Theoretical method for calculating porosity and permeability under self-regulating effect

In order to study the effect of stress-sensitivity and matrix shrinkage on coalbed methane production,equivalent matrix particle model is proposed considering the process of adsorption and desorption.Calculating mathematical models for calculating porosity and permeability which considered matrix shrinkage by combining diameter model and desorption were established.The calculations of porosity and permeability under self-regulating effect were obtained by combining traditional stress-sensitivity equations.The changes of porosity and permeability in different reservoirs were calculated and analyzed through a variety of basic parameters.The results show that high coal rank reservoir has the biggest range ability of porosity and permeability under the same pressure difference conditions,followed by the middle rank and the low rank.The research observed the positive relationship between stress-sensitivity and declining period of porosity and permeability in low rank coal reservoir,and the inverse relationship between matrix shrinkage and declining period of porosity and permeability.The stronger the matrix shrinkage is,the earlier declining period and rise period will occur.

Experimental Simulation on Dynamic Variation of the Permeability of High-Rank Coal Reservoirs

In terms of the coal reservoir permeability of effective stress, coal matrix shrinkage and gas slippage,we conduct the tests of gas permeability under constant confining pressure and effective stress, as well as illustrate the cumulating method of permeability increment caused by the effects of gas slippage and coal matrix shrinkage.The results show that under the constant confining pressure, gas slippage affecting coal permeability changes to effective stress affecting it mainly. The change point increases with the increase of the confining pressure. The gas slippage effect leads to high permeability under low confining pressure, but coal matrix expansion results in the low value as confining and gas pressures increase. Combined with the drainage process of coalbed methane(CBM)well, the permeability is divided into four change stages based on the above analysis about the three effects, which can improve the change regulation understanding. Four stages are the downward phase under effective stress,the conversion phase of effective stress-coal matrix contraction effect(mainly based on effective stress), the rising stage of the effective stress-coal matrix contraction effect(mainly based on coal matrix contraction effect) and the rising phase of coal matrix contraction-slippage effect(mainly based on slippage effect). Permeability of coal reservoir during the process of drainage and production goes through four stages.