Considerations for application of electrical submersible pumps for underground coal mine dewatering

At mining depths beyond 800 ft., electrical submersible pumps become an economic alternative for coal mine dewatering. Pump configurations differ from those used for freshwater or petroleum applications. Controls are implemented by a combination of commercial and custom techniques. Pump configurations, code requirements, and pump controls are discussed. It is stressed that pump reliability is affected by downhole conditions, logical controls, and clear operator interface and that successful pump application is dependent on site-specific requirements