Objective Large-diameter lifesaving holes have been successfully applied multiple times in mine rescue through surface drilling. However, they show limitations in emergency response like quick dispatch and cross-regional rescue, and their technological adaptability is insufficient to cope with complex strata.

Methods From the perspective of overall emergency rescue, with rescue timeliness as an indicator, this study summarized the critical technologies like response capability enhancement and borehole-forming technology for complex strata. It constructed an emergency handling process for mine rescue through surface drilling, specified the improvements in contingency plan activation, response actions, and response speeds, and established the hierarchical cross-regional rescue dispatch mechanism and the pre-drilling technical support response mechanism. Based on the analysis of the drilling process characteristics of large-diameter lifesaving holes in unconsolidated strata and bedrock layers, this study proposed solutions to construction challenges in complex strata characterized by fragmentation and high water inflow, and typical problems in the rescue lifting process.

Results and Conclusions Key findings are as follows: (1) A scientific emergency response mechanism for mine rescue through surface drilling is a significant approach for improving rescue efficiency. The emergency response efficiency can be effectively increased by 2.3 times by employing the hierarchical cross-regional rescue dispatch mechanism and the pre-drilling technical support response mechanism. (2) An efficient borehole-forming solution for large-diameter lifesaving holes under complex formation conditions is developed in this study. The solution is applied to the experimental project of the Jiudingshan mine in Jining City, completing a large-diameter lifesaving hole with a final drilling depth of 403.2 m, a diameter of 580 mm at the end location, and an average penetration rate of 2.5 m/h. The total duration from emergency response to rescue lifting takes 311.95 h, improving the overall rescue timeliness by 47%. (3) In terms of rescue timeliness, the efficiency improvement of the rescue preparation phase is superior to that of the implementation phase, with more achievable enhancement in the emergency response capability. Therefore, mine rescue teams are recommended to enhance emergency preparedness and rapid response capabilities in the case of limited enhancement in drilling technology and equipment. The results of this study can be referenced for supplying surface emergency rescue for mines with mining depths shallower than 400 m, guiding mine rescue teams to establish emergency response mechanisms, and conducting construction design for large-diameter lifesaving holes, thus holding significant guiding implications for mine emergency rescue through surface drilling.