Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Micropore Structure Changes in Response to H2O2 Treatment of Coals with Different Ranks: Implications for Oxidant Stimulation Enhancing CBM Recovery

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Resources Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The investigation of micropore structure changes by H2O2-coal reactions can provide an understanding of macroscopic effects of oxidant stimulation on coalbed methane (CBM) diffusion and seepage behavior. In this study, we prepared H2O2 to oxidize coals with three different ranks, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI), low-temperature N2 adsorption (LT-N2A), low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) tests were conducted to characterize variations in micropore structures of the coals treated with H2O2. The results showed that H2O2 treatment can change, to varying degrees, the pore structure characteristics of coals with different rank. The SEM results showed that coal surface structures were destroyed by oxidation and dissolution, and pores and fissures became more developed after H2O2 treatment. The HPMI and LT-N2A tests revealed that the porosity, total pore volume, maximum pore throat diameter and average pore diameter of coals with different rank generally increased after H2O2 treatment. The HPMI-derived fractal dimensions of seepage pores decreased after oxidation, indicating that the heterogeneity of pore structure was weakened and the connectivity was improved. The fractal dimensions of adsorption pores derived from LT-N2A generally showed a downward trend, indicating that oxidation can reduce the roughness and complexity of adsorption pores, and improve the pore connectivity. The results of LF-NMR tests also corroborated the above findings. The mechanism of coal permeability enhancement by H2O2 treatment is reflected mainly in the oxidation and dissolution of organics and inorganic minerals. Thus, H2O2 treatment can lead to more significant oxidation effects on low- and medium-rank coals. This study suggests that H2O2 can be used for fracturing addition fluid in low- to medium-rank coals to improve coal permeability, thereby remove plugging and enhancing CBM recovery effectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahamed, M. A. A., Perera, M. S. A., Li, D. Y., Ranjith, P. G., & Matthai, S. K. (2019). Proppant damage mechanisms in coal seam reservoirs during the hydraulic fracturing process: A review. Fuel, 253, 615–629.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aramaki, N., Tamamura, S., Shimizu, S., Ueno, A., Ohpmi, Y., & Kaneko, K. (2014). Microstructure of brown coal in hydrogen peroxide solution observed by employing X-ray computed tomography. In ISRM international symposium-8th Asian rock mechanics symposium. OnePetro.

  • Avnir, D., & Jaroniec, M. (1989). An isotherm equation for adsorption on fractal surfaces of heterogeneous porous materials. Langmuir, 5(6), 1431–1433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, Y. D., Liu, D. M., Pan, Z. J., Yao, Y. B., Li, J. Q., & Qiu, Y. K. (2013). Pore structure and its impact on CH4 adsorption capacity and flow capability of bituminous and subbituminous coals from Northeast China. Fuel, 103, 258–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, Y. D., Liu, D. M., Yao, Y. B., Li, J. Q., & Liu, J. L. (2011). Fractal characteristics of coal pores based on classic geometry and thermodynamics models. Acta Geologica Sinica-English Edition, 85(5), 1150–1162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P., & Tang, X. Y. (2001). Study on micropore characteristics of coal by cryogenic nitrogen adsorption. Journal of China Coal Society, 5, 552–556.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosdale, P. J., Beamish, B. B., & Valix, M. (1998). Coalbed methane sorption related to coal composition. International Journal of Coal Geology, 35(1), 147–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, Y. Y., Yang, W., & Chu, W. (2016). Coalbed methane adsorption and desorption characteristics related to coal particle size. Chinese Physics B, 25(6), 068102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friesen, W. I., & Mikula, R. J. (1987). Fractal dimensions of coal particles. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 120(1), 263–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, H. Y., Su, X. B., Chen, J. H., Wang, H. F., & Si, Q. (2013). Experimental study on chemical permeability improvement of coal reservoir using chlorine dioxide. Journal of China Coal Society, 38(4), 633–636.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao, L. W., Tang, J., Wang, Q., Tao, H. F., Ma, X. F., Ma, D. X., & Ji, H. J. (2017). Fractal characteristics of tight sandstone reservoirs: A case from the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 158, 243–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodot, B. B. (1966). Outburst of coal and coalbed gas (Chinese translation) (pp. 310–318). China Industry Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, H. X., Chen, L., Dang, W. Q., Luo, T. X., Sun, W., Jiang, Z. X., & Tang, X. L. (2019). Discussion on the rising segment of the mercury extrusion curve in the high pressure mercury intrusion experiment on shales. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 102, 615–624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia, Z. J., & Lin, B. Q. (2021). How to achieve the first step of the carbon-neutrality 2060 target in China: The coal substitution perspective. Energy, 233, 121179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jing, Z. H., Balucan, R. D., Underschultz, J. R., & Steel, K. M. (2018). Oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: Swelling and solubilisation behaviour of unconfined coal particles in oxidants. Fuel, 221, 320–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, Y. L., Tu, Y. Q., You, L. J., Li, X. C., & Huang, F. S. (2019). An experimental study on oxidizer treatment used to improve the seepage capacity of coal reservoirs. Natural Gas Industry B, 6(2), 129–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H. Y., Lau, H. C., & Huang, S. (2018). China’s coalbed methane development: A review of the challenges and opportunities in subsurface and surface engineering. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 166, 621–635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H., Xu, C., Ni, G., Lu, J., Lu, Y., Shi, S., Li, M., & Ye, Q. (2022). Spectroscopic (FTIR, 1H NMR) and SEM investigation of physicochemical structure changes of coal subjected to microwave-assisted oxidant stimulation. Fuel, 317, 123473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, K. (2010). Analytical derivation of Brooks-Corey type capillary pressure models using fractal geometry and evaluation of rock heterogeneity. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 73(1), 20–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, R., & Li, G. F. (2022). Coalbed methane industry development framework and its limiting factors in China. Geofluids, 8336315.

  • Li, Y. H., Lu, G. Q., & Rudolph, V. (1999). Compressibility and fractal dimension of fine coal particles in relation to pore structure characterisation using mercury porosimetry. Particle & Particle Systems Characterization: Measurement and Description of Particle Properties and Behavior in Powders and Other Disperse Systems, 16(1), 25–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. B., Song, D. Y., Liu, S. M., Ji, X. F., & Hao, H. J. (2021). Evaluation of pore properties in coal through compressibility correction based on mercury intrusion porosimetry: A practical approach. Fuel, 291, 120–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, C. J., Wang, G. X., Sang, S. X., & Rudolph, V. (2010). Changes in pore structure of anthracite coal associated with CO2 sequestration process. Fuel, 89(10), 2665–2672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L. L., Cui, Z. H., Wang, J. J., Xia, Z. H., Duan, L. L., Yang, Y., & Li, M. (2020a). Pore size distribution characteristics of high rank coal with various grain sizes. ACS Omega, 5(31), 19785–19795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Z. S., Liu, D. M., Cai, Y. D., Yao, Y. B., Pan, Z. J., & Zhou, Y. F. (2020b). Application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in coalbed methane and shale reservoirs: A review. International Journal of Coal Geology, 218, 103261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y., Kang, Y. L., Chen, M. J., You, L. J., Tu, Y. Q., & Liu, J. (2021). Investigation of oxidation and heat treatment to improve mass transport ability in coals. Fuel, 283, 118840.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandelbrot, B. B., & Wheeler, J. A. (1983). The fractal geometry of nature. American Journal of Physics, 51(3), 286–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mastalerz, M., & Drobniak, A. (2020). Coalbed methane: Reserves, production, and future outlook. In Future energy (pp. 97–109).

  • Mathews, J. P., & Chaffee, A. L. (2012). The molecular representations of coal–A review. Fuel, 96, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miura, K., Mae, K., Okutsu, H., & Mizutani, N. A. (1996). New oxidative degradation method for producing fatty acids in high yields and high selectivity from low-rank coals. Energy & Fuels, 10(6), 1196–1201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neimark, A. V. (1990). Calculating surface fractal dimensions of adsorbents. Adsorption Science and Technology, 7(4), 210–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, J. N., Lv, M. M., Bai, H. L., Hou, Q. L., Li, M., & Wang, Z. Z. (2017). Effects of metamorphism and deformation on the coal macromolecular structure by laser Raman spectroscopy. Energy & Fuels, 31(2), 1136–1146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeifer, P., & Avnir, D. (1983). Chemistry in noninteger dimensions between two and three. I. Fractal theory of heterogeneous surfaces. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 79(7), 3558–3565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeifer, P., Obert, M., & Cole, M. W. (1989). Fractal BET and FHH theories of adsorption: A comparative study. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 423(1864), 169–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, J. H., Feng, Z. C., Zhou, D., Meng, Q. R., Hu, L. J., & Li, X. C. (2022). Experimental study on coal blockage removal based on pulverized coal blockage. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 217, 110885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, X. B., Wang, Q., Song, J. X., Chen, P. H., Yao, S., Hong, J. T., & Zhou, F. D. (2017). Experimental study of water blocking damage on coal. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 156, 654–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao, S., Chen, S. D., & Pan, Z. J. (2019). Current status, challenges, and policy suggestions for coalbed methane industry development in China: A review. Energy Science & Engineering, 7(4), 1059–1074.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. Y., Hao, S. X., Sun, W. J., & Chu, W. (2012). Fractal dimension of coal particles and their CH4 adsorption. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 22(6), 855–858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. Y., Jiao, L., Liu, Z. C., Tan, X. Q., Wang, C. L., & Gao, J. (2018). Fractal analysis of pore structures in low permeability sandstones using mercury intrusion porosimetry. Journal of Porous media, 21(11), 1097–1119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, F. Y., Wang, B., Zhao, X., Yun, J., Zhang, S. Y., Wang, H. Y., & Yang, Y. (2021). Thinking and suggestions on promoting high-quality development of CBM business in China under “dual carbon” goal. China Petroleum Exploration, 26(3), 9–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, J., Xu, S. Y., Dai, J., Wei, J. P., & Wang, Y. G. (2020). Experimental study on oxidation antireflection of coal samples by activated ammonium persulfate solution. Journal of China Coal Society, 45(4), 1488–1498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Y. H., Yu, K., Ju, Y. W., Hu, Q. P., Yu, B. W., Qiao, P., & Chen, L. W. (2021). Investigation on the structure and fractal characteristics of nanopores in high-rank coal: Implications for the methane adsorption capacity. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 21(1), 392–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, Y. B., Liu, D. M., Cai, Y. D., & Li, J. Q. (2010). Advanced characterization of pores and fractures in coals by nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray computed tomography. Science China Earth Sciences, 53, 854–862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, Y. B., Liu, D. M., Tang, D. Z., Tang, S. H., & Huang, W. H. (2008). Fractal characterization of adsorption-pores of coals from North China: An investigation on CH4 adsorption capacity of coals. International Journal of Coal Geology, 73(1), 27–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao, Y. B., Liu, D. M., Tang, D. Z., Tang, S. H., Huang, W. H., Liu, Z. H., & Yao, C. (2009). Fractal characterization of seepage-pores of coals from China: An investigation on permeability of coals. Computers & Geosciences, 35(6), 1159–1166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye, J. C., Tao, S., Zhao, S. P., Li, S., Chen, S. D., & Cui, Y. (2022). Characteristics of methane adsorption/desorption heat and energy with respect to coal rank. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 99, 104445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • You, L. J., Kang, Y. L., Chen, Q., Fang, C. H., & Yang, P. F. (2017). Prospect of shale gas recovery enhancement by oxidation-induced rock burst. Natural Gas Industry, 37(5), 53–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J. C. (2014). Numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing coalbed methane reservoir. Fuel, 136, 57–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, S. H., Tang, S. H., Tang, D. Z., Huang, W. H., & Pan, Z. J. (2014). Determining fractal dimensions of coal pores by FHH model: Problems and effects. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 21, 929–939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, S. H., Tang, S. H., Tang, D. Z., Yan, Z. F., Zhang, B., & Zhang, J. Z. (2009). Fractal characteristics of percolation pore in coal reservoir in eastern margin of Ordos Basin. Journal of China University of Mining & Technology, 38(5), 713–718.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, A. H., Liao, Y., & Tang, X. Y. (1998). Fractal quantitative study on pore structure of coal. Journal of China Coal Society, 23(4), 439–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, S. J., Yao, Y. B., Liu, D. M., Cai, Y. D., Liu, Y., & Li, X. W. (2019). Nuclear magnetic resonance T2 cutoffs of coals: A novel method by multifractal analysis theory. Fuel, 241, 715–724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, S. D., Liu, D. M., Cai, Y. D., Yao, Y. B., Jiao, Y. Y., & Ren, S. J. (2018). Characterization and fractal nature of adsorption pores in low rank coal. Oil and Gas Geology, 39(2), 373–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, Q. Z., Yang, Y. H., Wang, Y. T., & Shao, G. L. (2018). Engineering geological models for efficient development of high-rank coalbed methane and their application—Taking the Qinshui Basin for example. Natural Gas Industry B, 5(3), 185–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study was jointly funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province, China (Grant No. 20210302123165), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41702175) and Shanxi Province Science and Technology Strategy Research Special Project (Grant No. 202204031401037).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Yuan Zhao, Yanjun Meng, Sujuan Zhao & Haojie Ma

  2. Shanxi Huaxin Gas Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd., Taiyuan, 030006, China

    Yanjun Meng & Kunjie Li

  3. Shanxi Key Laboratory of Coal and Coal-measure Gas Geology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Yuan Zhao, Yanjun Meng, Sujuan Zhao & Haojie Ma

  4. Key Laboratory of In-situ Property-improving Mining of Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Yanjun Meng

Authors
  1. Yuan Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yanjun Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kunjie Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sujuan Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Haojie Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yanjun Meng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhao, Y., Meng, Y., Li, K. et al. Micropore Structure Changes in Response to H2O2 Treatment of Coals with Different Ranks: Implications for Oxidant Stimulation Enhancing CBM Recovery. Nat Resour Res 32, 2159–2177 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-023-10228-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-023-10228-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation