Coal Inspectorate | Alert | No.405 V 1 | 14 March 2022
On 10 March 2022, a severe weather event occurred in the regional areas of Moranbah. Records have identified that between 4pm and 8pm, 852 cloud to ground lightning strikes occurred in the region.
Lightning is believed to have struck one or more of three goaf gas blower skids, igniting the gas on one of them. The gas burned at the top of the evasee for an unknown period of time before being discovered by a seam gas operator who applied an emergency shutdown of the plant.
The three goaf gas blower skids were in close proximity to each other and were operating on a sealed goaf at the time of the incident.
The goaf gas blower skid was on free vent at the time of the incident, operating at approximately 156lt/sec.
The plant was running high purity of 100% methane and nil oxygen.
A mine evacuation was ordered and the plant scene was secured.
A severe weather event occurred with multiple lightning strikes at the surface of an underground mine.
Goaf gas blower skids have earthing protection, Flame arrestor and detonation arrestors, by design, do not have lightning protection.
All site senior executives should:
The mine where this incident has occurred has added withdrawal from the mine to their lightning TARP triggers while the investigation is ongoing.
Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.
We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.
Contact: Paul Brown, Inspector of Mines , +61 7 3199 8001 QldMinesInspectorate@rshq.qld.gov.au
Issued by Resources Safety & Health Queensland
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All information on this page (Failure of goaf well skid safety system - https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-notices/mines/failure-of-goaf-well-skid-safety-system) is correct as of time of printing (Mar 29, 2024 7:04 am).