Measurement and application of vibration signals during pressure relief hole construction using microseismic system

•Microseismic system was used to monitor pressure relief hole construction.•The measurement method can express the depth of drilling hole.•The measurement method can reflect the stress concentration degree in hole.•The pressure relief effect can be evaluated by the measurement method. Pressure relief drilling (PRD) is a frequently-used measure in underground coal mine to control and prevent rock burst, which achieved the purpose of pressure relief by constructing PRD holes at the side of roadway. But up to now PRD is only used to achieve the pressure relief purpose, the important indicative information occurred in the process of drilling construction are all ignored. This paper innovatively put forward a new measurement method for monitoring-while-drilling (MWD) by arranging microseismic (MS) system beside the PRD hole, the MS system pick up vibration signals during PRD hole construction process and achieved excellent application results. The monitoring data can express the depth of PRD hole, identify and record drilling dynamic phenomena such as sticking drilling and vibration events, reflect the stress concentration degree in different depths, and evaluate pressure relief effect of PRD. The measurement method makes full use of PRD hole construction and achieves the aim of “one hole and multi-purpose”.