Characteristics of the Microfracture and Pore Structure of Middle- and High-Rank Coal and Their Implications for CBM Exploration and Development in Northern Guizhou

Haiying Ren, Zhijun Guo (), Honggao Xie, Sijie Han (), Xiaozhi Zhou, Lingyun Zhao, Yuanlong Wei and Wenci Qiu
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Haiying Ren: Key Laboratory of Unconventional Natural Gas Evaluation and Development in Complex Tectonic Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guiyang 550081, China
Zhijun Guo: Key Laboratory of Unconventional Natural Gas Evaluation and Development in Complex Tectonic Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guiyang 550081, China
Honggao Xie: School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Sijie Han: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Xiaozhi Zhou: School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Lingyun Zhao: Key Laboratory of Unconventional Natural Gas Evaluation and Development in Complex Tectonic Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guiyang 550081, China
Yuanlong Wei: Key Laboratory of Unconventional Natural Gas Evaluation and Development in Complex Tectonic Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guiyang 550081, China
Wenci Qiu: School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: The microfracture and pore structure characteristics of coal reservoirs are crucial for coalbed methane (CBM) development. This study examines the evolution of pore and fracture structures at the microscopic level and their fractal characteristics, elucidating their impact on CBM development in the northern Guizhou coal reservoirs. The results indicate that the pores and fractures in the coal reservoirs are relatively well-developed, which facilitates the adsorption of CBM. The density of primary fractures ranges from 5.8 to 14.4 pcs/cm, while the density of secondary fractures ranges from 3.6 to 11.8 pcs/cm. As the metamorphic degree of coal increases, the density of primary fractures initially increases and then decreases, whereas the density of secondary fractures decreases with increasing metamorphic degree. With increasing vitrinite reflectance, the specific surface area and pore volume of the coal samples first decrease and then increase. The fractal dimension ranges from 2.3761 to 2.8361; as the vitrinite reflectance of the coal samples increases, the fractal dimension D 1 decreases initially and then increases, while D 2 decreases. In the northern Guizhou region, CBM is characterized by an enrichment model of “anticline dominance + fault-hydrogeological dual sealing” along with geological controlling factors of” burial depth controlling gas content and permeability + local fault controlling accumulation”. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for the occurrence and extraction of CBM in northern Guizhou.

Keywords: CBM development; middle- and high-rank coal; microfractures; fractal characteristics; fracture density (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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