Santanu Bhowmik Email and Phone Number

Taught core-mining subjects (Mine Development, Mine Surveying, Mine Ventilation, Coal Mining Methods, Rick Mechanics) to BTech. Mining Engineering students.

Teaching: Subsurface Rock Engineering and Tunnelling to the 1st Semester M.Tech. Mining Engineering students. Basic rock properties, stabilization principles, failure theories; ground control and modes of supports; application of Numerical methods for stability analyses. Research: Assisting TWO Scholars for their PhD researches in Supercritical CO2 Adsorption characteristics in powdered, wet coal samples"​ and "Permeability analyses of coal core samples by pressure decay profiles in confined stress conditions".

Teaching: "Rock Mechanics Fundamentals"​ to 6th semester B.Tech. Mining Engineering students (Jan, 2015 - April, 2015). The topics covered were stress, strain, transformation and rotation; Mohr's circle, mechanical properties of rock and laboratory tests; discontinuities - properties and strength in relation to in-situ stress.Research: The objective was to analyze the sorption characteristics of methane on some European shale samples. The samples were crushed and undersize of 44 US mesh samples are used for the sorption isotherm tests. The test was conducted at 30°C on moisture equilibrated samples and the maximum experimental pressure in the sample cell was maintained upto ~8500 kPa. The results were analysed to see whether there was a possible correlation among the total organic content, moisture content and the volume adsorbed. However, it was observed earlier that change in void volume could significantly impact the adsorbed volume when the calibrated gas was different other than Helium due to different molecular diameter and “total accessible volume”. So, to consider the variation of void volume during calibration, Krypton is also used as a medium gas and the calculated shale density and the estimated adsorbed volume of methane are also compared.

The objective was to find out the Porosity and Permeability of the tight rock samples from the Nordegg formation of Western Canada. Crushed samples of 20-35 mesh size was prepared to test for the He-pycnometry, crushed rock permeability using Shale Matrix Permeameter on both as-received, uncleaned and dried, cleaned samples. The samples were cleaned using the Dean-Stark extraction process and then oven-dried samples were directly used for He-density and permeability measurements. The samples were also analysed by the low-pressure N2 adsorption to understand the pore size distribution and dominant pore-size of the samples. The XRD and petrography analyses were also conducted to know the inorganic and organic composition of the rock. Finally, the porosity, permeability and the low-pressure adsorption results were compared with the rock composition for any significant relationship among them.

Teaching: "Rock Mechanics Applications"​ to 6th semester B.Tech. Mining Engineering students (Jan, 2010 - May, 2010). the topics covered were: Mine subsidence, In-situ stress measurements, Excavation principles and stabilization, Rock slope failure, Stresses around mine excavations in underground.Research: ­The objective was to find out the normal and competitive sorption and diffusion properties of the coal by conducting sorption test and methane displacement test on dry, powdered coal samples from different mines in India. The pure, absolute gas sorption capacities of methane and CO2 for fourteen coal samples were calculated and plotted with coal rank, coal composition. Langmuir and Dubinin-Astakhov pure gas adsorption models were used to validate the experimental sorption results and their relative accuracies were also checked. Diffusivity of methane and CO2 were estimated by using modified unipore diffusion model and results were co-related to find any significant relation with the experimental parameters. Methane displacement characteristics from partially methane saturated coals by cyclic, pure CO2 injection was investigated using `huff-and-puff' scheme to observe the preferential adsorption of CO2 over methane on dry, powdered coal samples.

The research work was focused to find out the sorption capacity of the coal by conducting sorption test on raw, powdered coal sample and preparing sorption isotherms for particular sample and the reservoir simulation will be done to find out the methane content of the particular area. At an advanced stage, the project will deal with the production of methane gas from CBM reservoirs depending on the injection of CO2 - separately to assess the future possibility of the CBM process in Indian Coalfields.

In collaboration with SRK, Cardiff, the detailed time study analysis carried out for 45 days for every unit operation and geology for a safe, improving production at Khetri Mine. Scan and digitization of the original plans in AUTOCAD 2000. Datasheet preparation using MS Excel from borehole logs for preparation of the Mining Plan for Malangtoli Iron Ore Mine, MESCO.

The research work was focused mainly in Jhanjhra & Sanctoria mines and nearby areas where ground surface has been subsided due to the act of mining. Satellite images of the affected areas were collected from the National remote sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad and simultaneously, periodical monitoring of subsidence were carried out to calculate the rate and amount of subsidence.

The project investigated different reasons for generation of flyrocks in blasting process, prediction and control with the help of case studies in non-coal surface mines in India. Trial blasts were conducted depending on the various geo-mining and blasting parameters with seismographs and high speed video capturing of blasting process. The joint, folds, bedding planes of rock are also taken into consideration to interpret throw of loose rocks in particular direction.

Field data collection and compilation in MS Excel with different air quality results from coal mines in Raniganj area, Eastern Coalfields Limited.