North Goonyella Ventilation Shaft No. 2
Following our successful completion of works at North Goonyella Ventilation Shaft No.4, Abergeldie was engaged to bore and line Ventilation Shaft No.2 for the Peabody North Goonyella Coal Mines. Situated at the northern end of the Bowen Basin, the mine covers a lease of 3341ha, with combined operations yielding 3 million tonnes of coking coal annually.
Scope of Works
The works included:
- The design and construction of an access road.
- All surface works, including settling ponds required for the reverse circulation process.
- Establishment of an on-site facility to pre-cast and cure composite steel and concrete shaft lining segments.
- Fabrication and installation of a 5.2m diameter composite reinforced concrete and steel liner from the surface to 272m depth.
- Construction of a concrete collar and pre-sinks.
An innovative approach to shaft construction
The shaft, initially bored from the surface to 84m at 6.8m diameter and steel-lined through Tertiary strata, continued at 6.15m diameter to the coal seam level at 272m total depth. Abergeldie’s three blind bore drilling rigs, with the largest capable of sinking shafts 50% larger than any other globally, uniquely suited the project’s blind boring requirements.
The entire construction sequence, involving drilling and lining, occurred with the shaft filled with drilling fluid. This fluid, containing additives, stabilised the excavation by inhibiting clay and shale swelling and preventing subsequent deterioration.
Pathways for locals
On this project, our commitment to Aboriginal participation shone through as we actively engaged in hiring temporary construction workers from within the community. This inclusive approach not only provided valuable employment opportunities but also served as a pathway to permanent positions for several skilled individuals,