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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

Assessment of shrinkage–swelling influences in coal seams using rank-dependent physical coal properties

Characterization of coal reservoirs and determination of in-situ physical coal properties related to transport mechanism are complicated due to having lack of standard procedures in the literature. By considering these difficulties, a new approach has been developed proposing the usage of relationships between coal rank and physical coal properties. In this study, effects of shrinkage and swelling (SS) on total methane recovery at CO₂ breakthrough (TMRB), which includes ten-year primary methane recovery and succeeding enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) recovery up to CO₂ breakthrough, and CO₂ sequestration have been investigated by using rank-dependent coal properties. In addition to coal rank, different coal reservoir types, molar compositions of injected fluid, and parameters within the extended Palmer & Mansoori (P&M) permeability model were considered. As a result of this study, shrinkage and swelling lead to an increase in TMRB. Moreover, swelling increased CO₂ breakthrough time and decreased displacement ratio and CO₂ storage for all ranks of coal. Low-rank coals are affected more negatively than high-rank coals by swelling. Furthermore, it was realized that dry coal reservoirs are more influenced by swelling than others and saturated wet coals are more suitable for eliminating the negative effects of CO₂ injection. In addition, it was understood that it is possible to reduce swelling effect of CO₂ on cleat permeability by mixing it with N₂ before injection. However, an economical optimization is required for the selection of proper gas mixture. Finally, it is concluded from sensitivity analysis that elastic modulus is the most important parameter, except the initial cleat porosity, controlling SS in the extended P&M model by highly affecting TMRB.     

物质平衡法在煤层气藏生产动态预测中的应用

针对煤层气井的生产特点,综合考虑煤层甲烷吸附/解吸特性、煤岩基质膨胀/收缩特性和储层有效应力的影响,通过引入等效半径模型,结合真实气体拟压力函数,建立了基于物质平衡法的压裂直井与水平井生产动态预测数学模型。实例计算结果表明:基于物质平衡法的压裂直井与水平井生产动态预测方法,能够利用少量现有数据完成生产动态预测,并对相对渗透率的变化趋势进行分析,可减少计算所需参数,降低计算量。通过对比煤层气压裂直井和水平井生产动态预测结果发现,在相同地质条件下,水平井的单井产能高于压裂直井(前者约为后者的2.3倍),且水平井的开采周期比压裂直井短。因此,在针对具体储层条件选择井型时,应在经济评价的基础上,综合分析两种井型的适用性,优选完井参数。      

二氧化碳注入煤层多用途研究

为了减轻环境污染,提高煤层气产率,增加能源储备,根据煤层气地质学和生物气的基本理论,提出二氧化碳(CO2)注入煤层多种用途这一新观点。研究结果显示:煤对CO2具有很强的吸附能力,可将煤层作为CO2的储集层;煤具有优先吸附CO2而滞后吸附甲烷(CH4)的特性,向煤层注入CO2可大大提高煤层气的采收率;产甲烷菌具有利用CO2生成CH4的能力,新生成的CH4成为能源储备的有益补充。可见,CO2注入煤层不仅可有效减少温室气体的排放,强化煤层甲烷产出,而且为新能源生物CH4的生成提供了基质。     

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。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000308

The Panguan Syncline contains abundant coal resources,which may be a potential source of coalbed methane.In order to evaluate the coalbed methane production potential in this area,we investigated the pore-fracture system of coalbed methane reservoirs,and analyzed the gas sorption and seepage capacities by using various analytical methods,including scanning electron microscopy（SEM）,optical microscopy,mercury-injection test,low-temperature N₂ isotherm adsorption/desorption analyses,lowfield nuclear magnetic resonance and methane isothermal adsorption measurements.The results show that the samples of the coal reservoirs in the Panguan Syncline have moderate gas sorption capacity.However, the coals in the study area have favorable seepage capacities,and are conductive for the coalbed methane production.The physical properties of the coalbed methane reservoirs in the Panguan Syncline are generally controlled by coal metamorphism:the low rank coal usually has low methane sorption capacity and its pore and microfractures are poorly developed;while the medium rank coal has better methane sorption capacity,and its seepage pores and microfractures are well developed,which are sufficient for the coalbed methane’s gathering and exploration.Therefore,the medium rank coals in the Panguan Syncline are the most prospective targets for the coalbed methane exploration and production.     

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。     

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。      

华北煤变质作用对煤含气量和渗透率的影响

通过华北和美国煤层气地质条件的对比, 基于华北煤变质特点, 指出了区域岩浆热变质有利于提高煤层含气量和渗透率, 并对其作用机理进行了初步探讨.在中国, 经受燕山期岩浆侵入影响之前的煤级较低, 因此在快速增温的高温作用下, 煤层气再次发生即“叠加生烃”或“叠加成气”的潜力大, 孔、裂隙系统发育更趋完善, 区域岩浆热变质的生气时间晚而利于煤层气保存.叠加有区域岩浆热变质形成的煤级分带, 包括高煤级煤和中煤级煤在内都将明显提高煤的含气量和渗透率, 因此, 华北地区应重视在区域岩浆热变质煤中寻找煤层气勘探目标.      

Effects of igneous intrusions on coalbed methane potential, Gunnedah Basin, Australia

The Gunnedah Basin, NSW, Australia, contains more than 500 Gt of coal, and has been the subject of recent coalbed methane exploration. Large areas of the basin contain igneous intrusions and large areas of coal have been heat-affected as a consequence. A detailed study has been undertaken of coal seams intersected in a cored coalbed methane exploration drillhole in which two sill-form igneous intrusions are present. Comparisons are made between coals that are unaltered and coals that have been heat-affected, using petrographic and chemical data, coal seam gas desorption data, and gas chemical analysis data.Results demonstrate that the two igneous intrusions have had a very positive effect on coalbed methane development. The gas content in a number of heat-affected coal seams within thermal aureoles above and below the sills is substantially higher than in adjacent unaffected coal seams. In addition, the intrusions have had little effect on gas quality. The coals in the heat-affected zone were found to contain gas with approximately 95% methane. The coals in the thermal aureoles were found, under the microscope, to contain characteristic micropores and slits, which collectively may serve to enhance gas adsorption capacity, permeability, and gas desorption. Gas contents below each of the sills is substantially higher than above the sill, confirming earlier results that the sills appear to have acted as a reservoir seal, during and for some time after intrusion. The background coal rank in ACM Yannergee DDH 1 is in the high-volatile bituminous range. The igneous intrusions have resulted in an increase in rank such that large areas of coal have moved into the optimal thermogenic gas generation window. This rank increase has affected a major part of the coal-bearing sequence.     

高煤级煤基质力学效应与煤储层渗透率耦合关系分析

基于吸附膨胀物理模拟实验，揭示了瘦煤至无烟煤阶段煤基质的自调节特征，分别探讨了煤层气排采过程煤基质收缩和有效应力变化对煤储层渗透率的影响，构建了有效应力、煤基质收缩与煤储层渗透率之间耦合的数学模型，揭示出高煤级煤储层渗透率在煤层气排采过程中的递减变化规律，并讨论了这一发现的地质意义。     

华北石炭—二叠系煤的孔渗特征及主控因素

煤的低孔、低渗问题已经成为制约我国煤层气勘探和开发的关键问题之一。选取华北河东、渭北、阳泉、晋城、大同和两淮等6个煤田,通过煤岩学特征测试、微裂隙分析和低温氮孔隙结构分析,对该区煤的孔渗发育特征及其控制机理进行了系统研究。华北地区煤的孔隙度在2%～10%之间,孔隙度的大小主要受3次煤化作用跃变所控制,在Ro,r约为1.2%附近达到最小值。矿物充填作用在一定程度上降低了煤的孔隙度。华北地区煤的渗透率一般都在5×10-3μm2以下,渗透率与孔隙度呈显著的幂指数关系。无烟煤以微孔为主,孔隙度都在6%以下,渗透率的大小主要取决于裂隙的发育程度;而中低煤级煤的渗透率不仅受裂隙影响,也受煤中各级孔隙发育的影响较大。     

不同变质变形煤储层孔隙特征与煤层气可采性

煤储层孔隙是煤层气的主要聚集场所和运移通道,煤储层孔隙结构不仅制约着煤层气的含气量,而且对其可采性也有重要影响。文中选取淮北煤田和沁水盆地不同矿区有代表性的煤样,通过对研究区不同变质与变形煤样的宏微观构造观测、镜质组反射率与孔隙度测试以及压汞实验分析,研究了不同变质变形煤储层孔隙结构特征及其对煤层气可采性的制约。研究结果表明,按照不同的变质变形特征将研究区煤储层主要划分为5类,即:高变质较强至强变形程度煤储层(Ⅰ类)、高变质较弱变形程度煤储层(Ⅱ类)、中变质较强变形程度煤储层(Ⅲ类)、中变质较弱变形程度煤储层(Ⅳ类)及低变质强变形程度煤储层(Ⅴ类)。不同变质变形煤储层的孔隙结构具有以下特征:Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类煤储层吸附孔占主导,Ⅰ类煤储层孔隙连通性差,Ⅱ类煤储层因后期叠加了构造裂隙,孔隙连通性变好;Ⅲ类煤储层中孔、大孔增多,但有效孔隙少,孔隙连通性变差;Ⅳ类煤储层吸附孔较多,中孔、大孔中等,且煤储层内生裂隙发育,孔隙具有较好的连通性,渗透性明显变好;Ⅴ类煤储层吸附孔含量较低,中孔较发育,大孔不太发育,有效孔隙少,孔隙连通性差。由此,变质程度高且叠加了一定构造变形的煤储层(Ⅱ类)以及中等变质程度变形较弱且内生裂隙发育的煤储层(Ⅳ类),其煤层气有较好的渗透性,可采性较好。     

Coupled flow and geomechanical processes during enhanced coal seam methane recovery through CO2 sequestration

The sensitivity of coal permeability to the effective stress means that changes in stress as well as pore pressure within a coal seam lead to changes in permeability. In addition coal swells with gas adsorption and shrinks with desorption; these sorption strains impact on the coal stress state and thus the permeability. Therefore the consideration of gas migration in coal requires an appreciation of the coupled geomechanical behaviour. A number of approaches to representing coal permeability incorporate the geomechanical response and have found widespread use in reservoir simulation. However these approaches are based on two simplifying assumptions; uniaxial strain (i.e. zero strain in the horizontal plane) and constant vertical stress. This paper investigates the accuracy of these assumptions for reservoir simulation of enhanced coalbed methane through CO₂ sequestration. A coupled simulation approach is used where the coalbed methane simulator SIMED II is coupled with the geomechanical model FLAC3D. This model is applied to three simulation case studies assembled from information presented in the literature. Two of these are for 100% CO₂ injection, while the final example is where a flue gas (12.5% CO₂ and 87.5% N₂) is injected. It was found that the horizontal contrast in sorption strain within the coal seam caused by spatial differences in the total gas content leads to vertical stress variation. Thus the permeability calculated from the coupled simulation and that using an existing coal permeability model, the Shi–Durucan model, are significantly different; for the region in the vicinity of the production well the coupled permeability is greater than the Shi–Durucan model. In the vicinity of the injection well the permeability is less than that calculated using the Shi–Durucan model. This response is a function of the magnitude of the strain contrast within the seam and dissipates as these contrasts diminish.     

泥质岩膨胀各向异性与循环胀缩特征

采用自主开发研制的软岩膨胀试验装置,对新生代煤系地层中泥质岩进行膨胀试验研究,分析了泥质岩膨胀各向异性以及循环胀缩特性,并结合SEM试验结果,探讨了膨胀各向异性和循环胀缩特性的形成机制。结果表明:泥质岩膨胀性随岩样端面与层理面夹角的增大而减小,具有明显的各向异性;泥质岩所含黏土矿物颗粒排列的择优取向导致了泥质岩吸水膨胀的各向异性,可通过膨胀各向异性系数进行定量描述;随着干湿循环次数的增加,泥质岩绝对膨胀率增加,趋于某一稳定值;相对膨胀率和相对收缩率降低,亦趋于某一稳定值;泥质岩循环胀缩特性是干湿循环过程中矿物颗粒排列方式改变和微裂隙萌生扩展的能量耗散共同作用的结果。     

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。     

乌鲁木齐河东河西矿区煤层气储层特征

乌鲁木齐河东河西矿区早-中侏罗纪富煤带,聚集着丰富的煤层气资源,笔者通过对该区煤层气赋存的地质条件、储层特征、资源量、煤层气保存条件的专门研究,评价出了有利区块,为下一步煤层气勘探提供了依据。本文主要通过实际采样测试,对该区煤储层的含气性、吸附性、孔隙结构、渗透性等进行了系统研究,探讨本区煤层气有利于勘探开发的储层条件。