| Title | ABNORMAL GEOTHERMAL CONDITIONS OF THE MINES IN SOUTH-WEST PART OF THE UPPER SILESIAN COAL BASIN |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ewa KUROWSKA |
| Year | 2001 |
| Conference | Geothermal Energy in Underground Mines, Ustron, Poland |
| Keywords | Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB), heat flow, geothermal gradient, thermal conductivity. |
| Abstract | In this paper the distribution of temperatures in a rock mass in the Borynia, Zofi€wka and Pni€wek coal mines has been presented. The mines in question are located in the south-west part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (south-west Poland). Due to the fact that the heat flow in the described area is about 70 mW/m2, which means that the temperatures are higher than in other parts of the Basin, the area is prospective for geothermal energy utilization. The map of rock temperature distribution 500 m below sea level (about 770 m below the surface) presents temperatures in the range 31-40oC. That map is based on temperature measurements taken from mine workings. The temperatures characteristic for different exploiting levels of each mine are also shown; the temperature ranges from 28 to 47.7oC in the exploiting interval 300-730 m below see level (588-1000 m below the surface). The distribution of temperature in a rock formation in SW area of the Basin partly depends on geological structure. In this paper the differentiation of geothermal field in the three mines against the background of geological structure has been analyzed, which resulted in discovering the relationship between positive temperature anomalies and the anticline located in the Borynia and Zofi€wka areas as well as the fault zone Bzie- Czechowice located in the southern part of the area of research. The hydrogeological conditions of the mines have also been presented. A water recharge into the mine workings in the Borynia, Zofi€wka and Pni€wek mines is very small. A minimum water inflow is in the Pni€wek mine (0.72 m3/min) and a maximum one is in the Borynia mine (3.63 m3/min). However, there is the possibility of heat extraction from water stored in post-mining excavations. The water in post-mining excavations quickly gains the temperature of surrounding rocks because of relatively high value of terrestrial heat flow. |