBM method
Final field tests of the Hydro Borehole Mining method using the hydro borehole mining installation were conducted on June 20th, 2023 at the "Bełchatów" open pit mine.
Tests on the air lift borehole installation
On November 10th, 2022 and November 17th, 2022, (with the participation of scientists from the Poznań University of Life Sciences) tests were conducted on the air lift borehole installation. After the completion of the tests, the most "sensitive" elements of the installation were secured for the winter period.
The plugging in of the air lift borehole installation production pipe into the casing of the well at the GIG Experimental Mine „Barbara” (October 25-27th, 2022)
On October 25th, 2022, the procedure of plugging in of the air lift borehole installation production pipe 7 5/8 inch into the test well at the Experimental Mine "Barbara" was performed. After checking the condition of the pressure, temperature and flow sensors, the availability of utilities (electricity, water and compressed air), specialized drilling tools, the procedure of plugging in of the air lift borehole installation production pipe into the well was proceeded. The production pipe consisted of four segments. Each successive pipe segment was tightened to an already plugged in set of pipes.
In order to clean the silted bottom of the well, water launch jets were activated and compressed air was pumped into the air lift basket.
A set of suspended production pipes was connected by an elbow to the upper section of the surface installation pipeline, connecting it to the surface section of the experimental installation.
After the connection was made and a closed circuit was created, on October 27th, 2022 commissioning tests were performed on the airlift borehole installation.
Tests on laboratory airlift 200mm installation
On September 08-09th, 2022, tests were carried out on a laboratory airlift 200mm installation. Videos recorded in slow-motion technology during the tests provided an important element for the analysis and conclusions of the tests.
Visit of representatives of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and European Research Executive Agency (REA)
On July 7th, 2022, we hosted at the Experimental Mine „Barbara” representatives of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and REA , Mr Andrea Gentili and Mr Moises Blanco Rios, as well as Mr Paul Webb from The European Research Executive Agency (REA). The guests were introduced to the HydroCoal Plus project progress. Among other things, they visited the operation of the air-lift 200mm laboratory installation and also the field site with just drilled well prepared for the in-situ air-lift 200mm tests.
Start-up works and calibration of the air-lift 200mm laboratory installation
The start-up works of the air-lift 200mm laboratory installation in the SO Department workshop took place from July 9th – 10th, 2022. The scientists from the Poznań University of Life Sciences participated in the tests.
Drilling the borehole well
On July 5th – 7th, 2022 the company IMB Podbeskidzie drilled a borehole well at the indicated location on the premises of the Experimental Mine „Barbara” for the purpose of performing in-situ tests of the airlift technology and for the purpose of performing other HBM technology field trials.
Assembly of the air-lift 200mm laboratory installation
In April 2022, an air-lift 200mm laboratory installation designed in cooperation with scientists from the Poznań University of Life Sciences and the TRANSCOM company from Katowice was installed in the Department of Energy Saving and Air Protection – „SO” workshop at the GIG Experimental Mine „Barbara”
Hydro-cutting tests performed on the coal samples collected in SD Brown Coal Mine
The field tests on the brown coal samples collected in SD Brown Coal Mine (Bilina – Czech Republic) were carried out by GIG in close cooperation with the subcontractor - PONAR in the PONAR’s branch in Łaziska Górne on September 23rd, 2021.
Consultation on air-lift 200 mm laboratory installation
On August 23rd-24th, 2021, a study visit of representatives of GIG took place at the University of Life Sciences in Poznań, devoted to consultations regarding comments on the design of the planned 200 mm air-lift laboratory installation.
Preparation of brown coal samples from the Czech Republic for testing
Samples of brown coal brought from the Czech Severoceske Doly Mine were prepared at Experimental mine "Barbara" for hydro-cutting tests (hydrodynamic). Some of them were cut and embedded in concrete.
Field tests at “Bełchatów” mine
Preliminary tests, conducted on the right side of the slope prepared for the tests were performed to check operational capability of the installation. Nozzle of the hydro-monitor has diameter of 0.25 cal.The field tests were carried out at “Bełchatów’ mine on December 5th and 6th, 2019.
Three hydro-cutting tests
Preliminary field tests were carried out by GIG in close cooperation with the
subcontractor, PONAR. Three hydro-cutting tests of coal lumbs were conducted by GIG and PONAR in the PONAR branch in Łaziska Górne. The first hydro-cutting test were carried out at PONAR on August 13th, 2019. The second hydro-cutting test was performer at PONAR premises on on September 26th, 2019. The third hydro-cutting was carried out at PONAR on October 10th, 2019.
Gathering of Coal Samples in SD Brown Coal Mine
On November 7th-9th, 2018 a trip to the Severoceske Doly SD (Bilina) Brown Coal Mine in the Czech Republic took place. The purpose of the trip was to take samples of coals for laboratory geomechanical tests and transport of samples to POLTEGOR Instytut Wrocław and GIG Katowice.
Two start working meetings
On June 28th and on December 18th, 2018 in „Bełchatów” Brown
Coal Open Pit Mine there were two working meetings organized – devoted to discussing the preparations for the implementation of tasks, discussion of geological, technical and technological issues and preparing for sampling of coals for laboratory tests.
Kick-off meeting of the HydroCoal Plus
The Kick-Off Meeting was organised on June 28th, 2018 and took place in Experimental Mine „Barbara” of Central Mining Institute (GIG) premises in Mikołów. During the meeting, the partners presented the organisation they represent and discussed the activities of the project.
Membership of The Water Jet Technology Association
In 2017 GIG was invited and became full and equal Water Jet Technology Association WJTA member. The Water Jet Technology Association (WJTA, https://www.wjta.org) and Industrial & Municipal Cleaning Association (IMCA) members include high pressure waterjet and industrial vacuum equipment users, manufacturers, distributors, researchers, regulators, and consultants. WJTA-IMCA is international in scope with corporate and individual members throughout the world. The primary goals of WJTA-IMCA are enhancing communication within the industry; facilitating cooperation between government, industry, university and research institutions; fostering foreign and domestic trade in jet cutting and cleaning products and industrial vacuum equipment and services; and studying and advancing the arts and sciences of jet cutting of industrial and geological materials, as well as industrial cleaning and vacuuming.
