CO2注入对煤储层应力应变与渗透率影响的实验研究

以沁水盆地成庄矿煤样为研究对象,利用实验室自主研发的CO₂注入与煤层气强化开采实验模拟装置进行不同有效应力和CO₂吸附压力下的煤岩渗透率测试。实验结果表明,煤岩的裂隙压缩系数受到CO₂吸附的影响,初始状态下、亚临界CO₂吸附和超临界CO₂吸附煤样裂隙压缩系数分别为0.066、0.086和0.089。引起裂隙压缩系数改变的原因主要有两方面:CO₂和煤中矿物反应提高了煤基质的不连续性;CO₂软化了煤基质同时降低了煤岩的力学性质。利用考虑吸附应变以及内部膨胀系数的渗透率模型对实测渗透率进行拟合,发现有效应力和内部膨胀系数成正比。CO₂吸附压力和有效应力的增大均提高了煤岩的内部膨胀系数,这影响了煤岩孔裂隙的开度,降低了煤储层的渗透率,并最终降低CO₂在煤储层中的可注性。      

Impact of Gas Adsorption Induced Coal Matrix Damage on the Evolution of Coal Permeability

It has been widely reported that coal permeability can change from reduction to enhancement due to gas adsorption even under the constant effective stress condition, which is apparently inconsistent with the classic theoretical solutions. This study addresses this inconsistency through explicit simulations of the dynamic interactions between coal matrix swelling/shrinking induced damage and fracture aperture alteration, and translations of these interactions to permeability evolution under the constant effective stress condition. We develop a coupled coal–gas interaction model that incorporates the material heterogeneity and damage evolution of coal, which allows us to couple the progressive development of damage zone with gas adsorption processes within the coal matrix. For the case of constant effective stress, coal permeability changes from reduction to enhancement while the damage zone within the coal matrix develops from the fracture wall to further inside the matrix. As the peak Langmuir strain is approached, the decrease of permeability halts and permeability increases with pressure. The transition of permeability reduction to permeability enhancement during gas adsorption, which may be closely related to the damage zone development in coal matrix, is controlled by coal heterogeneity, external boundary condition, and adsorption-induced swelling.     

An improved permeability model of coal for coalbed methane recovery and CO2 geosequestration

An alternative approach is proposed to develop an improved permeability model for coalbed methane (CBM) and CO₂-enhanced CBM (ECBM) recovery, and CO₂ geosequestration in coal. This approach integrates the textural and mechanical properties to describe the anisotropy of gas permeability in coal reservoirs. The model accounts for the stress dependent deformation using a stress–strain correlation, which allows determination of directional permeability for coals. The stress–strain correlation was developed by combining mechanical strain with sorption-induced strain for any given direction. The mechanical strain of coal is described by the general thermo-poro-elastic constitutive equations for solid materials under isothermal conditions and the sorption-induced strain is approximated by treating the swelling/shrinkage of coal matrix equivalent to the thermal contraction/expansion of materials. With directional strains, the permeability of coal in any given direction can be modeled based on the theory of rock hydraulics. In this study, the proposed model was tested with both literature data and experiments. The experiments were carried out using a specially designed true tri-axial stress coal permeameter (TTSCP). The results show that the proposed model provides better predictions for the literature data compared with other conventional coal permeability models. The model also gives reasonable agreement between the predicted and measured stress–strains and directional permeabilities under laboratory conditions.     

Influence of gas production induced volumetric strain on permeability of coal

Summary The gas permeability of a coalbed, unlike that of conventional gas reservoirs, is influenced during gas production not only by the simultaneous changes in effective stress and gas slippage, but also by the volumetric strain of the coal matrix that is associated with gas desorption. A technique for conducting laboratory experiments to separate these effects and estimate their individual contribution is presented in this paper. The results show that for a pressure decrease from 6.2 to 0.7 MPa, the total permeability of the coal sample increased by more than 17 times. A factor of 12 is due to the volumetric strain effect, and a factor of 5 due to the gas slippage effect. Changes in permeability and porosity with gas depletion were also estimated using the measured volumetric strain and the matchstick reservoir model geometry for flow of gas in coalbeds. The resulting variations were compared with results obtained experimentally. Furthermore, the results show that when gas pressure is above 1.7 MPa, the effect of volumetric strain due to matrix shrinkage dominates. As gas pressure falls below 1.7 MPa, both the gas slippage and matrix shrinkage effects play important roles in influencing the permeability. Finally, the change in permeability associated with matrix shrinkage was found to be linearly proportional to the volumetric strain. Since volumetric strain is linearly proportional to the amount of gas desorbed, the change in permeability is a linear function of the amount of desorbing gas.     

Modelling of anisotropic coal swelling and its impact on permeability behaviour for primary and enhanced coalbed methane recovery

Coal swelling/shrinkage during gas adsorption/desorption is a well-known phenomenon. For some coals the swelling/shrinkage shows strong anisotropy, with more swelling in the direction perpendicular to the bedding than that parallel to the bedding. Experimental measurements performed in this work on an Australian coal found strong anisotropic swelling behaviour in gases including nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide, with swelling in the direction perpendicular to the bedding almost double that parallel to the bedding. It is proposed here that this anisotropy is caused by anisotropy in the coal's mechanical properties and matrix structure. The Pan and Connell coal swelling model, which applies an energy balance approach where the surface energy change caused by adsorption is equal to the elastic energy change of the coal solid, is further developed to describe the anisotropic swelling behaviour incorporating coal property and structure anisotropy. The developed anisotropic swelling model is able to accurately describe the experimental data mentioned above, with one set of parameters to describe the coal's properties and matrix structure and three gas adsorption isotherms. This developed model is also applied to describe anisotropic swelling measurements from the literature where the model was found to provide excellent agreement with the measurement. The anisotropic coal swelling model is also applied to an anisotropic permeability model to describe permeability behaviour for primary and enhanced coalbed methane recovery. It was found that the permeability calculation applying anisotropic coal swelling differs significantly to the permeability calculated using isotropic volumetric coal swelling strain. This demonstrates that for coals with strong anisotropic swelling, anisotropic swelling and permeability models should be applied to more accurately describe coal permeability behaviour for both primary and enhanced coalbed methane recovery processes.     

考虑滑脱效应的低阶煤动态渗透率预测新模型

为准确预测低阶煤动态渗透率变化规律,在煤岩立方体模型基础上,考虑基质孔隙和滑脱效应对渗透率的影响,建立低阶煤动态渗透率预测新模型,并对影响绝对渗透率和滑脱系数的因素进行敏感性分析,讨论了甲烷和氮气对基质收缩与滑脱效应的影响。研究表明：基于“火柴棍”假设建立的模型是新模型不考虑基质孔隙时的一个特例,P-M、S-D模型与新模型相比基质收缩作用更加明显,考虑基质收缩与滑脱效应的新模型更具实用性。气体郎格缪尔应变是影响基质收缩的关键,煤岩绝对渗透率能否反弹是割理压缩、基质孔隙膨胀、基质弹性形变和基质收缩4个因素共同作用的结果。相同条件下,甲烷的基质收缩强于氮气,氮气的滑脱效应强于甲烷,影响滑脱系数的因素包括内因和外因,滑脱系数与割理宽度随孔隙压力变化时呈现相反规律。滑脱效应和基质收缩效应共同提升气测渗透率,煤岩孔隙压力越低,二者对渗透率的提升作用越明显。     

考虑基质收缩效应的煤层气应力场-渗流场耦合作用分析

在煤层气的初级生产过程中,为了获取较高的生产率,需要降低储层压力,储层压力下降对于煤层气的渗透率具有两个相反的效应：（1）储层压力下降,有效应力增加,煤层裂隙压缩闭合,渗透率降低;（2）煤层气解吸,煤基质收缩,煤层气流动路径张开,渗透率升高。Shi和Durucan、Palmer-Mansoori以及Gray等都建立了包含了基质收缩效应以及有效应力的影响的渗透率模型,其模型都基于以下两个关键假设：煤岩体处于单轴应变状态以及竖向应力恒定。为了检验上述两个假设的合理性,建立了一个考虑基质收缩效应以及渗流场-应力场耦合作用下的煤层气流动模型,对煤层气初级生产过程中渗透率的变化进行了耦合分析。分析结果表明：单轴应变的假设具有合理性,而竖向应力是随指向生产井的应变梯度的变化而变化的,其对于渗透率的变化具有重要影响,因此,竖向应力恒定的假设可能导致渗透率预测出现误差;上述渗透率模型都可能低估煤层气初级生产过程中渗透率的变化。     

Gas sorption and transport in coals: A poroelastic medium approach

In this paper, single-component gas sorption and transient diffusion processes are described within coal matrix exhibiting bimodal pore structure. The coal matrix is treated as a poroelastic medium manifesting swelling and shrinkage effects due to the sorption of gas under effective overburden stress. Gas transport is considered Fickian with molecular (bulk) and surface diffusion processes simultaneously taking place in the macro- and micropores of coal, respectively. The numerical formulation is intended to be explicit in nature to investigate the influences of sorption phenomena on the macropore volumes and on the overall gas transport for the cases of gas uptake by and release from coal.Results of the study show the presence of hysteresis during a sorption–desorption cycle of the gas. It is also found that the overall gas transport takes place at a rate significantly less than that in the macropores only. Thus the existence of a retardation effect in the overall gas transport is concluded. This retardation effect is primarily due to the micropore resistances, in particular gas adsorption, and is independent of the changes in the macropore volumes. It is shown that macroporosity of the coal matrix may change during gas transport due to combined effects of pressure and sorption-induced swelling or shrinkage of the coal. It is estimated that the macroporosity variation is non-uniform in space and time, as it is expected in reality, and typically taking values less than ± 10 percent of the initial porosity.     

煤体吸附膨胀变形模型理论研究

为了深入探讨煤体吸附瓦斯发生膨胀变形效应的力学行为,基于煤-气吸附界面的表面自由能变化等于煤体弹性能的变化基本假设,从理论上推导了煤体吸附膨胀模型中吸附膨胀变形表达式和吸附膨胀应力表达式,模型中各参数的物理意义明确。通过已有的试验数据分别从低气体压、中气体压和高气体压3个角度对吸附变形模型的适用性和正确性进行了验证。模拟结果表明,模型预测数据与已有的试验数据吻合度较高,能够很好地描述不同气体在不同压力条件下的煤体吸附膨胀差异性,拟合精度均较高;在综合考虑吸附膨胀应力和气体压力对煤体吸附膨胀变形影响前提下,忽略吸附气体体积Va对煤体吸附膨胀变形的影响。     

Impact of transition from local swelling to macro swelling on the evolution of coal permeability

Laboratory observations have shown that coal permeability under the influence of gas adsorption can change instantaneously from reduction to enhancement. It is commonly believed that this instantaneous switching of permeability is due to the fact that the matrix swelling ultimately ceases at higher pressures and the influence of effective stresses take over. In this study, our previously-developed poroelastic model is used to uncover the true reason why coal permeability switches from reduction to enhancement. This goal is achieved through explicit simulations of the dynamic interactions between coal matrix swelling/shrinking and fracture aperture alteration, and translations of these interactions to perrmeability evolution under unconstrained swellings. Our results of this study have revealed the transition of coal matrix swelling from local swelling to macro-swelling as a novel mechanism for this switching. Our specific findings include: (1) at the initial stage of CO₂ injection, matrix swelling is localized within the vicinity of the fracture compartment. As the injection continues, the swelling zone is extending further into the matrix and becomes macro-swelling. Matrix properties control the swelling transition from local swelling to macro swelling; (2) matrix swelling processes control the evolution of coal permeability. When the swelling is localized, coal permeability is controlled by the internal fracture boundary condition and behaves volumetrically; when the swelling becomes macro-swelling, coal permeability is controlled by the external boundary condition and behaves non-volumetrically; and (3) matrix properties control the switch from local swelling to macro swelling and the associated switch in permeability behavior from reduction to recovery. Based on these findings, a permeability switching model has been proposed to represent the evolution of coal permeability under variable stress conditions. This model is verified against our experimental data. It is found that the model predictions are consistent with typical laboratory and in-situ observations available in lietratures.     

Measurement of parameters impacting methane recovery from coal seams

Summary This paper describes the behaviour of coalbeds as gas reservoirs and discusses the results of a study carried out to establish the effect of release of methane on gas flow behaviour of coal. Experimental work consisted of microscopy, establishing adsorption/desorption isotherms, and monitoring changes in the volume of coal matrix with increasing and decreasing gas pressure. Micrographs obtained using small pieces of coal indicated that coal is made up of blocks, containing matrix and pores, separated by microfractures. This confirms the dual porosity model of coal structure with a primary porosity, and a fracture/cleat porosity-physical model used in coalbed methane simulators developed recently. Isotherms suggested that for the samples tested, a major part of the gas is released only after pressure falls below 600 psi, and this is primarily due to desorbing gas. Results of the volumetric strain experiments indicated that there is an increase in matrix volume with increase in gas pressure, in spite of matrix compressibility. Adsorption, therefore, induces swelling of the matrix. With decrease in gas pressure from 1000 psi to atmospheric, the matrix volume shrunk by 0.5%. These experimental results were inputted in a reservoir model and simulation runs made to determine the effect of pore volume and matrix shrinkage compressibilities on gas production. Over a five year period 60% more gas was produced when matrix shrinkage was used as an input parameter.Editor's note: The units used in this paper are generally used by the Gas Research Institute and are found in most oil and gas publications. Conversions of the more important units are: 1 MMCFD 28 300 m³/day; 1 MSCFD 28.3 m³/day; 100 psi 0.68 MPa; 100 ft²/lb 46.87 m²/kg; 1 ft 0.3048 m; 1 acre 0.40 hectare.     

A theoretical model for gas adsorption-induced coal swelling

Swelling and shrinkage (volumetric change) of coal during adsorption and desorption of gas is a well-known phenomenon. For coalbed methane recovery and carbon sequestration in deep, unminable coal beds, adsorption-induced coal volumetric change may cause significant reservoir permeability change. In this work, a theoretical model is derived to describe adsorption-induced coal swelling at adsorption and strain equilibrium. This model applies an energy balance approach, which assumes that the surface energy change caused by adsorption is equal to the elastic energy change of the coal solid. The elastic modulus of the coal, gas adsorption isotherm, and other measurable parameters, including coal density and porosity, are required in this model. Results from the model agree well with experimental observations of swelling. It is shown that the model is able to describe the differences in swelling behaviour with respect to gas species and at very high gas pressures, where the coal swelling ratio reaches a maximum then decreases. Furthermore, this model can be used to describe mixed-gas adsorption induced-coal swelling, and can thus be applied to CO₂-enhanced coalbed methane recovery.     

沿抽采井筒的煤储层渗透率模型研究

渗透率是表征瓦斯流动的重要参数,为保证煤矿瓦斯安全高效抽采,有必要探究距抽采井筒不同位置处煤层瓦斯渗流演化特征。然而,瓦斯抽采过程中伴随有效应力、煤基质对瓦斯的吸附/解吸能力以及煤储层温度的不断变化,甚至出现抽采损伤,使得煤层瓦斯运移行为异常复杂。为探究抽采过程的煤层瓦斯渗流特性,在圆柱坐标系下,考虑压力场与温度场变化对煤储层渗透率的影响,构建温度影响的孔隙压力时空演化函数,据此建立应力与温度作用下的煤储层渗透率模型。结果表明:建立的模型能合理描述沿抽采井筒孔隙压力的演化规律以及瓦斯的运移特性,即在恒定外应力的条件下,随抽采时间增加,不同位置处孔隙压力先降低后变化平缓,煤储层渗透率先降低后升高;此外,同一煤储层位置处,考虑温度比不考虑温度的渗透率计算值更低;通过讨论发现,随抽采时间增加,根据裂隙压缩与基质收缩对渗透率演化的不同效应,设置合理的负压抽采方式可提高瓦斯抽采量。      

Swelling-induced volumetric strains internal to a stressed coal associated with CO2 sorption

It is generally accepted that typical coalbed gases (methane and carbon dioxide) are sorbed (both adsorbed and absorbed) in the coal matrix causing it to swell and resulting in local stress and strain variations in a coalbed confined under overburden pressure. The swelling, interactions of gases within the coal matrix and the resultant changes in the permeability, sorption, gas flow mechanics in the reservoir, and stress state of the coal can impact a number of reservoir-related factors. These include effective production of coalbed methane, degasification of future mining areas by drilling horizontal and vertical degasification wells, injection of CO₂ as an enhanced coalbed methane recovery technique, and concurrent CO₂ sequestration. Such information can also provide an understanding of the mechanisms behind gas outbursts in underground coal mines.The spatio-temporal volumetric strains in a consolidated Pittsburgh seam coal sample were evaluated while both confining pressure and carbon dioxide (CO₂) pore pressure were increased to keep a constant positive effective stress on the sample. The changes internal to the sample were evaluated by maps of density and atomic number determined by dual-energy X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). Early-time images, as soon as CO₂ was introduced, were also used to calculate the macroporosity in the coal sample. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photographic images of the polished section of the coal sample at X-ray CT image location were used to identify the microlithotypes and microstructures.The CO₂ sorption-associated swelling and volumetric strains in consolidated coal under constant effective stress are heterogeneous processes depending on the lithotypes present. In the time scale of the experiment, vitrite showed the highest degree of swelling due to dissolution of CO₂, while the clay (kaolinite) and inertite region was compressed in response. The volumetric strains associated with swelling and compression were between ± 15% depending on the location. Although the effective stress on the sample was constant, it varied within the sample as a result of the internal stresses created by gas sorption-related structural changes. SEM images and porosity calculations revealed that the kaolinite and inertite bearing layer was highly porous, which enabled the fastest CO₂ uptake and the highest degree of compression.     

山西沁水盆地中-南部煤储层渗透率物理模拟与数值模拟

通过对山西沁水盆地中南部上主煤层宏观裂隙观测,力学参数测量和应力渗透率实验,分别建立了裂隙面密度、裂隙产状、裂隙宽度与煤储层渗透率之间的预测数学模型;利用FLAC—3D软件,模拟了该区上主煤层内现代地应力状态,结合煤层气试井渗透率资料,构建了应力与渗透率之间关系预测的数学模型,并对该区上主煤层渗透率进行了全面预测。通过吸附膨胀实验,揭示了各煤类煤基质的收缩特征,构建了有效应力、煤基质收缩与渗透率之间的耦合数学模型,并对煤层气开发过程中渗透率动态变化进行了数值模拟。     

考虑渗透率变化的煤层气储层数值模拟及参数敏感性研究

煤层气开采过程中储层渗透率的变化对产气量影响较大,通过引入S＆D渗透率变化模型,建立了考虑渗透率变化的煤储层三维气水两相渗流数学模型,完成模型检验后应用所编制软件研究了煤储层参数、吸附参数及渗透率模型特征参数对开发效果的影响。结果表明,煤层气产量随着初始含气量、煤层有效厚度、裂缝渗透率和Langmuir压力的增大而增大,随储层原始压力、裂缝孔隙度和Langmuir体积的增大而减小,而解吸时间对产气量影响不大;裂缝渗透率随着杨氏模量和基质收缩/膨胀系数的增大而增大,随泊松比和裂缝压缩系数的增大而减小。引入S＆D模型后计算的累积产气量要比常规模型低1.3%,因此不可忽视煤层气产出过程中渗透率的变化。     

沁水盆地南部煤层气直井合层排采产气效果数值模拟

随着煤层气勘探开发的深入,多煤层合层排采受到广泛关注。合层排采管控工艺是确保煤层气合采井高产稳产的关键,而多煤层组合条件下复杂的地质条件增加了合层排采管控的难度。数值模拟技术是研究煤层气井合层排采管控工艺的有效手段,科学、可靠的模拟结果可为合采井排采管控提供依据。考虑温度效应、煤基质收缩效应、有效应力作用对煤层流体运移规律以及渗透率等煤层物性参数的影响,建立煤层气直井合层排采生产动态过程多物理场耦合数学模型,并进行有限元法的多物理场耦合求解。通过对沁水盆地南部郑庄区块煤层气合采井组的模拟,探讨不同排采速率下煤层气直井合层排采产气效果及渗透率等煤层物性参数动态演化特征,提出煤层气直井合层排采工程建议。模拟结果显示,郑庄区块3号、15号煤层整体含气量较高,煤层气合采井组具有较大增产潜力,提高排采速率对提高煤层气采收率的效果不显著;排采过程中,煤基质收缩效应对渗透率的影响强于有效应力作用,是提高煤层气井排采速率的保障,在确保排采速率不超过煤层渗流能力上限的基础上,适当提高排采速率可实现煤层气井增产。基于模拟结果,建议排采速率的调整以控制动液面或液柱压力为主;以3号、15号煤层气合采井增产为目标,产水阶段和憋压阶段,郑庄区块煤层气直井合层排采速率以液柱压力降幅0.12~0.20 MPa/d或动液面降幅12~20 m/d为宜,既可实现煤层气增产,又可避免储层伤害。      

Shrinkage and swelling of coal induced by desorption and sorption of fluids: Theoretical model and interpretation of a field project

Geologic sequestration in deep unmineable coal seams and enhanced coalbed methane production is a promising choice, economically and environmentally, to reduce anthropogenic gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Unmineable coal seams are typically known to adsorb large amounts of carbon dioxide in comparison to the sizeable amounts of sorbed methane, which raises the potential for large scale sequestration projects. During the process of sequestration, carbon dioxide is injected into the coalbed and desorbed methane is produced. The coal matrix is believed to shrink when a gas is desorbed and swell when a gas is sorbed, sometimes causing profound changes in the cleat porosity and permeability of the coal seam. These changes may have significant impact on the reservoir performance. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the combined influence of swelling and shrinkage, and geomechanical properties including elastic modulus, cleat porosity, and permeability of the reservoir.The present paper deals with the influence of swelling and shrinkage on the reservoir performance, and the geomechanical response of the reservoir system during the process of geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide and enhanced coalbed methane production in an actual field project located in northern New Mexico. A three-dimensional swelling and shrinkage model was developed and implemented into an existing reservoir model to understand the influence of geomechanical parameters, as well as swelling and shrinkage properties, on the reservoir performance. Numerical results obtained from the modified simulator were compared to available measured values from that site and previous studies. Results show that swelling and shrinkage, and the combination of geomechanical and operational parameters, have a significant influence on the performance of the reservoir system.     

三轴压缩下含瓦斯煤的能耗与渗流特性研究

以重庆松藻同华矿K3煤层制备的煤样为研究对象,利用自主研制的渗流装置,进行了不同围压和瓦斯压力下煤样的三轴压缩试验,并应用能量积聚与耗散的方法,研究了煤样在压缩过程中的能耗特征和渗流特性。结果表明：三轴压缩破坏过程中,含瓦斯煤样存在着能量积聚与耗散。煤样以弹性应变能的形式吸收并储存能量;荷载达到峰值时,煤样储存的弹性应变能在瞬间释放转化为耗散能,成为煤样破坏的源动力。围压和瓦斯压力对煤样的能耗特征有较大影响,随着围压增加,煤样吸收的总能量、储存的弹性应变能和耗散能均会增加;随着瓦斯压力增加,煤样吸收的总能量及耗散能呈现缓慢的增加,储存的弹性应变能呈逐渐下降趋势。围压和瓦斯压力对煤样的渗透性亦有较大影响。应力达到峰值前,随着围压的增加,煤样的渗透性逐步减小;随着瓦斯压力的增加,煤样的渗透性则呈增加的趋势。研究结果可为煤与瓦斯突出的防治和瓦斯抽采提供参考。     

The measurement of coal porosity with different gases

Sorption processes can be used to study different characteristics of coal properties, such as gas content (coalbed methane potential of a deposit), gas diffusion, porosity, internal surface area, etc. Coal microstructure (porosity system) is relevant for gas flow behaviour in coal and, consequently, directly influences gas recovery from the coalbed.This paper addresses the determination of coal porosity (namely micro- and macroporosity) in relation to the molecular size of different gases. Experiments entailed a sorption process, which includes the direct method of determining the “void volume” of samples using different gases (helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane). Because gas behaviour depends on pressure and temperature conditions, it is critical, in each case, to know the gas characteristics, especially the compressibility factor.The experimental conditions of the sorption process were as follows: temperature in the bath 35 °C; sample with moisture equal to or greater than the moisture-holding capacity (MHC), particle size of sample less than 212 μm, and mass ca. 100 g.The present investigation was designed to confirm that when performing measurements of the coal void volume with helium and nitrogen, there are only small and insignificant changes in the volume determinations. Inducing great shrinkage and swelling effects in the coal molecular structure, carbon dioxide leads to “abnormal” negative values in coal void volume calculations, since the rate of sorbed and free gas is very high. In fact, when in contact with the coal structure, carbon dioxide is so strongly retained that the sorbed gas volume is much higher than the free gas volume. However, shrinkage and swelling effects in coal structure induced by carbon dioxide are fully reversible. Methane also induces shrinkage and swelling when in contact with coal molecular structure, but these effects, although smaller than those induced by carbon dioxide, are irreversible and increase the coal volume.