Abstract
Draining gas from coal seams in underground coal mines is the main method of the coalbed methane exploitation in China. When the gas drainage boreholes are located at soft, fractured coal rock seams, phenomena such as borehole collapse and blockage occur frequently, resulting in the significant decrease of gas drainage efficiency. To recover the gas drainage effect of failure boreholes, this study proposed a drilling and repairing failure drainage borehole technique by utilizing high-velocity water jets to break blockage to dredge borehole. The technical principles and key equipment compositions were described, including water jets breaking rock and discharging debris, high-pressure pipeline transport and recovery, hydraulic parameters adjustment and operation control. Based on the jet velocity distribution laws, rock breakage criterions under dynamic loading and debris movement laws in borehole, the critical pressure and flow of water jet for breaking coal rock and discharging debris during drilling were calculated. And the limit drilling and borehole-dredging length model was established. The field applications indicate that the drilling velocity in coal seams varied from 0.42 m/min to 0.76 m/min with a maximum drilling length of 43.5 m under the field conditions. Increasing the drilling angle within a certain range could improve the drilling efficiency due to the smoother debris discharge. Moreover, after the blockages in boreholes were removed, the gas drainage concentrations of all boreholes increased by 33–85%, and the average gas drainage flow of single borehole maintained 99.3 m3/d, increasing by 83.5 m3/d. Thus, the proposed technique has a good drilling performance and can significantly improve the gas drainage efficiency of the blocked failure boreholes.
Article highlights
-
(1)
A drilling and repairing failure drainage borehole technique was proposed by utilizing water jets to break blockage to dredge borehole.
-
(2)
The critical pressure and flow of water jets for breaking rock and discharging debris were calculated.
-
(3)
The limit drilling and borehole-dredging length model was established.
-
(4)
The proposed technique can achieve the long-distance drilling and effectively recover the gas drainage effect of the blocked boreholes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balcombe P, Speirs J, Brandonbc N, Hawkes A (2018) Methane emissions: choosing the right climate metric and time horizon. Environ Sci-Proc Imp 20:1323–1339
Beltaos S, Rajaratnam N (1973) Plane turbulent impinging jet. J Hydraul Res 11:29–59
Cheng J (2016) Gas drainage technology by putting down screen pipes along full-length boreholes crossing soft coal seams. Min Saf Environ Protect 43(2):87–90
Cheng Z, Pan H, Zou Q, Li H, Chen L, Cao J, Zhang K, Cui Y (2021) Gas flow characteristics and optimization of gas drainage borehole layout in protective coal seam mining: a case study from the Shaqu Coal Mine, Shanxi Province, China. Nat Resource Res 30(2):1481–1493
Chi H, Li G, Liao H, Tian S, Song X (2016) Effects of parameters of self-propelled multi-orifice nozzle on drilling capability of water jet drilling technology. Int J Rock Mech Mining Sci 86:23–28
Dong Z (2005) Water jet Mechanics. Science Press, Beijing
Ge Z, Deng K, Lu Y, Cheng L, Zuo S, Tian X (2016) A novel method for borehole blockage removal and experimental study on a hydraulic self-propelled nozzle in underground coal mines. Energies 9:698
Ge Z, Cao S, Lu Y, Gao F (2021) Fracture mechanism and damage characteristics of coal subjected to a water jet under different triaxial stress conditions. J Petrol Sci Eng 13:109157
Guha A, Barron R, Balachandar R (2011) An experimental and numerical study of water jet cleaning process. J Mater Process Tech 211(4):610–618
Heymann F (1968) On the shock wave velocity and impact pressure in high-speed liquid-solid impact. J Fluid Eng 90(3):400–402
Hsu C, Liang C, Teng T, Nguyen A (2013) A numerical study on high-speed water jet impact. Ocean Eng 72:98–106
Huang F (2015) On the transient dynamic of water jet impinging target and the mechanism of water jet breaking rock. Doctoral dissertation. Chongqing University, Chongqing
Jiang Y, Wang W, Xue S, Zhao Y, Zhu J, Pang X (2012) Assessment and mitigation of coal bump risk during extraction of an island longwall panel. Int J Coal Geol 95:20–33
Landa P, McClintock P (2004) Development of turbulence in subsonic submerged jets. Phys Rep 397(1):1–62
Li D (2016) A new technology for the drilling of long boreholes for gas drainage in a soft coal seam. J Petrol Sci Eng 137:107–112
Li J, Li G, Huang Z, Song X, Yang R, Peng K (2015) The self-propelled force model of a multi-orifice nozzle for radial jet drilling. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 24:441–448
Liao H, Jia X, Niu J, Shi Y, Gu H, Xu J (2020) Flow structure and rock–breaking feature of the self–rotating nozzle for radial jet drilling. Petrol Sci 17:211–221
Liu Y (2009) Technology of improving coal-seam permeability with high pressure pulsed water jet and its application on rock cross-cut coal uncovering. Master’s thesis, Chongqing University
Liu X, Lin H, Zhang S, Feng W (2014) Research on gas drainage borehole restoration mechanism and application. China Coal 40(1):102–105
Liu Y, Liang B, He A, Wei J (2016) Research on theory and technical parameter of borehole restoration for self-propelling and rotating drill. J Saf Sci Technol 12(2):39–44
Liu T, Lin B, Fu X, Zhu C (2020a) Modeling air leakage around gas extraction boreholes in mining-disturbed coal seams. Process Saf Environ Protect 141:202–214
Liu Y, Cui J, Xu Z, Li Z (2020b) Comparison of the rock breakage pressure of abrasive water jets and abrasive air jets. 6:27Geomech Geophys Geo-energ Geo-resour
Liu Y, Cui J, Wei J, Liu X (2020c) Effect of nozzle structure on coal breakage of SC-CO2 used for well drilling. 6:67Geomech Geophys Geo-energ Geo-resour
Liu Y, Ba Q, He L, Shen K, Xiong W (2020d) Study on the rock-breaking effect of water jets generated by self-rotatory multinozzle drilling bit. Energy Sci Eng 00:1–14
Liu P, Fan J, Jiang D, Li J (2021) Evaluation of underground coal gas drainage performance: mine site measurements and parametric sensitivity analysis. Process Saf Environ Protect 148:711–723
Lu Y, Liu Y, Li X, Kang Y (2010) A new method of drilling long boreholes in low permeability coal by improving its permeability. Int J Coal Geol 84:94–102
Lu Y, Huang F, Liu X, Ao X (2015a) On the failure pattern of sandstone impacted by high-velocity water jet. Int J Impact Eng 76:67–74
Lu Y, Zhou Z, Ge Z, Zhang X, Li Q (2015b) Research on and design of a self-propelled nozzle for the tree-type drilling technique in underground coal mines. Energies 8:14260–14271
Lu Y, Xiao S, Ge Z, Zhou Z, Deng K (2016) Rock-breaking properties of multi-nozzle bits for tree-type drilling in underground coal mines. Energies 9(4):249
Lu Y, Xiao S, Ge Z, Zhou Z, Ling Y, Wang L (2019) Experimental study on rock-breaking performance of water jets generated by self-rotatory bit and rock failure mechanism. Powder Technol 346:203–216
Lu YY, Zhang HD, Zhou Z, Ge ZL, Chen CJ, Hou YD, Ye ML (2021) Current status and effective suggestions for efficient exploitation of coalbed methane in China: A review. Energy Fuels 35:9102–9123
Moore T (2012) Coalbed methane: a review. Int J Coal Geol 101(1):36–81
Qu P, Shen R, Fu L, Wang Z (2011) Time delay effect due to pore pressure changes and existence of cleats on borehole stability in coal seam. Int J Coal Geol 85:212–218
Shen K, Liu Y, Ba J, Zhang L, Xiong W (2020) Process in research on drilling repair and protect technology for gas drainage in coal mine. Min Saf Environ Prot 47(6):102–106
Su X, Liu X, Ma B, Pei G, Feng W (2014) Repairing and enhancing permeability technology and equipment of gas drainage borehole. Coal Sci Technol 42(6):58–60
Tian L, Cao Y, Chai X, Liu T, Feng P, Feng H, Zhou D, Shi B, Oestreich R, Rodvelt G (2015) Best practices for the determination of low-pressure/permeability coalbed methane reservoirs, Yuwu Coal Mine, Luan mining area, China. Fuel 160:100–107
Wang Z, Liang Y, Jin H (2008) Analysis of mechanics conditions for instability of outburst-preventing borehole. J Min Saf Eng 25(4):444–448
Wang E, He X, Wei J, Nie B, Song D (2011) Electromagnetic emission graded warning model and its applications against coal rock dynamic collapses. Int J Rock Mech Mining Sci 48:556–564
Xiao L, Li Y, Guo K, Zhong P (2014) Study on gas drainage technology of screen pipe putting down along full length borehole in soft outburst seam. Coal Sci Technol 42(7):61–64
Xiao S, Ren Q, Guan R, Liu J, Wang H, Cheng Y, Xie W (2021) Theoretical and experimental investigation on fracture response of coal impacted by high-velocity water jet. Energy Rep 7(5):3210–3224
Xu X, Yu J (1984) Theory of rock fragmentation. Coal Industry Press, Beijing
Xue S (2006) High pressure water jet technology & engineering. Hefei University of Technology Press, Anhui, Hefei
Yang B, Lu Y, Yang X, Feng M, Zhang S (2011) Design and research of self-propelled nozzle worked in coal seam with water jet. Machinery 38(1):6–11
Zhai C, Li QG, Sun C, Ni GH, Yang W (2012) Analysis on borehole instability and control method of pore-forming of hydraulic fracturing in soft coal seam. J China Coal Soc 37(9):1431–1436
Zhai C, Xu Y, Xiang X, Yu X, Zou Q, Zhong C (2015) A novel active prevention technology for borehole instability under the influence of mining activities. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 27:1585–1596
Zhang Y (2018) Instability mechanism analysis and reinforcement technology of gas drainage drilling soft-broken coal seam. Coal Sci Technol 46(7):178–183
Zhang Z, Huo C (2022) Research progress of CBM utilization technology in mining areas. Min Saf Environ Protect 49(4):59–64
Zhang Y, Zou Q (2018) A prediction model for the slot depth of high pressure water jet. Results Phys 11:1105–1109
Zhang C, Li S, Lin H, Zhang J, Yang H (2016) Numerical simulation on reinforcement technique of instability borehole in gas extraction. J Saf Sci Technol 12(2):73–77
Zhang C, Bai Q, Chen Y (2020) Using stress path-dependent permeability law to evaluate permeability enhancement and coalbed methane flow in protected coal seam: a case study. Geomech Geophys Geo-energ Geo-resour 6:53
Zhang L, Ge Z, Lu Y, Zhou Z, Xiao S, Deng K (2021) Tree-type boreholes in coal mines for enhancing permeability and methane drainage: theory and an industrial-scale field trial. Nal Resour Res 29(5):3197–3213
Zhao J, Guo D (2018) Cracking mechanism of coal under high-pressure water jet and its applications for enhanced coalbed methane drainage. Arab J Geosci 11(15):427
Zou Q, Lin B, Zheng C, Hao Z, Zhai C, Liu T, Liang J, Yan F, Yang W, Zhu C (2015) Novel integrated techniques of drilling–slotting–separation-sealing for enhanced coal bed methane recovery in underground coal mines. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 26:960–973
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52104184, 52204219), Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (cstc2020jcyj-bshX0070, cstc2020jcyj-zdxmX0012), Chongqing University Innovation Research Group (CXQT19021), Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (KJQN201800729), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2021M691390), S&T Program of Heibei (22375401D), and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Science and Technology Project of Chinese Institute of Coal Science (2021-KXYJ-005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors state that there is no conflict of interest for this work.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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.
About this article
Cite this article
Xiao, S., Ren, Q., Cheng, Y. et al. Research and application of high-pressure water jets drilling and repairing failure drainage borehole for enhancing coalbed methane recovery in underground coal mines. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 8, 191 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-022-00500-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-022-00500-4