Monitoring system in the georeactor area during the underground coal gasification process

Safety control of the underground coal gasification (UCG) process involves ensuring that the process runs smoothly, monitoring changes occurring on the surface and in the rock mass, and counteracting the negative environmental impact of the process. The article presents the application of a monitoring system implemented in Poland, both in pilot tests conducted in shallow coal seams at the Barbara Experimental Mine and in deep coal seams at the Wieczorek mine, where a full-scale gasification process was tested. The analysis of the monitoring results carried out during the gasification experiment in an operating mine allowed for the identification of key conditions determining the efficiency and safety of the process, pointing to both its strengths and potential limitations in the context of complex mining, environmental, geological and hydrogeological conditions specific to the studied area. Based on the analysis of the data, no significant impact of the studied process on the rock mass or mine water was observed during the experiment. Studies conducted 5 and 8 years after the end of the process did not confirm any long-term impact of the process on water quality in the area of the georeactor's operation.