Theory and Application of Gob-Side Entry Retaining in Thick Three-Soft Coal Seam

Figure 1

Sketches illustrating three different section roadway layouts. (a) Traditional longwall with wide coal pillar. (b) Gob-side entry driving (GED) with narrow coal pillar. (c) Gob-side entry retaining (GER) with noncoal pillar.

(a)

(b)

(c)