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Characteristics and Evolution of Low-Rank Coal Pore Structure Around the First Coalification Jump: Case Study in Southeastern Junggar Basin

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Abstract

The Junggar Basin, which is rich in high-quality low-rank coal and contains the major coalbed methane (CBM) producing blocks in the west of China, has attracted much attention on low-rank CBM exploration and development in recent years. In this study, a series of experimental tests, including mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), maceral analyses, proximate analysis, and low-temperature N2 isotherm adsorption (LT-N2GA), were carried out to analyze the variation characteristics of coal compositions and pore systems around the first coalification jump (FCJ) in the southeastern Junggar Basin. The results showed that the FCJ had a considerable influence on the evolution of low-rank coal including coal composition and pore structure. First, the moisture content and the volatile content tended to decrease, and the fixed carbon content tended to increase with increase in maximum reflectance of vitrinite (Ro) around the FCJ. Second, the seepage pores transformed gradually to become adsorption pores; the dominant pore types changed from mesopores to micropores; the pore distribution curve transformed from bimodal form to single peak form. In addition, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller special surface area (SBET) showed a “ ~ -shaped” trend and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda total pore volume (VBJH) showed a “U-shaped” trend with increase in Ro around the FCJ. There were two types of factors that affected the evolution of low-rank coals’ composition and pore structure around the FCJ. One type was external factors, such as dehydration and compaction, causing the coal to become dense; the other type was internal factors, such as bituminization, causing the pores to be filled. These results revealed the characteristics and evolution of coal reservoirs around the FCJ, which can provide a scientific and reliable basis for future exploitation of CBM.

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Acknowledgments

The project was financially supported by the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of China (U1903209), the Natural Science Foundation of Autonomous Region (2018D01C062) and the Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research Business Expenses of Central University (2020ZDPYMS09).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    TengFei Jia, Songhang Zhang, Shuheng Tang, Di Xin & Qian Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Marine Reservoir Evolution and Hydrocarbon Enrichment Mechanism, China University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100083, China

    TengFei Jia, Songhang Zhang, Shuheng Tang, Di Xin & Qian Zhang

  3. Coal Reservoir Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center of CBM Development & Utilization, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    TengFei Jia, Songhang Zhang, Shuheng Tang, Di Xin & Qian Zhang

  4. Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resource & Reservoir Formation Process, China University of Mining & Technology, Ministry of Education, Xuzhou, 221008, China

    Meng Wang

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  1. TengFei Jia
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Jia, T., Zhang, S., Tang, S. et al. Characteristics and Evolution of Low-Rank Coal Pore Structure Around the First Coalification Jump: Case Study in Southeastern Junggar Basin. Nat Resour Res 31, 2769–2786 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10094-z

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