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Micro–Macro Behavior of CBM Extraction in Multi-well Mining Projects

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Abstract

Multi-well extraction is a prevalent technique in coalbed methane (CBM) recovery projects. Although numerous studies have extensively explored aspects such as well spacing, the degree of multi-well pumping, and well count, the dynamics of fracture microstructure evolution in proximity to wells—particularly in inter-well regions—remain inadequately understood in relation to the effects of multi-well mining project. This research delved into the multi-well extraction methodology employed in CBM recovery endeavors, aiming to elucidate the development of the fracture microstructure network. We introduce a novel, interdisciplinary, and integrative research framework that amalgamates the multi-field coupling effects observed during the multi-well extraction process with fractal theory. This model has been validated, and it facilitates the examination of changes in fracture micro-evolution subjected to multi-well extraction. Additionally, this study investigated alterations in fracture characteristics, seam stress, and CBM pressure within sensitive zones (i.e., inter-well spaces and adjacent areas) under varying extraction pressures. Following a 180-day extraction period, the findings indicate a significant reduction in gas pressure by 83.9% for the extraction wells and the nearby areas, alongside a decrease in fracture network length by 10.94% and density by 5.04%. Compared to existing models for assessing multi-well CBM extraction, our interdisciplinary model demonstrates considerable analytical superiority. Notably, when the fractal parameters Df and DTf, which characterize fracture density and tortuosity quantitatively, increase from 1.2 to 1.8, the residual gas pressure is reduced further by 11.6% and increased further by 3.9%, respectively.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2023XSCX049); Graduate Innovation Program of China University of Mining and Technology (No. 2023WLKXJ180); Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (No. KYCX23_2663); China Scholarship Council (No. 202306420085); Project (ZR2022ME050) of Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation; National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51934007) and XZCIT longitudinal project (No. XGY2023ZXJ004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China

    Dayu Ye, Guannan Liu & Feng Gao

  2. Mechanics and Civil Engineering Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China

    Dayu Ye, Guannan Liu, Hu Liu & Feng Gao

  3. School of Information Engineering, XuZhou College of Industrial Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Xiang Lin

  4. WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Kalgoorlie, WA, 6430, Australia

    Dayu Ye

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  1. Dayu Ye
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Correspondence to Guannan Liu.

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Ye, D., Liu, G., Lin, X. et al. Micro–Macro Behavior of CBM Extraction in Multi-well Mining Projects. Nat Resour Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-024-10347-z

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