Research advances in enhanced coal seam gas extraction by controllable shock wave fracturing

With the continuous increase of mining in depth,the gas extraction faces the challenges of low permeability,great ground stress,high temperature and large gas pressure in coal seam.The controllable shock wave(CSW),as a new method for enhancing permeability of coal seam to improve gas extraction,features in the advantages of high efficiency,eco-friendly,and low cost.In order to better utilize the CSW into gas extraction in coal mine,the mechanism and feasibility of CSW enhanced extraction need to be studied.In this paper,the basic principles,the experimental tests,the mathematical models,and the on-site tests of CSW fracturing coal seams are reviewed,thereby its future research directions are provided.Based on the different media between electrodes,the CSW can be divided into three categories:hydraulic effect,wire explosion and excitation of energetic materials by detonating wire.During the process of propagation and attenuation of the high-energy shock wave in coal,the shock wave and bubble pulsation work together to produce an enhanced permeability effect on the coal seam.The stronger the strength of the CSW is,the more cracks created in the coal is,and the greater the length,width and area of the cracks being.The repeated shock on the coal seam is conducive to the formation of complex network fracture system as well as the reduction of coal seam strength,but excessive shock frequency will also damage the coal structure,resulting in the limited effect of the enhanced gas extraction.Under the influence of ground stress,the crack propagation in coal seam will be restrained.The difference of horizontal principal stress has a significant impact on the shape,propagation direction and connectivity of the CSW induced cracks.The permeability enhancement effect of CSW is affected by the breakage degree of coal seam.The shock wave is absorbed by the broken coal,which may hinder the propagation of CSW,resulting in a poor effect of permeability enhancement.When arranging two adjacent boreholes for CSW permeability enhancement test,the spacing of boreholes should not be too close,which may lead to negative pressure mutual pulling in the early stage of drainage.At present,the accurate method for effectively predicting the CSW permeability enhanced range should be further investigated.

Experimental investigation on coal pore-fracture variation and fractal characteristics synergistically affected by solvents for improving clean gas extraction

Chemical solvents instead of pure water being as hydraulic fracturing fluid could effectively increase permeability and improve clean methane extraction efficiency.However,pore-fracture variation features of lean coal synergistically affected by solvents have not been fully understood.Ultrasonic testing,nuclear magnetic resonance analysis,liquid phase mass spectrometry was adopted to comprehensively analyze pore-fracture change characteristics of lean coal treated by combined solvent(NMP and CS_(2)).Meanwhile,quantitative characterization of above changing properties was conducted using geometric fractal theory.Relationship model between permeability,fractal dimension and porosity were established.Results indicate that the end face fractures of coal are well developed after CS2and combined solvent treatments,of which,end face box-counting fractal dimensions range from 1.1227 to 1.4767.Maximum decreases in ultrasonic longitudinal wave velocity of coal affected by NMP,CS_(2)and combined solvent are 2.700%,20.521%,22.454%,respectively.Solvent treatments could lead to increasing amount of both mesopores and macropores.Decrease ratio of fractal dimension Dsis 0.259%–2.159%,while permeability increases ratio of NMR ranges from 0.1904 to 6.4486.Meanwhile,combined solvent could dissolve coal polar and non-polar small molecules and expand flow space.Results could provide reference for solvent selection and parameter optimization of permeability-enhancement technology.

Theory and practice of integrated coal production and gas extraction

The integrated extraction of coal and gas combines coal mining with gas capture. Taking into account the gas deposition and flow conditions in the Chinese coal basins, this paper describes the status of the theory and key technologies of this integrated extraction system, and presents its application and practice in the Shaqu, Zhongxing, Fenghuangshan and Pingmei mines. Areas for further improvements in future studies are discussed, focusing in particular on the fundamentals of the extraction system to make it greener, more scientific, and more advanced in both the exploitation and utilization of coal and the gas in coal.

Development and application of an efficient gas extraction model for low-rank high-gas coal beds

To promote gas extraction in low-rank high-gas coal beds, the pore structure characteristics of the coal and their effect on gas desorption were studied. The results show that micropores are relatively rare in low-rank coal; mesopores are usually semi-open and inkpot-shaped whereas macropores are usually slit-shaped. Gas desorption is relatively easy at high- pressure stages, whereas it is difficult at low-pressure stages because of the ＇bottleneck effect＇ of the semi-open inkpot-shaped mesopores. A ＇two-three-two＇ gas extraction model was established following experimental analysis and engineering practice applied in the Binchang mining area. In this model, gas extraction is divided into three periods： a planning period, a transitional period and a production period. In each period, surface extraction and underground extraction are performed simultaneously, and pressure-relief extraction and conventional extraction are coupled to each other. After applying this model, the gas extraction rate rose to 78.8 %.

Application of deep borehole blasting on fully mechanized hard top-coal pre-splitting and gas extraction in the special thick seam

In order to solve the problems of top-coal inadequate destruction and large amounts of gas emission in mining extra thick and hard coal seam,this study investigated the pre-splitting for deep borehole blasting and gas pre-draining technologies on top coal.The mechanism of the technologies was systematically expounded based on hard top-coal cracks development obtained by numerical simulation and theoretical analysis.The results show that explosive blasting in the hard rock results in a large number of cracks and large displacement in the rock mass due to the effect of explosion stress.Meanwhile,the thick top-coal caves,and desorbing gas flows along the cracks improve gas extraction.Finally,the pre-splitting for deep borehole blasting and gas pre-draining technologies was applied in No.3802 working face of Shui Liandong Coal Mine,which increases monthly output in the face to 67.34 kt and the drained gas concentration to 86.2%.The drained gas average concentration from each borehole reaches 40%,and the effect is remarkable.

Technique of coal mining and gas extraction without coal pillar in multi-seam with low permeability

Aimed at the low mining efficiency in deep multi-seams because of high crustalstress,high gas content,low permeability,the compound 'three soft' roof and the trouble-somesafety situation encountered in deep level coal exploitation,proposed a new idea ofgob-side retaining without a coal-pillar and Y-style ventilation in the first-mined key pressure-relieved coal seam and a new method of coal mining and gas extraction.The followingwere discovered:the dynamic evolution law of the crannies in the roof is influenced bymining,the formative rule of 'the vertical cranny-abundant area' along the gob-side,thedistribution of air pressure field in the gob,and the flowing rule of pressure-relieved gas ina Y-style ventilation system.The study also established a theoretic basis for a new miningmethod of coal mining and gas extraction which is used to extract the pressure-relievedgas by roadway retaining boreholes instead of roadway boreholes.Studied and resolvedmany difficult key problems,such as,fast roadway retaining at the gob-side without a coalpillar,Y-style ventilation and extraction of pressure-relieved gas by roadway retainingboreholes,and so on.The study innovated and integrated a whole set of technical systemsfor coal and pressure relief gas extraction.The method of the pressure-relieved gasextraction by roadway retaining had been successfully applied in 6 typical working faces inthe Huainan and Huaibei mining areas.The research can provide a scientific and reliabletechnical support and a demonstration for coal mining and gas extraction in gaseous deepmulti-seams with low permeability.

Theory of gas extraction from coal seams and its use

Gas extraction is one of the main measures of control and use of gas of coal mines. At present, the design method is under the experimental period and do not satisfy the need of practice. In this paper, the theory of gas extraction of coal seams based upon Darcy law was studied. Mathematical model of gas extraction of coal seams was established and two kinds of solv- ing approaches based on computer software and linear approximation were given. The rightness and the validities of the model were examined with a practical example. Results obtained can be used to determine and optimize the parameters related etc.

Characteristics of fracture development and gas extraction of a lower protected seam

To ensure the mining safety of working face in the protective seam and meanwhile extract pressure-relief gas of the lower protected seam and eliminate its outburst risk,the present study researched into fracture development of floor coal-rock mass of the protective seam and migration rule of pressure-relief gas from a protected seam so as to obtain an effective pressure- relief gas extraction method.The results show that after the upper protective seam was mined,mining-induced fracturing floor coal-rock mas...

Effect of damage zone around borehole on carbon dioxide injection promoted gas extraction in soft and low-permeability coal seam

Injecting external CO_(2) into soft and low-permeability coal seams can improve CH4 extacctinn efficiency, and also benefit in CO_(2) sequestration. However, the distribution law of damage zone around borehole in soft coal seam and its effect on the efficiency of CO_(2) injection promoted CH4 extraction are not clear. In this paper, a multi-physics coupling mathematical model considering damage effect is established for simulating the process of CO_(2) injection promoted CH4 extraction in soft and low-permeability coal seam. The distribution of damage zone and permeability around boreholes under different diameters and coal strengths are analyzed. The gas pressure and gas content in coal seam during CO_(2) injection promoted CH4 extraction when the model considered damage effect are compared with that of ignored. The results show that small borehole diameter corresponds to narrow damage zone around the borehole in coal seam. The damage zone expands with the increase of the borehole diameter. The damage zone increases exponentially with the borehole diameter, while decreases exponentially with the compressive strength of coal seam. The highest permeability in the damage zone has increased by nearly 300 times under the condition of simulated case. CH4 pressure around the extraction borehole reduces, and the reduction area expands with the increase of time. Compared with the result of considering the damage effect, the reduction area of ignoring it is smaller, and the reducing speed is slower. The integrated effect of CO_(2) injection and CH4 extraction leads to rapid decrease of CH4 content in coal seam near the boreholes. The CO_(2) pressure and content increase around the injection borehole, and the increasing area gradually extends to the whole coal seam. In soft coal seams, failure to consider the damage effect will underestimate the efficiency of CH4 extraction and CO_(2) sequestration, resulting conservative layout of boreholes.

Elimination mechanism of coal and gas outburst based on geo‑dynamic system with stress–damage–seepage interactions

Coal and gas outburst is a complex dynamic disaster during coal underground mining.Revealing the disaster mechanism is of great signifcance for accurate prediction and prevention of coal and gas outburst.The geo-dynamic system of coal and gas outburst is proposed.The framework of geo-dynamic system is composed of gassy coal mass,geological dynamic environment and mining disturbance.Equations of stress–damage–seepage interaction for gassy coal mass is constructed to resolve the outburst elimination process by gas extraction with boreholes through layer in foor roadway.The results show the occurrence of outburst is divided into the evolution process of gestation,formation,development and termination of geo-dynamic system.The scale range of outburst occurrence is determined,which provides a spatial basis for the prevention and control of outburst.The formation criterion and instability criterion of coal and gas outburst are established.The formation criterion F1 is defned as the scale of the geo-dynamic system,and the instability criterion F2 is defned as the scale of the outburst geo-body.According to the geo-dynamic system,the elimination mechanism of coal and gas outburst—‘unloading+depressurization’is established,and the gas extraction by boreholes through layer in foor roadway for outburst elimination is given.For the research case,when the gas extraction is 120 days,the gas pressure of the coal seam is reduced to below 0.4 MPa,and the outburst danger is eliminated efectively.

Definition, theory, methods, and applications of the safe and efficient simultaneous extraction of coal and gas

Simultaneous extraction of the coal and gas is an effective method of eliminating coal mine gas disasters while safely exploiting the coal and achieving efficient gas drainage in China, which is widely accepted by the main coal-producing countries around the world. However, the concrete definition of simultaneous extraction is vague and there is little accurate theoretical support for the simultaneous extraction of coal and gas, which makes it difficult to determine an efficient gas drainage method appropriate to the features of coal seams. Based on theoretical analysis, laboratory tests and field observations, a specific definition of simultaneous extraction of coal and gas is proposed after analyzing the characteristics of coal seam occurrences in China, and we developed the mechanism of mining-enhanced permeability and established the corresponding theoretical model. This comprises a process of fracture network formation, in which the original fractures are opened and new fractures are produced by unloading damage. According to the theoretical model, the engineering approaches and their quantitative parameters of ＇unloading by borehole drilling＇ for single coal seams and ＇unloading by protective seam mining＇ for groups of coal seams are proposed, and the construction principles for coal exploitation and gas-drainage systems for different conditions are given. These methods were applied successfully in the Tunlan Coal Mine in Shanxi Province and the Panyi Coal Mine in Anhui Province and could assure safe and efficient simultaneous extraction of coal and gas in these outburst coal mines.

Study on "fracturing-sealing" integration technology based on high-energy gas fracturing in single seam with high gas and low air permeability

To improve the gas extraction efficiency of single seam with high gas and low air permeability,we developed the"fracturing-sealing"integration technology,and carried out the engineering experiment in the3305 Tunliu mine.In the experiment,coal seams can achieve the aim of antireflection effect through the following process:First,project main cracks with the high energy pulse jet.Second,break the coal body by delaying the propellant blasting.Next,destroy the dense structure of the hard coal body,and form loose slit rings around the holes.Finally,seal the boreholes with the"strong-weak-strong"pressurized sealing technology.The results are as follows:The average concentration of gas extraction increases from8.3%to 39.5%.The average discharge of gas extraction increases from 0.02 to 0.10 m^3/min.The tunneling speeds up from 49.5 to 130 m/month.And the permeability of coal seams improves nearly tenfold.Under the same conditions,the technology is much more efficient in depressurization and antireflection than common methods.In other words,it will provide a more effective way for the gas extraction of single seam with high gas and low air permeability.

The potential of domestic production and imports of oil and gas in China:an energy return on investment perspective

Concerns about China’s energy security have escalated because of the country’s high dependency on oil and gas imports, so it is necessary to calculate the availability of domestic oil and gas resources and China’s ability to obtain foreign energy through trade. In this work,the calculation was done by using the energy return on investment（EROI） method. The results showed that the EROIstnd（i.e., standard EROI） of China’s oil and gas extraction decreased from approximately 17.3：1 in 1986 to 8.4：1 in 2003, but it increased to 12.2：1 in 2013. From a company-level perspective, the EROIstnddiffered for different companies and was in the range of（8–12）：1. The EROI2,d（EROI considering energy outputs after processed and direct energy inputs） for different companies was in the range of（3–7）：1. The EROI of imported oil（EROIIO）declined from 14.8：1 in 1998 to approximately 4.8：1 in 2014, and the EROI of imported natural gas（EROIING）declined from 16.7：1 in 2009 to 8.6：1 in 2014. In 2015, the EROIIO and EROIING showed a slight increase due to decreasing import prices. In general, this paper suggests that from a net energy perspective, it has become more difficult for China to obtain oil and gas from both domestic production and imports. China is experiencing an EROI decline, which demonstrates the risk in the use of unsustainable fossil resources.

Experimental study of water effects on gas desorption during highpressure water injection

For the question of applying high-pressure water injection to increase gas extraction efficiency by increasing the permeability of water to drive gas action, an independently designed gas desorption experimental measuring device was used under the condition of external solution invasion. The law of water effect on gas desorption was obtained after water invasion through experiment for the first time. The results show that water＇s later invasion not only can make the quantity of gas dcsorp- tion greatly reduced, but also can make gas desorption end early. Therefore, when evaluating the applications of high-pressure water injection to increase gas extraction efficiency, we should take water damaging effects on gas desorption into account.

A Study on the Dynamic Adjustment of Pressure Relief Gas Drainage Drilling in Mined-Out Areas

With the development of coal mine equipment mechanization, the wide application of “hole instead of roadway” technology greatly reduces the cost of gas control engineering, but puts forward higher requirements for the effect of gas drainage. At present, the drainage effect of coal mine inspection boreholes is mainly evaluated by the drilling field, but the flow rate and gas concentration of each borehole in the drilling field are not the same, which causes the gas drainage effect not to be correctly mastered. In the present study, the pressure relief drilling in the goaf of the working face of a typical multi-coal seam group high gas outburst mining area was taken as the research object. Through the newly developed portable drilling inspection device, the pure amount of drilling drainage was investigated, and the drilling design was dynamically adjusted. The enhancement of the goaf pressure relief gas control effect ensures the gas safety of the mining face. At the same time, this improves the gas extraction rate and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases. If the data from the borehole investigation can be transmitted in real time and analyzed in big data, the optimal extraction negative pressure can be predicted through a regression algorithm. Under the control of the negative pressure of each borehole by the actuator, the extraction system can have the function of intelligent judgment.

Gas-Liquid Separation Processes for Mud Logging Systems

The TRU-Vision system,developed by Baker Hughes,analyzes the gas extracted from drilling mud to estimate the hydrocarbons composition in drilled rock formations.Several separation processes had been surveyed in order to enhance the gas extraction at the gas trap,namely,mechanical stirring,vacuum,air sparging,membrane separation processes,ultrasounds,and cyclones.Mechanical stirring devices(one propeller,one flat-blade turbine,and two baffles sets),a vacuum generator,and an air bubble generator were designed and assembled to increase the efficiency and the response stability of TRU-Vision system.

Characteristics and applications of gas desorption with excavation disturbances in coal mining

According to the deficiency of experiment system for gas adsorption and desorption in coal mass, a large scale experiment system is developed independently by researchers. This experiment system is composed of primary and auxiliary boxes, power transmission system, mining system, loading system, gas charging system, data monitoring and intelligent acquisition system. The maximum experiment coal consumption is 1200 kg, the mining system is developed to conduct experiment for gas desorption under excavating disturbance, and the plane-charging cribriform ventilation device is developed to realize uniform ventilation for experiment coal sample, which is accord with the actual gas source situation of coal bed. The desorption characteristics of gas in coal are experimentally studied under the conditions of nature and mining using the experiment system. The results show that, compare with nature condition, the permeability of coal and the velocity of gas desorption could significantly increase under the influence of coal pressure relief and destruction caused by mining, and the degree of gas desorption could somewhat increase too. Finally, pressure relief gas extraction of current seam and adjacent seams after mining in a certain coal mine of Yangquan mining area are introduced, and the gas desorption experiment results is verified by analyzing the effect of gas extraction.

Study on Critical,Modern Technology for Mining in Gassy Deep Mines

To achieve safe and highly efficient mining in the gassy, deep mines of the Huainan collieries simultaneous coal and gas extraction, and the corresponding ventilation methods were developed. This includes a set of mining procedures and principles which help insure safe and efficient production. Furthermore, green mining, meaning the comprehensive use of emitted gas, proper treatment of the environment and appropriate mine temperature control, is now standard. The concepts of modem mining and the principles of pressure relief are described. Coal-gas simultaneous ex- traction and multi-pressure relief techniques were developed which require a combination of surface and underground gas extraction. The application of Y-ventilation systems, of roadways retained along goafs, of stress control techniques for highly fragile mine roofs and of powerful, automatic and reliable mining equipment contributes to safe operation of modem deep mines. Operating parameters for these techniques are described and the results of their use discussed.

Study on comprehensive gas control techniques and practice in coal mines

The origins and main control methods of gas in coal seams were introduced cursorily, and the processes that need to be done in controlling gas, which includes prediction of gas emissions, drainage systems, the means of prevention of gas outbursts, and some suggestions were put forward. The characteristic of different gas emissions and the corresponding counter measures were presented, and ＆ case study of simultaneous extraction of coal and gas in Xieyi Coal Mine was carried out by coal mining and gas extraction without coal-pillar. The field application shows that gas drainage ratio in panel 5121（0） averages about 90% and reaches as high as 95~/0, which will give beneficial references to gas control in coal mines.

Experimental investigation into stress-relief characteristics with upward large height and upward mining under hard thick roof

According to geological conditions of No. 3 and No. 4 coal seams （namely A3 and B4） of the Pan＇er coal mine and the parameters of panels 11223, 11224, and 11124 with fully-mechanical coal mining, we built 2D similar material simulation and FLAC3D numerical simulation models to investigate the development of mining-induced stress and the extraction effect of pressure-relief gas with large height and upward mining. Based on a comprehensive analysis of experimental data and observations, we obtained the deformation and breakage characteristics of strata overlying the coal seam, the development patterns of the mining-induced stress and fracture, and the size of the stress-relief area. The stress-relief effect was investigated and analyzed in consideration with mining height and three thick hard strata. Because of the group of three hard thick strata located in the main roof and the residual stress of mined panel 11124, the deformation, breakage, mining-induced stress and fracture development, and the stress-relief coefficient were discontinuous and asymmetrical. The breakage angle of the overlying strata, and the compressive and expansive zones of coal deformation were mainly controlled by the number, thickness, and strength of the hard stratum. Compared with the value of breakage angle derived by the traditional empirical method, the experimental value was lower than the traditional results by 3°-4°below the hard thick strata group, and by 13°-19° above the hard thick strata group. The amount of gas extracted from floor drainage roadway of B4 over 17 months was variable and the amount of gas per month differed considerably, being much smaller when panel 11223 influenced the area of the three hard thick strata. Generally, the stress-relief zone of No. 4 coal seam was small under the influence of the hard thick strata located in the main roof, which played an important role in delaying the breakage time and increasing the breakage space. In this study we gained understanding of the stress-relief mechanism influenced by the hard thick roof. The research results and engineering practice show that the main roof of the multiple hard thick strata is a critical factor in the design of panel layout and roadways for integrated coal exploitation and gas extraction, provides a theoretical basis for safe and high-efficient mining of coal resources.