As a kind of clean energy, the exploration and development of coalbed methane (CBM) are of great importance and significance. In this paper, the CBM reservoir parameters of a working area in Western Guizhou Province, China, were predicted by using 3D seismic exploration technology, and the sweet-spot area was evaluated based on the prediction results. In terms of data interpretation, while the traditional technology is extended to the study of CBM, new technologies and methods suitable for CBM were also actively explored, especially in the quantitative prediction methods of parameters such as coal seam thickness, CBM content, coal body structure, in situ stress, etc., and a three-highs quantitative prediction technology of CBM sweet spots characterized by high precision, high resolution, and high coincidence was explored, which is based on logging evaluation and petrophysics. In addition, in the comprehensive evaluation of multiparameter sweet spots, the multiparameter weighted step-by-step evaluation method based on inversion was innovatively proposed, which made the prediction of CBM sweet spots more focused, effective, and practical, and the distribution law of sweet spots was more consistent with the geological law, providing enough basis for subsequent well location deployment. Based on this method, the C409 coal seam was selected as the sweet spot.

It is of great significance to study the evolution law and change characteristics of the porosity and permeability of coal under cyclic disturbance to efficiently exploit coal-bed methane (CBM). In this paper, the GCTS rock mechanics experimental system is applied, the unsteady gas seepage test under cyclic loading and unloading is carried out with high-grade coal samples from Zhijin County, Guizhou Province, as the research object, and the mathematical formula of the dynamic change of porosity during loading and unloading is established. The results show that (1) the porosity and permeability parameters of coal are negatively correlated with confining pressure, and all decrease with the increase in confining pressure; (2) the change rate of the porosity and permeability of bedding coal decreases gradually with the increase in stress, and the porosity and permeability under high stress decrease gradually with the increase in cycle times; (3) during cyclic loading and unloading, the permeability loss (D _k) of coal mainly occurs in the first loading (>90%), and D _k gradually decreases with the increase in cyclic times; (4) under the same test conditions, the evolution law of the porosity and permeability of parallel bedding coal and vertical bedding coal is similar but the stress sensitivity of vertical bedding coal is higher; (5) the circumferential strain of parallel bedding coal is higher than that of vertical bedding coal, and the porosity change and permeability loss show a specific bedding effect; and (6) under the action of cyclic stress, the change of strain-permeability of coal is abnormal after it is destroyed. With the increase in strain before the sample is destroyed, the permeability drops sharply, and after the sample is destroyed, the strain decreases and the permeability never recovers. The research results can provide favorable theoretical guidance and technical support for pressure relief exploitation of coal-bed methane, such as multibranch horizontal wells.

Effects of salinity and driving pressure on water imbibition during shale formation

The evaluation of the fracturing effect of coalbed methane (CBM) wells is crucial for the efficient development of CBM reservoirs. Currently, studies focusing on the evaluation of the hydraulic fracture stimulation effect of coal seams and the integrated analysis of “drilling-fracturing-monitoring” are relatively insufficient. Therefore, this paper takes three drainage and production wells in the coalbed methane block on the northwest wing of the Xiangxia anticline in the Bijie Experimental Zone of Guizhou Province as the research objects. In view of the complex geological characteristics of this area, such as multiple and thin coal seams, high gas content, and high stress and low permeability, the paper systematically summarizes the results of drilling and fracturing engineering practices of the three drainage and production wells in the area, including the application of key technologies such as a two-stage wellbore structure and the “bentonite slurry + low-solid-phase polymer drilling fluid” system to ensure wellbore stability, low-solid-phase polymer drilling fluid for wellbore protection, and staged temporary plugging fracturing. On this basis, a study on microseismic signal acquisition and tomographic energy inversion based on a ground dense array was carried out, achieving four-dimensional dynamic imaging and quantitative interpretation of the fracturing fractures. The results show that the fracturing fractures of the three drainage and production wells all extend along the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress, with azimuths concentrated between 88° and 91°, which is highly consistent with the results of the in situ stress calculation from the previous drilling engineering. The overall heterogeneity of the reservoir leads to the asymmetric distribution of fractures, with the transformation intensity on the east side generally higher than that on the west side, and the maximum stress deformation influence radius reaching 150 m. The overall transformation effect of each well is good, with the effective transformation volume ratio of fracturing all exceeding 75%, and most of the target coal seams are covered by the fracture network, significantly improving the fracture connectivity. From the perspective of the transformed planar area per unit fluid volume, although there are numerical differences among the three wells, they are all within the effective transformation range. This study shows that microseismic fracture monitoring technology can provide a key basis for the optimization of fracturing technology and the evaluation of the production increase effect, and offers a solution to the problem of evaluating the hydraulic fracture stimulation effect of coal seams.

The geological sequestration of carbon dioxide in depleted coalbed methane wells is a key area of exploration in carbon dioxide utilization. However, not all coal-bearing strata are suitable for carbon dioxide geological sequestration, and the mineral composition of coal is an important factor in selecting appropriate sequestration zones. Currently, the effects of coal sample mineral composition, industrial components, gas pressure, and the changes in wettability and permeability after carbon dioxide-water solution interaction are not well understood. Further research is needed to enhance the theoretical framework for selecting and evaluating sites for carbon dioxide geological sequestration. To investigate the impact of carbon dioxide gas pressure on the wettability of coal and the role of mineral factors, this study immersed coal samples in a carbon dioxide-water solution at pressures of 1, 3, 5, and 7 MPa. Using maceral and industrial analysis, the study examined how carbon dioxide affect coal wettability and identified the dominant component factors influencing this effect. The results showed that the wettability of coal samples is influenced by their industrial and maceral components. The wetting contact angle is positively correlated with the contents of volatile matter, fixed carbon, vitrinite, inertinite, and the maximum vitrinite reflectance, but negatively correlated with the contents of ash and minerals. The hydrophilicity of coal samples treated with carbon dioxide deteriorates as pressure increases from 1, 3, 5, and 7 MPa, with the wetting contact angles of the five samples increasing from 60°-85° to 63°-78°, 68°-91°, 72°-95°, and 74°-103°, respectively. The greater the CO₂ gas pressure, the stronger the wettability modification effect on coal. These findings suggest that while coal wettability modification hinder carbon dioxide injection, it enhances carbon dioxide storage. Therefore, coal reservoirs with higher permeability, as well as elevated volatile matter and fixed carbon content, should be prioritized for carbon dioxide geological sequestration. This strategy will not only ensure efficient injection but also promote effective storage. These research findings provide valuable insights for selecting suitable coal seams for carbon dioxide storage.

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 D₁ decreases initially and then increases, while D₂ 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.