A feeder arrangement for a slurry transport system, which is preferably a hydro hoist, includes a chamber with a high pressure water inlet, a low pressure water outlet, and a low pressure solids inlet at a top end. The low pressure solids inlet has a transfer chute that opens into a lower section of the chamber to maintain a clear-water environment adjacent the top end. A high pressure solids and water outlet is provided at a bottom end. The inlets and outlets are controlled by suitable valves. Three such chambers are preferably operated together in sequence between incoming and outgoing columns in a mine.

A feeder arrangement for a slurry transport system, which is preferably a hydro hoist, includes a chamber with a high pressure water inlet, a low pressure water outlet, and a low pressure solids inlet at a top end. The low pressure solids inlet has a transfer chute that opens into a lower section of the chamber to maintain a clear-water environment adjacent the top end. A high pressure solids and water outlet is provided at a bottom end. The inlets and outlets are controlled by suitable valves. Three such chambers are preferably operated together in sequence between incoming and outgoing columns in a mine.

A pumping system for pumping a medium is described. The system comprises: at least one transverse pressure exchange chamber, but preferably multiple pressure exchange chambers. Each pressure exchange chamber has a valve arrangement at each end. The system also includes a pressurised discharge at a delivery end of the system and a filling mechanism operable to fill the pressure exchange chamber with the medium. A positive displacement pump is operable to pump a driving fluid in direct contact with the medium so that the medium is pumped from the pressure exchange chamber to the pressurised discharge. A method of pumping a medium is also described.

A system for extracting gas from a tectonically-deformed coal seam in-situ by depressurizing a horizontal well cavity is provided. A horizontal well is constructed by a horizontal well drilling and reaming subsystem and adjoins a vertical well to form a U-shaped well, and a horizontal section of the horizontal well is reamed to enlarge hole diameter. A horizontal well hole-collapse cavity-construction depressurization excitation subsystem performs pressure-pulse excitation and stress release on the horizontal well of tectonically-deformed coal bed methane, and hydraulically displaces a coal-liquid-gas mixture such that the mixture is conveyed towards a vertical well section along a depressurizing space. A product lifting subsystem further pulverizes the coal and lifts the mixture towards a wellhead of a vertical well. A gas-liquid-solid separation subsystem separates the coal, liquid and gas. A monitoring and control subsystem detects and controls the operation conditions and the execution processes of technical equipment in real time.

A system for extracting gas from a tectonically-deformed coal seam in-situ by depressurizing a horizontal well cavity is provided. A horizontal well is constructed by a horizontal well drilling and reaming subsystem and adjoins a vertical well to form a U-shaped well, and a horizontal section of the horizontal well is reamed to enlarge hole diameter. A horizontal well hole-collapse cavity-construction depressurization excitation subsystem performs pressure-pulse excitation and stress release on the horizontal well of tectonically-deformed coal bed methane, and hydraulically displaces a coal-liquid-gas mixture such that the mixture is conveyed towards a vertical well section along a depressurizing space. A product lifting subsystem further pulverizes the coal and lifts the mixture towards a wellhead of a vertical well. A gas-liquid-solid separation subsystem separates the coal, liquid and gas. A monitoring and control subsystem detects and controls the operation conditions and the execution processes of technical equipment in real time.

Disclosed is a hydraulic hoisting system for moving material from an underground position to a surface level. In most cases, the system will be used to move fragmented rock or ore generated during the normal operation of a mine to a position on or near the surface of the Earth so that the rock or ore can be further processed. The system is a conduit loop for continuous flow of circulating fluid from near or at the surface to underground; a slurry preparation unit for mixing the material with a portion of the fluid to form a slurry; and an injection unit for injecting the slurry into the conduit.

A pumping system for pumping a medium is described. The system comprises: at least one transverse pressure exchange chamber, but preferably multiple pressure exchange chambers. Each pressure exchange chamber has a valve arrangement at each end. The system also includes a pressurised discharge at a delivery end of the system and a filling mechanism operable to fill the pressure exchange chamber with the medium. A positive displacement pump is operable to pump a driving fluid in direct contact with the medium so that the medium is pumped from the pressure exchange chamber to the pressurised discharge. A method of pumping a medium is also described.

Disclosed is a hydraulic hoisting system for moving material from an underground position to a surface level. In most cases, the system will be used to move fragmented rock or ore generated during the normal operation of a mine to a position on or near the surface of the Earth so that the rock or ore can be further processed. The system is a conduit loop for continuous flow of circulating fluid from near or at the surface to underground; a slurry preparation unit for mixing the material with a portion of the fluid to form a slurry; and an injection unit for injecting the slurry into the conduit.

The present invention relates to a method of storing waste material in a subterranean formation, the method including digging a mine shaft to reach the subterranean formation; constructing a ventilated underground control center wherein the center includes a computerized control panel; providing a drill head, wherein the computerized control panel controls the movements of the drill head; providing a hollow drill pipe; providing a movable hydraulic shield; providing a movable resin roof bolting machine; providing a movable waste extrusion device; operating the computerized control panel to advance the drill head into the subterranean formation to obtain a mined-out space; and extruding waste material into the mined-out space of the subterranean formation.