All the coal deposits of Poland’s Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) have been mapped and stored in virtual 3D space. The company recently completed the project aimed at implementing a modern deposit management and production planning system.
Within the framework of the project, a system has been implemented based on two global IT solutions, which made the deposit management and design process much more advanced. The techniques were based on similar systems in Australia and the United States. In Poland, LW Bogdanka and KGHM mines planned their production based on 3D deposit models. Now they are joined by JSW.
The 3D model of deposits provides a graphic visualization of its geologic structure and any anomalies. It was created through joint efforts of the JSW surveying and geology departments and the production preparation departments, as well as the preparation and review of data.
As a result of the project, a central geological database was created for JSW mines, fed with data from 250 surface holes, 1,440 underground holes, 14,670 roadway profiling exercises, more than 24,000 quality samples, 100 main faults and more than 150 faults.
The work on the project produced spatial structural and quality models of deposits in JSW’s mines and strategic production schedules. The company has set a schedule for executing 700 km of planned roadway excavations and 480 longwalls, including 50 types of roadway roof supports and 25 algorithms for calculating production limitations.
Additionally, the visualization and the modern 3D model of the deposits allow for a better understanding of variations in extraction and geological conditions in mines, while the scheduling software supports an even better optimization of production at JSW, among others by offering development of various production scenarios for the mines.
