Modelling spontaneous combustion liability of carbonaceous materials

This paper presents predictive models to determine spontaneous combustion liability of carbonaceous materials （coals and coal-shales） using statistical analysis. The intrinsic properties and spontaneous combustion liability index were determined by testing 14 coals and 14 coal-shales from Witbank coalfields, South Africa. The relationship between these intrinsic properties （obtained from proximate, ultimate and petrographic analysis） and spontaneous combustion liability indices （the Wits-Ehac Index and Wits-CT Index） were established. The influence of the intrinsic properties of coal-shales in relation to coal properties affecting spontaneous combustion has been established using a statistical method. The linear regression analysis indicates better linear relationships between some of the selected intrinsic properties and spontaneous combustion liability index and thus, identifies the major intrinsic factors affecting their liability toward spontaneous combustion. It was found that a definite positive or negative correlation coefficient exists between the intrinsic factors and spontaneous combustion liability. A set of models to predict the spontaneous combustion liability was derived. The best significant correlation along with the most appropriate model as indicated by R-squared values, the coefficient of corre- lations and standard error was used to predict the incident of spontaneous combustion.

Comparative analysis of coal and coal-shale intrinsic factors affecting spontaneous combustion

Coal and coal-shales tend to undergo spontaneous combustion under favourable atmospheric conditions. Spontaneous combustion liability index and intrinsic properties of coals and coal-shales varies between （above and below） coal seams. The spontaneous combustion liability index （obtained from the Wits-Ehac Index） and intrinsic properties （obtained from proximate, ultimate, and petrographic analysis） of fourteen samples representative of in situ coal （bituminous） and fourteen coal-shales obtained in Witbank coalfield, South Africa were experimentally studied. Comparative analysis of the relationships between the spontaneous combustion liability index and intrinsic properties of coals and coalshales were established to evaluate their effects on self-heating potential. The intrinsic properties show linear relationship with spontaneous combustion liability and therefore, identifies the factors affecting spontaneous combustion of these materials. The influence of coal-shales intrinsic properties towards spontaneous combustion liability shows higher correlation coefficients than the coals. Both coals and coal-shales show inertinite maceral as major constituents than the vitrinite and liptinite macerals, hence the reactivity of inertinite macerals may show greater influence on spontaneous combustion liability. A definite positive or negative trends exists between the intrinsic properties and spontaneous combustion liability index. This research is part of a larger project which is considering the influence of intrinsic properties of coals and coal-shales on spontaneous combustion liability.

A new apparatus to establish the spontaneous combustion propensity of coals and coal-shales

Coal and coal-shale both tend to undergo spontaneous combustion under favourable atmospheric conditions. The Wits-Ehac index has been developed in South Africa since the late 1980's to test the spontaneous combustion liability of coal. However, in some cases, the Wits-Ehac index fails to produce tangible results when testing coal-shales. To overcome this problem, a new apparatus has been developed to test carbonaceous materials such as coal and coal-shale under chemical reactions with oxygen and an index has been obtained. This index is called the Wits-CT index. The equipment emulates the influence of oxygen adsorption on carbonaceous material for a period of 24 h without a heating system.The Wits-CT index uses the total carbon content of the sample and the temperature variations obtained from the samples during reaction with oxygen to predict the spontaneous combustion liability. Eighteen samples have been analyzed using both indices and the results are in-line. It was found that coals and coal-shales with higher values of the Wits-CT index are more liable to spontaneous combustion.Further research on different coal-shales is underway in order to establish an extensive database for coal and coal-shales, together with known incidences of self-heating.

Comparison of pore characteristics in the coal and shale reservoirs of Taiyuan Formation, Qinshui Basin, China

Coal and shale are both unconventional gas reservoirs. Comparison of pore characteristics in shale and coal would help understand organic pore structure in shale and investigate co-exploration of shale gas and coalbed methane in coal bearing strata. In this study, five shale samples and three coal samples of Taiyuan Formation were collected from Qinshui Basin, China. High pressure mercury injection, scanning electronic microscopy, and fractal theory have been used to compare pore characteristics in shale and coal. The results show that pore volumes in coal are much larger than that in shale, especially pores 3-100 nm. In coal, there are many semi-closed pores in micro pores （〈10 nm） and transition pores （10-100 nm）. On the contrary, micro pores and transition pores are mainly with open pores in shale. The fractal curves show that pores larger than 65 nm in coal and shale reservoir both have obvious self-similarity and the fractal dimension values in shale and coal are similar. But the fractal characteristics of pores smaller than 65 nm in shale reservoir are quite different from that in coal.

Investigation into co-pyrolysis characteristics of oil shale and coal

Samples of five types of coal and oil shale from the Daqing region have been subjected to co-pyrolysis in different blending ratios with thermo-gravimetry （TG）, given a heating rate of 30 ℃/min to a final tem- perature of 900 ℃. Investigations on pyrolysis of mixing coal and oil shale in different proportions were carried out, indicating that the main scope of weight loss corresponding to hydrocarbon oil and gas release was between 350 and 550 ℃. At higher temperatures, significant weight loss was attributed to coke decomposition. Characteristic pyrolysis parameters of blends from oil shale and the high ranked XZ coal varied with the blending ratio, but oil shale dominated the process. At the same blending propor- tions, highly volatile medium and low ranked coal of low moisture and ash content reacted well during pyrolysis and could easily create synergies with oil shale. Medium and high ranked coal with high mois- ture content played a negative role in co-pyrolysis.

Source Rock Classification and the Basic Structure of Coal and Kerogen

In accordance with the confusion on classification of source rocks, the authors raised a source rock classification for its enriched and dispersed organic matter types based on both Alpern’s idea and maceral genesis/composition. The determined rock type is roughly similar to palynofacies of Combaz , whereas it is "rock maceral facies (for coal viz. coal facies)" in strictly speaking. Therefore, it is necessary to use the organic ingredients classification proposed by the authors so that it can be used for both maceral analysis and environment research . This source rock classification not only shows sedimentology and diagenetic changes but also acquires organic matter type even if hydrocarbon potential derived from maceral’s geochemical parameters. So, it is considered as genetic classification. The "rock maceral facies" may be transformed to sedimentary organic facies , which is used as quantitative evaluation means if research being perfect.Now, there are many models in terms of structure either for coal or for kerogen. In our opinion, whatever coal or kerogen ought be polymer, then we follow Combaz’s thought and study structure of amorphous kerogens which are accordance with genetic mechanism showing biochemical and geochemical process perfectly. Here, we use the time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOFSIMS) to expand Combaz’s models from three to five. They are also models for coal.

Analysis of the mechanical property of mudstone/shale in paralic coal measures and its influence factors

The mechanical property of mudstone/shale in coal measures is a key factor of engineering mechanics that influences the development of shale gas. A rock mechanics test was performed in order to analyze the complete stress-strain mechanic characteristics and influence factors of mudstone/shale in paralic coal measures, from the Carboniferous-Permian periods in a coal field of Northern China. The relationship between the mechanical properties of mudstone/shale in coal measures, and its chemical component, water content are established, and their models are constructed. Research results show that mud- stone/shale has low mechanical strength, low elastic modulus and a high Poisson＇s ratio. The complete stress-strain curve has apparent elastoplastic deformation characteristics, and after reaching peak strength, it exhibits obvious strain softening characteristics. The uniaxial compressive strength of mudstone/shale and its elastic modulus increases exponentially with the increase of SiO2 content, and as the ignition loss increases, the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of mudstone/shale will decrease according to the law of power function. The compressive strength of mudstone/shale and its elastic modulus will decrease with the increase of water content in mudstone/shale.