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Prediction of coalbed methane content based on seismic identification of key geological parameters: a case in a study area, Southern Qinshui Basin

  • Review Article - Applied Geophysics
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Abstract

The coalbed methane content (CMC) is an important parameter to evaluate the degree of coalbed methane enrichment, and also an important reservoir parameter to calculate coalbed methane resources, productivity prediction and reservoir simulation. Accurately identifying the distribution of CMC is crucial to the exploration of CBM. In this study, we developed a prediction method for the CMC distribution via seismic techniques identification of key geological parameters such as structure, coal thickness and sedimentation. Firstly, the geological factors that control the generation and preservation of CBM in the study area are quantitatively characterized by using five parameters: surface (\(X_{1}\)), residual (\(X_{2}\)), dip (\(X_{3}\)), coal thickness (\(X_{4}\)) and the ratio of sand to mud (\(X_{5}\)). Secondly, the geological parameters are extracted by seismic structure interpretation and inversion prediction technology. Thirdly, the key geological parameters of CMC are screened out by grey correlation analysis. Finally, the functional relationship of CMC and the key geological parameters is established to predict the CMC distribution. The method is applied to the CMC distribution prediction of two coal seams of a study area in the southern Qinshui Basin, China. Results show that different coal seams differ in key geological parameters of CMC, resulting in various CMC distribution laws. The CMC prediction method based on the key geological factors can effectively delineate the CBM enrichment area in the study area, providing important reference for the CBM exploration and development.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (42102212), the Shanxi Province Science and Technology Major Project (20191102001), the Research and Development Project of Yangquan Coal Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (GY18027), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province (201901D211005), and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (No. 20202BAB211010). Thanks for the guidance of Professor Yanbin Yao of China University of Geosciences (Beijing).

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  1. Suoliang Chang

    Present address: Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Jing Liu, Sheng Zhang, Yanrong Li & Bo Liu

  2. School of Earth Science, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China

    Yaju hao

  3. Asian American Gas, Inc., Beijing, 100024, China

    Guoxian He & You He

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  1. Jing Liu
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Correspondence to Suoliang Chang.

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The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Edited by Prof. Gabriela Fernández Viejo (CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF).

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Liu, J., Chang, S., Zhang, S. et al. Prediction of coalbed methane content based on seismic identification of key geological parameters: a case in a study area, Southern Qinshui Basin. Acta Geophys. 71, 2645–2662 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-023-01037-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-023-01037-0

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