Recently, Shendong Coal Shangwan Mine has safely and smoothly completed final mining at the 22107-1 longwall mining face. This was the first successful application of the single roadway retreat technology in the 7-meter high longwall mining face, providing a practical case for safe and efficient coal mining under complex geological conditions.
As a core production mine of Shendong Coal, Shangwan Mine has always focused on key pains in production and enhanced mining efficiency through technological innovation. During construction at the 22107 longwall mining face, the mine faced safety risks including old roadways crossing the retreat channel and unblocked ventilation raise. Based on the dual demands of safe production and efficient mining, it conducted systematic analysis on roof stability and developed targeted optimization plans, integrating technological innovation with production.
This technical optimization achieved remarkable results, realizing all-round progress in safety, economics and efficiency. By replacing the traditional dual-roadway layout with a single-roadway design, the mine reduced roadway excavation by 128 meters and saved CNY 1.139 million, thus lowering both construction costs and operational risks. It shifted the 22107-1 retreat roadway 26.5 meters toward the main roadway and relocated old roadways to the central area of the mining face. Through effective support with hydraulic supports, it eliminated roof collapse hazards, reflecting the philosophy of less Staff, Safer Work. It also aligned the layout with the adjacent channel and formed a circular transportation network to ensure smooth auxiliary transportation and enhance production efficiency. In addition, it optimized the original one-time face retraction to two separate operation, and cumulatively recovered an additional 65,000 tonnes of coal resources, generating more than CNY 22.75 million in economic benefits and maximizing resource utilization.
This breakthrough not only filled the application gap of single retreat roadway for 7-meter high longwall mining faces in Shendong, but also offered replicable and scalable practical demonstration for similar mines across the industry, facilitating the transformation of mine production toward intelligence, safety and efficiency.
