Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Gas Loss Characteristics of Coalbed Methane-Containing Coal Sampled Using a Freezing Method

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

Abstract

To estimate accurately the coalbed methane content, a pressurized sampling method with the aid of frozen sealing is proposed. In addition, the influences of adsorption gas pressure, freezing temperature, soaking time in drilling fluid, drilling fluid type, and exposure time in the atmosphere on the gas loss rate and the gas desorption characteristics of frozen samples were evaluated. Under low gas pressure, the gas in adsorption and free state in the coal sample can be trapped completely by the freezing sampling method. However, an appropriate freezing temperature is necessary to limit gas loss caused by frost cracks. The addition of polymers to the drilling fluid can enhance gas solubility and improve the gas trap capacity of the freezing sampling method. Although the freezing method can seal the gas perfectly in a coal sample, gas loss caused by gas diffusion through the frozen body is still difficult to avoid. Therefore, reducing the sampling time can limit effectively the gas loss rate. The freezing sampling method was confirmed to be an efficient method for obtaining gas-containing geological samples in an in situ state. The gas loss characteristics of coalbed coal sampled using the freezing method can provide theoretical support for reducing and estimating gas loss during the freezing sampling process.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akyurt, M., Aljawi, A., & Aldousari, S. (2005). Ice-based technique for burst testing of tubular elements. Journal of King Abdulaziz University-Engineering Sciences, 16(1), 103–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali, A., Alves, T. M., Saad, F. A., Ullah, M., Toqeer, M., & Hussain, M. (2018). Resource potential of gas reservoirs in South Pakistan and adjacent Indian subcontinent revealed by post-stack inversion techniques. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 49, 41–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertard, C., Bruyet, B., & Gunther, J. (1970). Determination of desorbable gas concentration of coal (direct method). International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science & Geomechanics, 7(1), 43–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, R. J., Keary, A. C., & Syngellakis (1996). Pipe freezing operations offshore: Some safety considerations. In International conference on offshore mechanics arctic engineering (OMAE), Florence (Italy).

  • Clayton, J. L. (1998). Geochemistry of coalbed gas: A review. International Journal of Coal Geology, 35(1–4), 159–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, W. P., & Schatzel, S. J. (1998). Measuring the gas content of coal: A review. International Journal of Coal Geology, 35(1–4), 311–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickens, G. R., Castillo, M. M., & Walker, J. (1997). A blast of gas in the latest Paleocene: Simulating first-order effects of massive dissociation of oceanic methane hydrate. Geology, 25(3), 259–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flores, R. M. (1998). Coalbed methane: From hazard to resource. International Journal of Coal Geology, 35(1–4), 3–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flores, R. M. (2014). Resource evaluation methodologies. Coal and Coalbed Gas, 6, 301–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-396972-9.00006-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freire-Lista, D. M., Fort, R., & Varas-Muriel, M. J. (2015). Freeze-thaw fracturing in building granites. Cold Regions Science Technology, 113, 40–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haiqi, Z., Shengxiong, Y., Nengyou, W., Xin, S., & Gary, H. (2007). Successful and surprising results for China's first gas hydrate drilling expedition. Fire in the ice. Fall 2007.

  • Hao, S., Yin, X., & Fang, J. (2021). Drilling technology for soft broken coal seam underground gas extraction in coalmines. Drilling Engineering, 48(S1), 173–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, B. A., Sego, D. C., & Robertson, P. K. (2000). In situ ground freezing to obtain undisturbed samples of loose sand. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 126(11), 979–989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou, X., Liu, S., & Yang, Y. (2020). Evaluation of gas contents for a multi-seam deep coalbed methane reservoir and their geological controls: In situ direct method versus indirect method. Fuel, 265, 116917.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, C., Xiong, Q., & Huang, Q. (2021). Coalfield wire-line drilling should be established as a new drilling system. Drilling Engineering, 48(9), 72–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keary, A. C., & Bowen, R. J. (1999). On the prediction of local ice formation in pipes in the presence of natural convection. Journal of Heat Transfer, 121, 934–944.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, A. G. (1977). Estimating methane content of bituminous coalbeds from adsorption data. Bureau of Mines.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubo, Y., Mizuguchi, Y., Inagaki, F., & Yamamoto, K. (2014). A new hybrid pressure-coring system for the drilling vessel chikyu. Scientific Drilling, 17(17), 37–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kvenvolden, K. A., Barnard, L. A., & Cameron, D. H. (1983). Pressure core barrel: Application to the study of gas hydrates, deep sea drilling project site 533, Leg 76. U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, L., Peng, J., Gao, Q., Sun, M., Liu, Y., Li, M., Chen, B., & Bo, K. (2016). Pressure retaining method based on phase change for coring of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in offshore drilling. Applied Thermal Engineering, 107, 633–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Li, K., Wang, Z., Zhang, Y., Yin, H., & Shi, S. (2020). The story of a drilling weapon-pressure core sampler. Drilling Engineering, 47(7), 62–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Ruan, H., Zhao, Y., Cai, J., Chen, Y., Liang, T., Li, C., Liu, H., & Deng, D. (2021). Progress in research and application of the pressure-temperature core sampler for marine natural gas hydrate. Drilling Engineering, 48(7), 33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liao, Z., Liu, X., Song, D., He, X., Nie, B., Yang, T., & Wang, L. (2020). Micro-structural damage to coal induced by liquid CO2 phase change fracturing. Natural Resources Research, 30, 1613–1627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, A., Fu, X., Wang, K., Hui, A., & Wang, G. (2013). Investigation of coalbed methane potential in low-rank coal reservoirs: Free and soluble gas contents. Fuel, 112, 14–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, Y., Peng, J., Sun, M., Sun, Q., Ji, T., & Bo, K. (2015). An ice-valve-based pressure-coring system for sampling natural hydrate-bearing sediments: Proof-of-concept laboratory studies. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 27(3), 1462–1469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, R., Ryu, B., Lee, S., Lin, S., Wu, S., Sain, K., Pecher, I., & Riedel, M. (2011). Occurrence and exploration of gas hydrate in the marginal seas and continental margin of the Asia and Oceania region. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 28(10), 1751–1767.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, T. A. (2012). Coalbed methane: A review. International Journal of Coal Geology, 101, 36–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazimko, V. (2018). A method for measuring coalbed methane content in coal strata without the loss of the gas. Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, 15(4), 379–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, L. B., & Sharer, J. (1992). Method calculates gas content per foot of coalbed methane pressure core. Oil & Gas Journal, 90(9), 47–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, D. A., Neprochnov, Y. P., & Supko, P. R. (1978). Introduction and explanatory notes, Leg 42B, deep sea drilling project. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. https://doi.org/10.2973/dsdp.proc.42-2.101.1978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz-Ruiz, P., Gómez-Borraz, T. L., Revah, S., & Morales, M. (2020). Methanotroph-microalgae co-culture for greenhouse gas mitigation: Effect of initial biomass ratio and methane concentration. Chemosphere, 259, 127418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryu, B., Collett, T. S., Riedel, M., Kim, G. Y., Chun, J.-H., Bahk, J.-J., Lee, J. Y., Kim, J.-H., & Yoo, D.-G. (2013). Scientific results of the Second Gas Hydrate Drilling Expedition in the Ulleung Basin (UBGH2). Marine and Petroleum Geology, 47, 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schultheiss, P. J., Francis, T., Holland, M., Roberts, J. A., Amann, H., & Thjunjoto. (2006). Pressure coring, logging and subsampling with the hyacinth system. Geological Society London Special Publications, 267(1), 151–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schultheiss, P., Holland, M., & Humphrey, G. (2009). Wireline coring and analysis under pressure: Recent use and future developments of the hyacinth system. Scientific Drilling, 7, 44–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, H. B. J., Martin, C. I., Richardson, R. N., & Bowen, R. J. (2004). Modelling of accelerated pipe freezing. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 82(A10), 1353–1359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, E., Liang, Y., Chang, X., Zou, Q., & Sasmito, A. P. (2020). Effects of cyclic saturation of supercritical CO2 on the pore structures and mechanical properties of bituminous coal: An experimental study. Journal of CO2 Utilization, 40, 101208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, E., Liang, Y., & Zou, Q. (2021). Structures and fractal characteristics of pores in long-flame coal after cyclical supercritical CO2 treatment. Fuel, 286, 119305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szabó, N. P., & Dobróka, M. (2013). Extending the application of a shale volume estimation formula derived from factor analysis of wireline logging data. Mathematical Geosciences, 45(7), 837–850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szlązak, N., & Korzec, M. (2016). Method for determining the coalbed methane content with determination the uncertainty of measurements. Archives of Mining Sciences, 61(2), 443–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turrini, M. C., Visintainer, P., Khomyakova, E. B., Petrova, M. V., & Nodzeński, A. (1998). Sorption and desorption of gases (CH4, CO2) on hard coal and active carbon at elevated pressures. Fuel, 77(11), 1243–1246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waechter, N. B., Hampton, G. L., & Shipps, J. C. (2004). Overview of coal and shale gas measurement: Field and laboratory procedures. In Proceedings of the 2004 International Coalbed Methane Symposium, May 2004, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

  • Wang, F., Luo, Y., Liang, Y., Peng, J., & Li, B. (2020a). Sampling methane-bearing coal seams by freezing method: Coalbed methane desorption and inhibition characteristics under freezing temperature. Natural Resources Research, 29(2), 1351–1360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L., Wang, Z., Li, X., & Yang, Y. (2020b). Molecular dynamics mechanism of CH4 diffusion inhibition by low temperature in anthracite microcrystallites. ACS Omega, 5(36), 23420–23428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L., Wang, Z., Qi, C., Ma, S., & Yue, J. (2019). Physical simulation of temperature and pressure evolvement in coal by different refrigeration modes for freezing coring. ACS Omega, 4(23), 20178–20187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Tang, X., Yue, G., Kang, B., Xie, C., & Li, X. (2015). Physical simulation of temperature influence on methane sorption and kinetics in coal: Benefits of temperature under 273.15 K. Fuel, 158, 207–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Wang, L., Dong, J., & Wang, Q. (2021). Simulation on the temperature evolution law of coal containing gas in the freezing coring process. Journal of China Coal Society, 46(1), 199–210. https://doi.org/10.13225/j.cnki.jccs.YG20.1965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, H., Zhou, H., Xue, D., & Gao, F. (2014). Theory technology and engineering of simultaneous exploitation of coal and gas in China. Journal of China Coal Society, 39(8), 1391–1397.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (Grant No. 2017YFC0804202) and Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (Grant Nos. cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0633 and cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0972). The authors thank the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable advice.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Jiaxin Zhu, Yongjiang Luo, Yunpei Liang & Xuewei Lv

  2. School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Jiaxin Zhu, Yongjiang Luo, Yunpei Liang & Xuewei Lv

  3. China Coal Technology and Engineering Group Chongqing Research Institute, Chongqing, 400039, China

    Zhiqiang Zhao

Authors
  1. Jiaxin Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yongjiang Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yunpei Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xuewei Lv
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhiqiang Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yunpei Liang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhu, J., Luo, Y., Liang, Y. et al. Gas Loss Characteristics of Coalbed Methane-Containing Coal Sampled Using a Freezing Method. Nat Resour Res 31, 1463–1474 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10047-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10047-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation