The article considers the issue of ventilation in oil mine sloping units, focusing on the need to improve the efficiency of ventilation systems and decrease air temperature in working areas. The studies have been conducted at the Yaregskoye field (Lukoil Perm LLC), where the technology of highly viscous oil production with oil-containing collector heating is used. Steam injection into a formation causes the rise of air temperature in mine workings, which, according to the field studies, exceeds the standard values in more than 40 % of units. This causes the need for control over the mine thermal regime.
The current methods of temperature decrease, such as using air conditioners and heaters, are cost-intensive and inefficient. Therefore, an alternative ventilation method has been offered that includes the division of a drilling mine gallery into working and non-working areas using a leak-tight thermal insulating partition, which helps to minimize the contact of the general mine air jet with the heated formation. The excessive heat is removed through the ventilation well, whereas a part of the heated air can be used to heat fresh air during the cold season. Control valves and fans ensure flexible control over the temperature and supplied air volume, which is extremely crucial to ensure comfortable working conditions and compliance with safety standards.
According to the results of thermal calculations and simulation with the Aeroset Software Package, the efficiency of the new ventilation method during the cold and warm seasons has been evaluated. The results have shown that during the warm season, the air temperature in the working area remains within the range of standard values. During the cold season, the temperature of the air supplied through the air-supplying well complies with the safety requirements with no need to heat it.
Implementing the proposed method will help increase the safety of production and establish comfortable conditions for the personnel at the minimum energy costs. The studies confirm the efficiency of the new method of oil mine ventilation, paving the way to its introduction in practice.
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