Combined seismic technology for mine planning ? a user's perspective

Abstract

Combined seismic techniques have been used to provide complementary information to exploration drilling for underground coal mine planning and development. These techniques include two and three dimensional surface reflection seismic, in-seam seismic, cross-hole tomography, vertical seismic profiling (VSP), exploration VSP and guided wave VSP. The purpose of the surveys is to verify that the coal seam is free of significant geological disturbances, such as faults, dykes and highly jointed zones. In the relatively shallow Australian coal deposit environment, a combined use of surface and borehole related seismic surveys offers a cost-effective means of delineating seam structures. The field procedures of these surveys are straight forward and, with dedicated portable data acquisition systems and processing software, the turn around time is quick. These techniques have now been accepted and integrated as routine mine planning practices.