Construction and digging of SHAFT R-XI
Client: KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
Technical data:
Shaft diameter in clear distance: 7.5 m
Shaft depth: 1,250 m
Freezing depth: 635 m
Technology:
Shaft sinking with the use of rock formation freezing, shaft construction is segmented concrete and tubbing lining.
The R-XI shaft construction at the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. ZG “Rudna” Mine Division, due to complicated geological and mining conditions as well as the scope and diversity of tasks, was among the most complex engineering works. Safe and economic execution of such a difficult task required the latest in modern science and technology and the experience gained by the company during the construction of previous shafts.
The R-XI shaft is the 29th sank by PeBeKa S.A. in the LGOM area and presently the deepest facility of its kind. During the sinking, several solutions that were aimed at speeding up and improving investments, increasing safety of the crew and decreasing investment costs. These solutions include selective rock formation freezing alternately with long holes up to 635 m and short holes up to 395 m. In some segments ferroconcrete panels were used, made of high concrete strength. Their installation was facilitated by a hydraulic lift designed and produced for the company, and constituted an integral part of the shaft heading machine. An expensive cascade drainage system was replaced with gravitational dehydration through a centrally drilled hole from the shaft base connecting the base with the shaft’s bottom. A significant achievement of PeBeKa’s was the designing of a special technology for conducting shot works, including contour shooting, special holes and restricting the amount of wall removed in one cycle.