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.

Prediction of Young Modulus of coal using artificial neural networks in Qinshui Basin,China

1 Introduction Mechanical properties of coal are most important parameters in controlling fluid storage and flow before and after coal extraction [1-2].Reservoir simulation design and wellbore stability analysis are influenced by elastic and strength character of coal rocks[3].Young＇s modulus, and shear modulus are usedwhen deformations in underground mines need to be computed. Thus accurate assessment of elastic properties of coal rocks is extremely important for ground mining.

Sequence stratigraphic analysis of superimposed coal measure gas-bearing system in Daning-Jixian block,eastern margin of Ordos Basin,China

The identification of superimposed gas-bearing systems in coal measures is the basis for expediting the optimization of coal measure gas co-production.Through the analysis of drill cores and log data of Upper Carboniferous Benxi Formation to the member 8 of Middle Permian Lower Shihezi Formation in Daning-Jixian block,eastern margin of Ordos Basin,four distinct superimposed coal measure gas-bearing systems were identified,and their formation mechanism was discussed from the sequence stratigraphic perspective.Type Ⅰ system mainly contains multiple coal seams,shales and sandstone layers.Type Ⅱ system is dominated by multiple coal seams and shales.Type Ⅲ is characterized by multiple sandstone layers,and type Ⅳ system is dominated by limestones and mudstones.In general,the gas-bearing systems deposited in barrier-lagoon are type Ⅱ,those deposited in carbonate tidal flats are type IV,and those deposited in the delta front are types Ⅰ and Ⅲ.The marine mudstone,acting as a key layer near the maximum flooding surface,exhibits very low permeability,which is the main factor contributing to the formation of superimposed gas-bearing systems.The sedimentary environment plays a significant role in controlling the distribution of gas-bearing systems.Notably,the vertical gas-bearing systems in the south-western region,where delta front and lagoon facies overlap,are more complex than those in the north-eastern delta front facies.

Evaluation of infill well pattern based on the dynamic change of reservoirs during coalbed methane development

With the deepening of coalbed methane(CBM)exploration and development,the problem of low gas production has gradually become one of the main factors restricting the development of the CBM industry in China.Reasonable well pattern deployment can improve the productivity of CBM wells and reduce the cost of production,while the reservoir changes of CBM wells play a important role for well pattern infilling.In this study,the dynamic characteristics of the average reservoir pressure(ARP),permeability,and drainage radius during the development process of CBM wells are systematically analyzed,and predicted the production changes of well groups before and after infilling wells in combination with the characteristics of reservoir changes.The results show that the high gas production wells have a larger pressure drop,long drainage radius,and a large increase in permeability.On the contrary,low gas production wells are characterized by small drainage radius,damaged permeability and difficult to recover.The productivity of infilled horizontal wells is predicted for two well groups with different productivity and reservoir dynamic characteristics.After infilling wells,the production of current wells has increased at different degrees.It is predicted that the average gas production of low gas production well group H1 and middle gas production well group H2 will increase 1.64 and 2.09 times respectively after 3000 days production simulation.In addition,the pressure interference between wells has increased significantly,and the overall gas production of the well group has greatly increased.Infill wells can achieve better development results in areas with superior CBM resources,recoverable reservoir permeability,and small drainage radius during the early production process.The research results provide a reference for the later infill adjustment of CBM well patterns in the study area.

Geologically controlling factors on coal bed methane （CBM） productivity in Liulin

It is of great significance to forecast high yield of CBM wells and analyze dynamic production by having an overall study on the characteristics of the produced CBM and determining the main factors influencing the productivity of CBM. With the test report and the related geological parameters of a single well, methods of combining the productivity data and typical production curves were used to analyze different geological factors and how to influence the capacity of a single layer. Then, the paper proposed a new understanding about capacity characteristics of the study area and geological control factors： First, the Shanxi formation production capacity characteristics was divided into two-stages, showing signs of gas and gas break- through for 100 days. Second, two parameters, which include potential of gas production and gas production capacity, were bet- ter than the single parameter, such as gas content, coal thickness, and penetration to analyze affecting factors of single well pro- duction. Finally, comprehensive analysis concluded that the ratio of critical desorption pressure to reservoir pressure has greater influence on the production of vertical CBM wells. Besides, the potential of gas production capacity has greater impact at stage of showing gas signs; the coal reservoir pressure and gas production capacity have greater impact at stage of gas breakthrough for 100 days. Thus, to seek the coal bed methane with high ratio of critical desorption pressure to reservoir pressure and high yield of gas will be important guarantee to the success of the coal bed methane exploration and development.

The influence of high-yield-water characteristics on productivity of CBM wells and expulsion and production method carried out in Yanchuannan block of the Ordos basin, China

In order to further study the influence of high-yield-water on the productivity of CBM （coalbed methane） wells and the expulsion and production method carried out in CBM wells, by means of analyzing and researching production characteris- tics and geologic condition of the CBM wells with high water yield in Yanchuannan block located at the eastern margin of Or- dos basin, the mechanism of high water yield decreasing the productivity of CBM well was discussed, and the expulsion and production method for this type of CBM well was proposed. The results show that high water yield would decrease the produc- tivity of CBM wells, and the mechanism is： first, in some circumstances, high water yield could reflect that there was dissipa- tion during the process of coalbed methane reservoir forming, which would lower the gas saturation of coal gas reservoir and reduce the productivity of CBM well; second, a large quantity of coalbed methane dissipated in the form of solution gas, caus- ing the practical reservoir pressure when gas appeared in casing to be lower than critical desorption pressure of the coal bed; finally, the CBM well with high water yield would have higher requirements of discharge and mining installation, system and continuity, and any link with problems would have a great impact on the well＇s productivity and would increase the difficulty of discharge and mining. In the case of wells with high water yield, the key is to select applicable discharge and mining installa- tion, which should be able to make the bottom hole flowing pressure decline smoothly and fast, and make the wells produce gas as quickly as possible but able to slow down the rate of discharge and mining properly when gas has appeared. In addition, in view of the CBM wells with high water yield, an installation lectotype method based on Darcy＇s law was proposed, which was found with good accuracy and practicability through field application.

Multi-stage gas diffusion and its implications for the productivity of coalbed methane in the southern Qinshui Basin, north China

The behavior of coalbed methane(CBM)diffusion considerably influences gas productivity.Based on the multi-porous diffusion model and on-site CBM desorption data of coal cores,the behavior of CBM diffusion and its implications on the gas productivity of No.3 coal seam in the southern Qinshui Basin(SQB)were elaborately analyzed.Results indicate that CBM diffusion of No.3 coal seam demonstrates noticeable three-stage characteristics,including the fast diffusion,transitional diffusion,and slow diffusion stages.During the gas diffusion process,the gas content and/or the degree of developed pores and fractures/cleats in coal seams can affect the desorption of CBM and the amount of diffused CBM by influencing the changes in gas pressure in pores,thus controlling the behavior of gas diffusion in different stages.Because gas content and the developed degree of pores and fractures/cleats are closely associated with the deformation degree of the coal seams,variably deformed coal seams exhibit unique characteristics of gas diffusion.The low-deformation degree of the coal seams have a relatively uniform distribution of gas production over the history of a well.By contrast,the moderate-deformation degree of the coal seams have a relatively high rate and amount of gas diffusion in the fast and transitional diffusion stages,producing most of the gas in the early-to-intermediate stages of the wells.Finally,the high-deformation degree of the coal seams has a high rate and amount in the fast diffusion stage,indicating that most of the production stage occurs during the early stage of the gas production history of a well.In summary,the behavior of gas diffusion can be used for predicting gas production potential.

Petrophysics characteristics of coalbed methane reservoir: a comprehensive review

Petrophysics of coals directly affects the development of coalbed methane(CBM).Based on the analysis of the representative academic works at home and abroad,the recent progress on petrophysics characteristics was reviewed from the aspects of the scale-span porefracture structure,permeability,reservoir heterogeneity,and its controlling factors.The results showed that the characterization of pore-fracture has gone through three stages:qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation of porefracture by various techniques,quantitatively refined characterization of pore-fracture by integrating multiple methods including nuclear magnetic resonance analysis,liquid nitrogen,and mercury intrusion,and advanced quantitative characterization methods of pore-fracture by high-precision experimental instruments(focused-ion beam-scanning electron microscopy,small-angle neutron scattering and computed tomography scanner)and testing methods(m-CT scanning and X-ray diffraction).The effects of acoustic field can promote the diffusion of CBM and generally increase the permeability of coal reservoirs by more than 10%.For the controlling factors of reservoir petrophysics,tectonic stress is the most crucial factor in determining permeability,while the heterogeneity of CBM reservoirs increases with the enhancement of the tectonic deformation and stress field.The study on lithology heterogeneity of deep and high-dip coal measures,the spatial storage-seepage characteristics with deep CBM reservoirs,and the optimizing production between coal measures should be the leading research directions.

Gas content evaluation in deep coal seam with an improved method and its geological controls

An improved evaluation method for estimating gas content during the inversion process of deep-burial coal was established based on the on-site natural desorption curves.The accuracy of the US Bureau of Mines(USBM),Polynomial fitting,Amoco,and the improved evaluation methods in the predicting of lost gas volume in deep seams in the Mabidong Block of the Qinshui Basin were then compared.Furthermore,the calculation errors of these different methods in simulating lost gas content based on coring time were compared.A newly established nonlinear equation was developed to estimate the minimum error value,by controlling the lost time within 16 min,the related errors can be reduced.The improved evaluation was shown to accurately and rapidly predict the gas content in deep seams.The results show that the deep coal bed methane accumulation is influenced by various factors,including geological structure,hydrodynamic conditions,roof lithology,and coalification.Reverse faults and weak groundwater runoff can hinder the escape of methane,and these factors should be considered in the future exploration and development of coalbed methane.

Distribution of stable carbon isotope in coalbed methane from the east margin of Ordos Basin

The commercial recovery of methane from coal is well established in the coalbed methane(CBM) blocks at the east margin of Ordos Basin, China. CBM forms with various carbon isotopic ratios(δ13CPDB) due to the carbon isotopic fractionation in biogenical or thermogenical processes. Based on the geologic evolution of coalbed reservoir and studies on the characteristics of δ13 CPDB values distributed spatially(e.g., horizontal CBM well location area, vertical coal burial zone, coal rank, etc.) and temporally(e.g., geologic evolution history), we explored the formation mechanism of carbon isotopic of methane. The relatively low δ13 CPDB values are widely distributed along the research area, indicating a trend of "lighter-heavier-lighter" from north to south. From a combination analysis of the relationship between δ13 CPDB and the relative effects, the essential aspects in determining CBM carbon isotope being light in the study area are: the genesis of secondary biogas in the north; water soluble effects in the active hydrodynamic areas in the middle; desorption fractionation effect promoted by tectonic evolution in the south; and the sudden warming hydrocarbon fractionation accelerated by magmatic event in particular areas(e.g., Linxian).

Critical tectonic events and their geological controls on deep buried coalbed methane accumulation in Daning-Jixian Block, eastern Ordos Basin

Commercial exploration and development of deep buried coalbed methane (CBM) in Daning-Jixian Block, eastern margin of Ordos Basin, have rapidly increased in recent decades. Gas content, saturation and well productivity show significant heterogeneity in this area. To better understand the geological controlling mechanism on gas distribution heterogeneity, the burial history, hydrocarbon generation history and tectonic evolution history were studied by numerical simulation and experimental simulation, which could provide guidance for further development of CBM in this area. The burial history of coal reservoir can be classified into six stages, i.e., shallowly buried stage, deeply burial stage, uplifting stage, short-term tectonic subsidence stage, large-scale uplifting stage, sustaining uplifting and structural inversion stage. The organic matter in coal reservoir experienced twice hydrocarbon generation. Primary and secondary hydrocarbon generation processes were formed by the Early and Middle Triassic plutonic metamorphism and Early Cretaceous regional magmatic thermal metamorphism, respectively. Five critical tectonic events of the Indosinian, Yanshanian and Himalayan orogenies affect different stages of the CBM reservoir accumulation process. The Indosinian orogeny mainly controls the primary CBM generation. The Yanshanian Orogeny dominates the second gas generation and migration processes. The Himalayan orogeny mainly affects the gas dissipation process and current CBM distribution heterogeneity.

Factors influencing methane diffusion behaviors in micro-nano coal pores: a comprehensive study

Gas diffusion in the coal matrix plays a significant role in forecasting the production performance of coalbed methane(CBM)wells.To better understand methane diffusion behavior,a systematic study was performed on various rank coals with vitrinite reflectance(Ro,m)ranging from 0.46%to 2.79%.Multiple experiments,including coal petrographic analysis,field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM),low-temperature N2 adsorption/desorption,and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP),were conducted to quantitatively characterize the multiscale micro-nano pore system in different rank coals,which showed that the pore structure of coals exhibited a multimodal pore size and volume distribution.Isothermal adsorption-diffusion experiments using the volumetric method were also performed to understand the methane diffusion characteristics in the micro-nano pores of the coal reservoir.The applicability of the multiporous diffusion model is verified,and methane diffusion in the multi-scale pores of coal reservoirs exhibits the characteristics of early fast diffusion,transitional diffusion in the medium term,and slow diffusion in the later period.In addition,the factors affecting methane diffusion in coals were systematically analyzed,and gray relational analysis(GRA)was employed to analyze and identify the importance of these factors on methane diffusion.The results show the impact ranking of factors,in order from the most important to the least:particle size>moisture>surface area>pore volume>pressure>coal rank>temperature in all of three diffusion stages.These findings are helpful for forecasting production performance and enhancing the production efficiency of CBM.

Coalbed methane desorption characteristics controlled by coalification and its implication on gas co-production from multiple coal seams

In this work,CH4 isothermal adsorption measurements were carried out on 64 coal samples collected from western Guizhou Province of China,and the coalbed methane(CBM)desorption processes were quantitatively analyzed.The results show that the Langmuir volume and the Langmuir pressure are controlled by coalification,and tend to increase as the vitrinite reflectance changes from 0.98% to 4.3%.Based on a division method of CBM desorption stages,the CBM desorption process were divided into four stages(inefficient,slow,fast and sensitive desorption stages)by three key pressure nodes(the initial,turning and sensitive pressures).The fast and sensitive desorption stages with high desorption efficiency are the key for achieving high gas production.A theoretical chart of the critical desorption pressure(P_(cd))and its relationship with different pressure nodes was established.The higher-rank coals have the higher initial,turning and sensitive pressures,with larger difference between pressure nodes.Most CBM wells only undergo partial desorption stages due to the differences in P_(cd) caused by the present-gas content.Under the same gas content conditions,the higher the coal rank,the less desorption stages that CBM needs to go through.During coalbed methane co-production from multiple coal seams within vertically superposed pressure systems,the reservoir pressure,the P_(cd),the initial working liquid level(WLL)height,and coal depth are key factors for evaluating whether coal seams can produce CBM simultaneously.It must be ensured that each production layer enters at least the fast desorption stage prior to that the WLL was lower than the depth of each layer.Only on this basis can all layers achieve the maximum gas production.

Geochemical characteristics of produced fluids from CBM wells and their indicative significance for gas accumulation in Daning-Jixian block,Ordos Basin

The Daning-Jixian block,the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin,is one of the most potential areas for CO_(2)geological storage,enhanced coalbed methane recovery(ECBM)exploration and production in China in recent decades.The ionic composition and total dissolved solids(TDS)of the produced water,coal organic matter maturity,molecular composition and carbon isotope characteristics of the produced gas were utilized to analyze the hydrogeological condition,CBM generation and migration characteristics in this area.The CBM enrichment patterns and the geological impacts on gas well production characteristics were revealed.The optimal area for CBM development and CO_(2)geological storage in the study area were also proposed.Dominated by the Xueguan reverse fault zone,the hydraulic unit in this area can be divided into two parts(i.e.,the recharge-runoff zone in the east and the weak runoff-stagnation zone in the west).The thermogenic gas is dominating CBM genesis in this area.Secondary biogenic gas replenishment is only distributed in the eastern margin area,where theδ13C1 value is less than the thermal simulation results as an influence of hydrodynamic fractionation.Finally,two models of CBM formation and accumulation were proposed,1)thermogenic CBM migrated by hydrodynamic and resorbed for preservation at impermeable fault boundaries;2)thermogenic CBM trapped by fault and accumulated by hydrodynamic in slope zone.The gas production performance,generally increased from east to west,is mainly dominated by hydrogeological conditions.Generally,the west side of the fault zone is the enrichment and high-yield area for ECBM development and CO_(2)geological storage in the study area.

Geological controls of shale gas accumulation and enrichment mechanism in Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation of western Hubei, Middle Yangtze, China

The lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation is of crucial importance for shale gas target reservoirs in western Hubei,China;however,little work has been done in this field,and its shale gas accumulation and enrichment mechanism are still unclear.Based on survey wells,outcrop data,and large numbers of tests,the geological conditions of shale gas accumulation were studied;moreover,the factors that influence the gas content were thoroughly discussed.The results show that the Niutitang Formation(Є1n)can be divided into three sections:the first section(Є_(1)n^(1)),the second section(Є_(1)n^(2)),and the third section(Є1n3).TheЄ_(1)n^(2) is the main shale gas reservoir.The deep shelf facies is the main sedimentary facies and can be divided into three main lithofacies:argillaceous siltstone,carbonaceous shale and carbonaceous siliceous rock.The total organic carbon(TOC)content shows gentle growth trends until bottom of theЄ_(1)n^(2) and then decreases rapidly within theЄ_(1)n^(1),and the TOC content mainly ranges from 2%to 4%horizontally.The calcite and dolomite dissolution pores,clay intergranular pores and organic pores are the main pore types and the micropore types are clearly related to the mineral compositions and the TOC content.Vertically,the gas content is mainly affected by the TOC content.Horizontally,wells with high gas contents are distributed only southeast of the Huangling anticline,and the combination of structural styles,fault and fracture development,and the distribution of the regional unconformity boundary between the upper Sinian Dengying Formation(Z2d)and theЄ_(1)n^(2) are the three most important factors affecting the gas content.The favorable areas must meet the following conditions:a deep shelf environment,the presence of theЄ_(1)n^(1),wide and gentle folds,far from large normal faults that are more than 5 km,moderate thermal evolution,and greater than 500 m burial depth;this includes the block with the YD2–ZD2 wells,and the block with the Y1 and YD4 wells,which are distributed in the southern portion of the Huangling anticline and northern portion of the Xiannvshan fault.