Characteristics and control mechanisms of coalbed permeability change in various gas production stages

According to dimensionless analysis of the coalbed methane （CBM） production data of Fanzhuang block in southern Qinshui basin, the dimensionless gas production rate is calculated to quantitatively divide the CBM well production process into four stages, i.e., drai- nage stage, unstable gas production stage, stable gas pro- duction stage, and gas production decline stage. By the material balance method, the coal reservoir permeability change in different stages is quantitatively characterized. The characteristics and control mechanisms of change in coalbed permeability （CICP） during different production stages are concluded on five aspects, i.e., permeability trend variation, controlling mechanism, system energy, phase state compositions, and production performance. The study reveals that CICP is characterized by first decline, then recovery, and finally by increase and is controlled directly by effective stress and matrix shrinkage effects. Further, the duration and intensity of the matrix shrinkage effect are inherently controlled by adsorption and desorp- tion features.

A dynamic evaluation technique for assessing gas output from coal seams during commingling production within a coalbed methane well: a case study from the Qinshui Basin

Gas drainage is carried out based on output from each coal bed throughout commingling production of coalbed methane(CBM).A reasonable drainage process should therefore initially guarantee main coal bed production and then enhance gas output from other beds.Permanent damage can result if this is not the case,especially with regard to fracture development in the main gas-producing coal bed and can greatly reduce single well output.Current theoretical models and measuring devices are inapplicable to commingled CBM drainage,however,and so large errors in predictive models cannot always be avoided.The most effective currently available method involves directly measuring gas output from each coal bed as well as determining the dominant gas-producing unit.A dynamic evaluation technique for gas output from each coal bed during commingling CBM production is therefore proposed in this study.This technique comprises a downhole measurement system combined with a theoretical calculation model.Gas output parameters(i.e.,gas-phase flow rate,temperature,pressure)are measured in this approach via a downhole measurement system;substituting these parameters into a deduced theoretical calculation model then means that gas output from each seam can be calculated to determine the main gas-producing unit.Trends in gas output from a single well or each seam can therefore be predicted.The laboratory and field test results presented here demonstrate that calculation errors in CBM outputs can be controlled within a margin of 15%and therefore conform with field use requirements.

An approach to grading coalbed methane resources in China for the purpose of implementing a differential production subsidy

The heterogeneity of coalbed methane(CBM) resources was not taken into account when the current indiscriminate subsidy policy was developed. In it, limited subsidy funds are given first to high-quality resources and even to subsidize profitable projects. Thus, the policy has had less than the intended effect in improving CBM production. To implement a new type of differential subsidy, it is necessary to grade the CBM resources, as will be discussed in this paper. After the factors affecting the resources value are systemically examined, sorted and merged, the relationship between the key factors and economic value is analyzed by an engineering economics method, and the production profile type, peak production(or stable production) and buried depth are used as grading factors. The production profile type is used to categorize, and peak production and buried depth are used to grade resources within the same category. The grading method is as follows: use subsidy levels at the economic critical point(NPV = 0) to identify the grades of resources, and determine the combination of peak production and buried depth for different resources grades base on indifference curves drawn according to the relationship between the economic value and peak production and buried depth.

3-D FRACTURE PROPAGATION SIMULATION AND PRODUCTION PREDICTION IN COALBED

In accordance with the fracturing and producing mechanism in coalbed methane well, and combining the knowledge of fluid mechanics, linear elastic fracture mechanics, thermal transfer, computing mathematics and software engineering, the three-dimensional hydraulic fracture propagating and dynamical production predicting models for coalbed methane well is put forward. The fracture propagation model takes the variation of rock mechanical properties and in-situ stress distribution into consideration. The dynamic performance prediction model takes the gas production mechanism into consideration. With these models, a three-dimensional hydraulic fracturing optimum design software for coalbed methane well is developed, and its practicality and reliability have been proved by ex-ample computation.

A method for identifying coalbed methane co-production interference based on production characteristic curves: A case study of the Zhijin block, western Guizhou, China

Efficient detection of coalbed methane(CBM) co-production interference is the key to timely adjusting the development plan and improving the co-production efficiency. Based on production data of six typical CBM co-production wells in the Zhijin block of western Guizhou Province, China, the production characteristic curves, including production indication curve, curve of daily water production per unit drawdown of producing fluid level with time, and curve of water production per unit differential pressure with time have been analyzed to explore the response characteristics of co-production interference on the production characteristic curves. Based on the unit water inflow data of pumping test in coal measures, the critical value of in-situ water production of the CBM wells is 2 m^(3)/(d·m). The form and the slope of the initial linear section of the production indication curves have clear responses to the interference, which can be used to discriminate internal water source from external water source based on the critical slope value of 200 m^(3)/MPa in the initial linear section of the production indication curve. The time variation curves of water production per unit differential pressure can be divided into two morphological types: up-concave curve and down-concave curve. The former is represented by producing internal water with average daily gas production greater than 800 m^(3)/d, and the latter produces external water with average daily gas production smaller than 400 m^(3)/d. The method and critical indexes for recognition of CBM co-production interference based on the production characteristic curve are constructed. A template for discriminating interference of CBM co-production was constructed combined with the gas production efficiency analysis, which can provide reference for optimizing co-production engineering design and exploring economic and efficient co-production mode.

Investigation of Barree-Conway non-Darcy flow effects on coalbed methane production

Coalbed gas non-Darcy flow has been observed in high permeable fracture systems,and some mathematical and numerical models have been proposed to study the effects of non-Darcy flow using Forchheimer non-Darcy model.However,experimental results show that the assumption of a constant Forchheimer factor may cause some limitations in using Forchheimer model to describe non-Darcy flow in porous media.In order to investigate the effects of non-Darcy flow on coalbed methane production,this work presents a more general coalbed gas non-Darcy flow model according to Barree-Conway equation,which could describe the entire range of relationships between flow velocity and pressure gradient from low to high flow velocity.An expanded mixed finite element method is introduced to solve the coalbed gas non-Darcy flow model,in which the gas pressure and velocity can be approximated simultaneously.Error estimate results indicate that pressure and velocity could achieve first-order convergence rate.Non-Darcy simulation results indicate that the non-Darcy effect is significant in the zone near the wellbore,and with the distance from the wellbore increasing,the non-Darcy effect becomes weak gradually.From simulation results,we have also found that the non-Darcy effect is more significant at a lower bottom-hole pressure,and the gas production from non-Darcy flow is lower than the production from Darcy flow under the same permeable condition.

Prediction of Flowing Bottomhole Pressures for Two-Phase Coalbed Methane Wells

A method is proposed to predict the flowing bottomhole pressures （FBHPs） for two-phase coalbed methane （CBM） wells. The mathematical models for both gas column pressure and two-phase fluid column pressure were developed based on the well liquid flow equation. FBHPs during the production were predicted by considering the effect of entrained liquid on gravitational gradients. Comparison of calculated BHPs by Cullender-Smith and proposed method was also studied. The results show that the proposed algorithm gives the desired accuracy of calculating BHPs in the low- productivity and low-pressure CBM wells. FBHP is resulted from the combined action of wellhead pressure, gas column pressure and fluid column pressure. Variation of kinetic energy term, compressibility and friction factors with depth increments and liquid holdup with velocity should be considered to simulate the real BHPs adequately. BHP is a function of depth of each column segment. The small errors of less than 1.5% between the calculated and measured values are obtained with each segment within 25 m. Adjusting BHPs can effectively increase production pressure drop, which is beneficial to CBM desorption and enhances reservoir productivity. The increment of pressure drop from 5.37 MPa2 to 8.66 MPa2 leads to an increase of CBM production from 3270 m3/d to 6700 m3/d and is attributed to a decrease in BHP from 2.25 MPa to 1.33 MPa.

Application of structural curvature of coalbed floor on CBM development in the Zaoyuan block of the southern Qinshui Basin

Based on controls of structural style and the position in coalbed methane (CBM) development, we used a method of curvatures to study its relations with CBM development parameters. We calculated structural curvatures of contours of the No.3 coal seam floor of the Shanxi Formation in the Zaoyuan block of the Qinshui Basin and analyzed its relations with development parameters of coalbed methane wells. The results show that structural curvature is negatively related to coal reservoir pressure, while positively related to permeability. With an increase in structural curvature, the average production of coalbed methane wells increases at first and then decreases, reaching the highest production at 0.02 m–1 of structural curvature. Therefore, structural cur-vature can be an important index for potential evaluation of coalbed methane development and provide a basis for siting coalbed methane wells.

Evaluation of gas production from multiple coal seams： A simulation study and economics

Gas production from multiple coal seams has become common practice in many coal basins around the world. Although gas production rates are typically enhanced, the economic viability of such practice is not well studied. In order to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of multiple coal seams production, reservoir simulation integrated with economics modelling was performed to study the effect of important reservoir properties of the secondary coal seam on production and economic performance using both vertical and horizontal wells. The results demonstrated that multiple seam gas production of using both vertical and horizontal wells have competitive advantage over single layer production under most scenarios. Gas content and permeability of the secondary coal seam are the most important reservoir properties that have impact on the economic feasibility of multiple seam gas production. The comparison of vertical well and horizontal well performance showed that horizontal well is more economically attractive for both single well and gas field. Moreover, wellhead price is the most sensitive to the economic performance, followed by operating costs and government subsidy. Although the results of reservoir simulation combined with economic analysis are subject to assumptions, multiple seam gas production is more likely to maintain profitability compared with single layer production.

Contribution to Gas Production from Minor Coal Seams and Adjacent Shales: Numerical Modelling Results for the Mannville Coal Measures, South Central Alberta

The contribution to production of the gas stored within the coal and shale beds adjacent to the main coal seam in the Mannville Group, in which a lateral is drilled, was investigated through a series of numerical simulations. The results indicate that the added gas from the minor coal seams, with interbedded shales with no gas, results in 1.4 times (×) more produced gas and 3.0× more produced water after 25 years of production than when only the main Mannville coal seam is considered. Including gas in the shales results in 1.7× more produced gas and 2.5× more produced water after 25 years of production than when only the main coal seam is considered. The produced gas recovered from the shales exceeds the produced gas recovered from the coals after ~8.5 years, resulting in 2.1× more produced shale gas than coal gas after 25 years of production. Over half (56%) of the produced coal gas after 25 years of production is recovered from the main coal seam while a quarter (22%) is recovered from the L1 seam, which is the thickest and nearest minor coal seam to the horizontal wellbore located in the main seam. The results from the numerical simulations provide insights that are not intuitive or otherwise predictable in developing complex reservoirs. Although the results are specifically for the Mannville producing fairway, undoubtedly the production from minor coal seams and interbedded gas shales should be considered in other producing and potential coal gas reservoirs to identify higher producible reserves and optimize drilling and completions strategies.

Development unit division and favorable area evaluation for joint mining coalbed methane

Based on the productivity equation of coalbed methane (CBM) well, considering the impact of coal reservoir reformability on gas well productivity, the main production layer optimization index in the “three-step method” of optimal combination of production layers is corrected, and then the CBM production layer potential index is introduced to evaluate favorable areas for commingled multi-coal seam production. Through analysis of the key parameters of coal reservoirs affecting the CBM productivity index, a development unit division method for areas with multi-coal seams is established, and a quantitative grading index system is proposed. On this basis, the evaluation process of CBM development favorable area is developed: the mature 3-D modeling technology is used to characterize the reservoir physical properties of multi-coal seams in full-scale;the production layer potential index of each grid is calculated, and the production layer potential index contour under single-layer or commingled multi-layer production are plotted;according to the distribution of the contour of production layer potential index, the quantitative index of CBM development unit is adopted to outline the grade I, II, III coal reservoir distribution areas, and thus to pick out the favorable development areas. The practical application in the Yuwang block of Laochang in Yunnan proved that the favorable area evaluation process proposed can effectively overcome the defects of selecting favorable development areas only relying on evaluation results of a major coal seam pay, and enhance the accuracy of the evaluation results, meeting the requirements of selecting favorable areas for multi-coal seam commingled CBM production.

Characteristics of dissolved inorganic carbon in produced water from coalbed methane wells and its geological significance

Based on long-term dynamic tracing of dissolved inorganic carbon(DIC)and stable carbon isotope(δ13CDIC)in produced water from 20 coalbed methane(CBM)wells in western Guizhou,the spatial-temporal dynamic variations ofδ13CDIC of the GP well group produced in multi-layer commingled manner were analyzed,and the relationship between the value ofδ13CDIC and CBM productivity was examined.The produced water samples of typical wells in the GP well group were amplified and sequenced using 16S rDNA,and a geological response model ofδ13CDIC in produced water from CBM wells with multi-coal seams was put forward.The research shows that:δ13CDIC in produced water from medium-rank coal seams commonly show positive anomalies,the produced water contains more than 15 species of methanogens,and Methanobacterium is the dominant genus.The dominant methanogens sequence numbers in the produced water are positively correlated withδ13CDIC,and the positive anomaly of v is caused by reduction of methanogens,and especially hydrogenotrophic methanogens.Vertical segmentation of sedimentary facies and lithology in stratum with multi-coal seams will result in permeability and water cut segmentation,which will lead to the segmentation ofδ13CDIC and archaea community in produced water,so in the strata with better permeability and high water cut,theδ13CDIC of the produced water is abnormally enriched,and the dominant archaea is mainly Methanobacterium.In the strata with weak permeability and low water cut,theδ13CDIC of the produced water is small,and the microbial action is weak.The shallow layer close to the coal seam outcrop is likely to be affected by meteoric precipitation,so theδ13CDIC of the produced water is smaller.The geological response model ofδ13CDIC in produced water from multi-coal seams CBM wells in the medium-rank coal reveals the geological mechanism and microbial action mechanism of theδ13CDIC difference in the produced water from the multi-coal seams CBM wells.It also provides effective geochemical evidence for the superimposed fluid system controlled by sedimentary facies,and can also be used for the contribution analysis of the produced gas and water by the multi-layer CBM wells.

深部煤层气游离气饱和度计算模型及其应用

近几年全国深部煤层气基于精细地质研究和水平井多段加砂压裂取得重大突破,部分井日产气量高达十万方,给煤层气产业重新树立了信心。但是,由于深部煤储层处于高地应力、高地温、高孔隙压力、低渗透率的复杂地质环境,不同深度煤储层典型参数和煤层气赋存方式的分布特征以及对储量和产量的影响亟需揭示。基于Langmuir等温吸附式、亨利定律及物质平衡原理,考虑吸附层和溶解气的影响,建立了深部煤层气游离气饱和度计算模型;以国内鄂尔多斯盆地大宁-吉县区块深部煤层气藏为例,分析不同深度深部煤层气赋存方式及分布特征,并评价游离气饱和度对深部煤层气储量、产量与合理配产的影响。研究认为:当煤层埋深大于溶解饱和对应的深度,游离气才会出现,且随着埋深的增加,游离气饱和度先快速增加后缓慢增加,目标区块埋深1875 m处才出现游离气,在埋深2800 m处游离气饱和度高达90%,游离气的占比高达17.3%。游离气饱和度对深部煤层气储量计算、产气特征和合理配产影响很大,随着游离气饱和度的增大,煤层气储量线性增大,累产气量持续上升但后期上升幅度逐渐变缓,深部煤层气井最优配产增加,井底流压下降速度加快,压裂改造区的内外压差降低,未改造区动用程度增加。目标区块主力开发煤层埋深位于2100~2300 m,游离气饱和度介于48%~68%,游离气占比介于10%~13%,建议气井合理配产介于(4~10)×10^(4)m^(3)/d。研究结果可为深部煤层气进一步开发提供理论依据和方法支撑。

新疆后峡盆地煤层气井产量影响因素分析

新疆后峡盆地煤层气井单井产量差异悬殊,单井产量控制因素不明确,采用统计分析、线性回归分析法和灰色关联数学分析法,对煤层气井单井产能影响因素进行了定量表征。基于后峡盆地煤层气井单井产能差异性,煤层气井主要被划分为了3种不同的类型;I类煤层气井储层特征好,采用较小的加砂强度和加液强度,结合较小的压降,排采效果好;III类煤层气井储层特征较差,尤其是含气量较低,采用同样的储层改造手段和排采制度较难获取好的排采效果。对筛选的22个影响煤层气井产能的因素进行定量评价分析,研究表明:含气量对煤层气井产能具有显著的控制作用,而储层改造程度和排采制度的合理制定,是煤层气井高效生产的关键。

五里堠井田煤层气井单相水流阶段合理降幅的确定

为了确定煤层气井单相水流阶段的合理降幅,最大化地保证煤层气井的水压传播距离,以五里堠井田煤层气井为研究对象,对研究区地下水势进行计算,拟合得出地下水势与平均日产水量的关系;以研究区地下水势平均值为界限,将研究区地下水势分为高地下水势和低地下水势,分析了高地下水势区、低地下水势区煤层气井产水特征差异。基于地下水势、地层供液指数、单相水流阶段压裂液量返排率的关系,建立了单相水流阶段合理降幅数学模型,研究区排采数据验证了模型的准确性。在此基础上,根据研究区地下水势差异性,预测了相应的单相水流阶段合理降幅范围。研究结果表明:研究区地下水势与平均日产水量为正相关关系,不同水势区煤层气井产水特征差异明显,其中,高地下水势区煤层气井排采初期日产水量增长迅速,排采中后期日产水量衰减明显;低地下水势区煤层气井排采初期日产水量增长较慢,排采中后期日产水量无明显变化。单相水流阶段,随着地下水势的增加,地层供液指数、压裂液返排率也随之增大;不同地下水势区域,单相流阶段合理降幅范围不同。研究区东北部及中部,单相水流阶段合理降幅范围为0.018~0.024 MPa/d;研究区西北部、南部,单相水流阶段合理降幅范围为0.007~0.017 MPa/d。该研究成果为未投产区及相似地质条件下煤层气井单相水流阶段排采制度的制定提供了借鉴与指导。

煤层气水平井开发的理论技术初探——兼论煤层气和页岩气开发条件对比

经过30 a的不懈探索,我国煤层气开发井型逐渐由直井向水平井开发过渡,水平井开发煤层气的基础理论是制约当前煤层气开发的主要问题。和页岩相比,煤层页理和脆性矿物不发育,非均质性更强,不利于体积缝网的形成。但煤层顶底板封盖强,机械强度高,具备较好的水力压裂条件。部分煤层裂隙被方解石等填充,酸化有利于储层渗透率改善和复杂裂缝形成。因此,建立一套适合煤层气储层特征的水平井开发工艺尤为重要。针对煤层地质特征,从水平井长度优化、簇间距优化、压裂液选择、支撑剂选择、返排率、最终可采储量(EUR)特征6个方面,系统分析煤层气水平井开发技术经济政策,认为煤层气水平段长度一般不超过1000 m,簇间距15~30 m储层改造效果较好;深部煤层气压裂液中加入滑溜水破胶剂及少量低温辅助破胶剂可提高破胶效率;相比中浅部煤层气储层,深部煤层压裂支撑剂应提高大粒径(0.425/0.850 mm)比例;深部煤层(如大吉区块8号煤)达到最高产气时的压裂液返排率与威远-长宁页岩气相近;煤层气EUR偏低,但用液强度、加砂强度大,应提高煤层气开发效率及经济效益等。煤层气开发效果受地质特征和开发工程技术协同控制,从地质工程一体化角度,提出下步煤层气水平井开发的对策,指出应进一步优化煤层气水平井开发工艺;完善水平井钻完井与配套技术,降低单井钻完井成本;依据煤粉迁移规律,实现煤层气水平井控粉有序返排,提高排采效果;依据游离与吸附气赋存比例,优化生产控制技术提升单井EUR。

深部煤层原位保压保瓦斯取心技术装备及初步应用

深部煤层瓦斯含量精准测定是矿井瓦斯灾害防治和煤层气高效开发利用的基本前提。煤层传统取心技术普遍采用开放式取心,需利用估算方法获得煤层取心过程中的瓦斯损失量,难以保证煤层瓦斯原位参数的准确性和有效性。基于“原位保真取心”学术思想,开发了深部煤层原位保压保瓦斯取心技术,研制了深部煤矿原位保压保瓦斯取心器,并基于三维数值仿真对取心器外管、保压舱体结构与关键薄弱部件进行了强度校核。同时,依托自主研发的保压取心实验室模拟测试平台,测定并分析了保压控制器的保压能力,通过煤矿现场试验验证了取心器的可靠性。研究结果表明:自主研制的取心器具有保压能力强、保压时间长、防扰动性能稳定等优势;取心器在内部流体压力20 MPa和1000 N m扭矩作用下等效应力为121.1 MPa,远小于材料屈服强度,满足强度设计要求;取心器在20 MPa荷载作用下等效应力为63.9 MPa,满足强度设计要求;取心器整体在19.4 MPa压力条件内可持续稳定运行,可以满足大部分深部煤矿瓦斯测试需求;现场测试表明保压保瓦斯取心器的保压控制器闭合情况良好,现场取心率达100%。研究成果可为深部煤层瓦斯含量精准测定奠定理论、技术和装备基础,对于煤矿瓦斯灾害防治和煤层气勘探开发具有重要意义。