Characteristics of high-rank coal structure parallel and perpendicular to the bedding plane via NMR and X-ray CT

Pores and fractures and their connectivity play a significant role in coalbed methane production.To investigate the growth characteristics and connectivity of pores and fractures in coal parallel and perpendicular to the bedding plane,the pores and fractures of high-rank coal samples collected from the southern Qinshui Basin were measured by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance,X-ray-computed tomography and field emission scanning electron microscopy.Then,the determinants of their connectivity were further discussed.The results show that the high-rank coal samples have similar pore size distributions both parallel and perpendicular to the bedding plane.They primarily contain mesopores(2-50 nm in width),followed by macrospores(> 50 nm in width).The research indicated that the high-rank coal connectivity parallel to the bedding plane is significantly better than that perpendicular to the bedding plane.The connectivity of high-rank coal is mainly determined by throats,and the orientation of the pores and fractures.The two connectivity modes in high-rank coal are "pore connectivity," in which the throats are mainly pores with a low coordination number,and "microfissure connectivity",in which the throats are mainly microfissures with a high coordination number.

Response of coal reservoir porosity to magma intrusion in the Shandong Qiwu Mine,China

The Qiwu Mine is located in the Ten Xian coal field of Shandong province.It experienced repeated volcanic activity,after the coal beds formed,where magma intrusion was significant The effect of coal reservoir porosity after magma intrusion was studied by analysis of regional and mine structure and magmatic activity.Experimental methods including maceral measurement under the microscope and mercury porosimetry were used for testing the pore structure.The authors believe that magma intrusion into low-rank bituminous coal causes reservoir porosity to gradually increase：the closer to the magmatic rock a sample is,the less the porosity.The pore size distribution also changes.In the natural coal bed the pore size is mainly in the transitive and middle pore range.However,the coal changes to anthracite next to the magmatic rock and larger pores dominate.Regional magma thermal evolution caused coal close to magmatic rock to be roasted,which reduced the volatile matter,developed larger holes,and destroyed plant tissue holes.The primary reason for a porosity decrease in the vicinity of magmatic rock is that Bituminite resulting from the roasting fills the holes that were present initially.

Study on high and steep slope stability of surface mine based on RFPA-SRM

The instability and failure mechanism of high and steep slopes in surface mines, and the basis for some reasonable landslide prevention measures were provided using the RFPA-SRM. Based on the actual progress of the Pingzhuang Western Surface Mine and based on strength reduction method, the dynamic instability processes of the top high and steep slope was simulated. Also, the landslide mode was determined, the characteristics of the displacement distribution, the deformation, failure, and the stress distribution in the slope were demonstrated, and the stability was calculated. Conclusions can be drawn as follows： the landslide or failure of high and steep slopes on a surface mine is a gradual process, in which the slope undergoes the generation, expansion, and connection of the fractures and the displacement increases until landslide occurs; a small portion of the upper rocks fail due to the tension and the lower rocks fail due to the shear; the potential sliding surface is combined and the essential cause of the landslide is the shear stress concentration.

Mechanism of CO_2 enhanced CBM recovery in China: a review

Permeability of coal reservoirs in China is in general low. Injection of CO2 into coal seams is one of the potential ap-proaches for enhancing coalbed methane (CBM) production. The feasibility of this technology has been investigated in China since the 1990s. Advances in mechanism of CO2 enhanced CBM recovery (CO2-ECBM) in China are reviewed in light of certain aspects, such as the competitive multi-component gas adsorption, sorption-induced coal swelling/shrinkage and its potential effect on CBM production and numerical simulation for CO2-ECBM recovery. Newer investigations for improving the technology are discussed. It is suggested that a comprehensive feasibility demonstration in terms of geology, technology, economics and environment-carrying capacity is necessary for a successful application of the technology for CBM recovery in China. The demonstration should be car-ried out after more investigations into such facets as the control of coal components and structure to a competitive multi-component-gas adsorption, the behavior and essence of super-critical adsorption by coal of gas, environmental and safe feasi-bility of coal mining after CO2 injection and more extensive pilot tests for CO2-ECBM recovery.

Reaction Kinetic Equation for Char Combustion of Underground Coal Gasification

Based on the quasi-steady-state approximation, the dynamic equation of char combustion in the oxidation zone of underground coal gasification (UCG) was derived. The parameters of the dynamic equation were determined at 900℃ using a thermo-gravimetric (TG) analyzer connected to a flue gas analyzer and this equation. The equation was simplified for specific coals, including high ash content, low ash content, and low ash fusibility ones. The results show that 1) the apparent reaction rate constant increases with an increase in volatile matter value as dry ash-free basis,2) the effective coefficient of diffusion decreases with an increase in ash as dry basis, and 3) the mass transfer coefficient is independent of coal quality on the whole. The apparent reaction rate constant, mass-transfer coefficient and effective coefficient of diffusion of six char samples range from 7.51×104 m/s to 8.98×104 m/s, 3.05×106 m/s to 3.23×106 m/s and 5.36×106 m2/s to 8.23×106 m2/s at 900℃, respectively.

Triple Medium Physical Model of Post Fracturing High-Rank Coal Reservoir in Southern Qinshui Basin

In this paper, influences on the reservoir permeability, the reservoir architecture and the fluid flow pattern caused by hydraulic fracturing are analyzed. Based on the structure and production fluid flow model of post fracturing high-rank coal reservoir, Warren-Root Model is improved. A new physical model that is more suitable for post fracturing high-rank coal reservoir is established. The results show that the width, the flow conductivity and the permeability of hydraulic fractures are much larger than natural fractures in coal bed reservoir. Hydraulic fracture changes the flow pattern of gas and flow channel to wellbore, thus should be treated as an independent medium. Warrant-Root Model has some limitations and can’t give a comprehensive interpretation of seepage mechanism in post fracturing high-rank coal reservoir. Modified Warrant-Root Model simplifies coal bed reservoir to an ideal system with hydraulic fracture, orthogonal macroscopic fracture and cuboid matrix. Hydraulic fracture is double wing, vertical and symmetric to wellbore. Coal bed reservoir is divided into cuboids by hydraulic fracture and further by macroscopic fractures. Flow behaviors in coal bed reservoir are simplified to three step flows of gas and two step flows of water. The swap mode of methane between coal matrix and macroscopic fractures is pseudo steady fluid channeling. The flow behaviors of methane to wellbore no longer follow Darcy’s Law and are mainly affected by inertia force. The flow pattern of water follows Darcy’s Law. The new physical model is more suitable for post fracturing high-rank coal reservoir.