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A Coupled Hydraulic–Mechanical Model with Two-Phase Flow for Fracturing Development of Undersaturated Coalbed Methane Reservoirs Considering Permeability Velocity-Sensitive Damage

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Abstract

Undersaturated reservoirs, hydraulic fracturing, and permeability velocity-sensitive damage are important factors of coalbed methane (CBM) development, but some scholars consider them simultaneously, resulting in numerical simulation results that do not accurately reflect actual CBM well production rules. In this study, a coupled hydraulic–mechanical model with two-phase flow for fracturing development of undersaturated CBM reservoirs considering permeability velocity-sensitive damage is developed to study the production variation and clarify the fluid transport rules by changing the key parameters of the model. When permeability velocity-sensitive damage is taken into account, the reservoir permeability evolution becomes more sensitive to changes in drainage rate, resulting in apparent variations of gas production that are more consistent with the actual engineering situation of CBM development. It is necessary to include permeability velocity-sensitive damage in the numerical simulation of reasonable drainage rate optimization. Increasing reservoir permeability in either the hydraulic fracturing area or the unfractured area is favorable to gas production growth, although the former has a more noticeable influence on daily gas production in the early stage, while the latter is more helpful for later gas production. Higher gas saturation equates to higher gas content, which is advantageous for increasing production but also increases the likelihood of permeability velocity-sensitive damage. The overall flow conductivity of the reservoir would benefit from a lower fracture compression coefficient. The mechanical properties of tectonically deformed coal are significantly reduced, easily allowing the proppant to be embedded in the fracture surface, making it difficult for the proppant to play its supporting role effectively, and should be avoided in CBM exploration. This research has significant theoretical and practical implications for clarifying fluid flow laws during CBM development and guiding engineering practices.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41727801), the Geological Exploration Foundation of Guizhou Province (No. 208-9912-JBN-UTSO), and the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Yong Shu & Xiaozhi Zhou

  2. Carbon Neutrality Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China

    Shuxun Sang

  3. School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Yong Shu, Shuxun Sang & Xiaozhi Zhou

  4. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China

    Shuxun Sang

  5. Key Laboratory of Unconventional Natural Gas Evaluation and Development in Complex Tectonic Areas, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guiyang, 550009, China

    Fuping Zhao

  6. Guizhou Engineering Research Institute of Oil and Gas Exploration and Development, Guiyang, 550009, China

    Fuping Zhao

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  1. Yong Shu
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  2. Shuxun Sang
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  3. Xiaozhi Zhou
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Yong Shu, Shuxun Sang, Xiaozhi Zhou and Fuping Zhao. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Yong Shu and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shuxun Sang.

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Shu, Y., Sang, S., Zhou, X. et al. A Coupled Hydraulic–Mechanical Model with Two-Phase Flow for Fracturing Development of Undersaturated Coalbed Methane Reservoirs Considering Permeability Velocity-Sensitive Damage. Nat Resour Res 32, 2053–2076 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-023-10220-5

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