Beneficial Use of Deep Ordovician Limestone Water from Mine Safety Dewatering at the Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine, North China

The use of water from mine dewatering has become increasingly important issue in northern China. Much of this water is discharged to the environment, which wastes a valuable resource and pollutes the ecosystem. To help address this, a feasibility analysis was carried on using deep Ordovician limestone water from dewatering at the Xinglongzhuang coal mine. First, a safe hydraulic pressure was estimated using the conventional water inrush coefficient method. Then, based on the results of a water release test (drilled into an artesian aquifer), a model representing the geology and hydrology of the study area was subsequently established and calibrated to existing conditions and water release test results, using the numerical simulation program FEFLOW. Finally, according to a contract signed between the mine and a local industrial water consumer, two cases of dewatering were discussed using the model to maintain a balance between mining safety and supplying water for nearby industrial operations. During the calibration and prediction analysis, the permeable faults were identified as the most important factor in water management and a key factor for balancing the aforementioned needs.