Abstract
Petrophysics of coals directly affects the development of coalbed methane (CBM). Based on the analysis of the representative academic works at home and abroad, the recent progress on petrophysics characteristics was reviewed from the aspects of the scale-span pore-fracture structure, permeability, reservoir heterogeneity, and its controlling factors. The results showed that the characterization of pore-fracture has gone through three stages: qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation of pore-fracture by various techniques, quantitatively refined characterization of pore-fracture by integrating multiple methods including nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, liquid nitrogen, and mercury intrusion, and advanced quantitative characterization methods of pore-fracture by high-precision experimental instruments (focused-ion beam-scanning electron microscopy, small-angle neutron scattering and computed tomography scanner) and testing methods (µ-CT scanning and X-ray diffraction). The effects of acoustic field can promote the diffusion of CBM and generally increase the permeability of coal reservoirs by more than 10%. For the controlling factors of reservoir petrophysics, tectonic stress is the most crucial factor in determining permeability, while the heterogeneity of CBM reservoirs increases with the enhancement of the tectonic deformation and stress field. The study on lithology heterogeneity of deep and high-dip coal measures, the spatial storage-seepage characteristics with deep CBM reservoirs, and the optimizing production between coal measures should be the leading research directions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmad M, Ahmed N, Khalid P, Badar M A, Akram S, Hussain M, Anwar M A, Mahmood A, Ali S, Rehman A U (2019). Impact of pore fluid heterogeneities on angle-dependent reflectivity in poroelastic layers: a study driven by seismic petrophysics. Geomech Eng, 17: 343–354
Akhondzadeh H, Keshavarz A, Al-Yaseri A Z, Ali M, Awan F U R, Wang X, Yang Y F, Iglauer S, Lebedev M (2020). Pore-scale analysis of coal cleat network evolution through liquid nitrogen treatment: a Micro-Computed Tomography investigation. Int J Coal Geol, 219: 103370
Cai J C, Sun S Y, Habibi A, Zhang Z E (2019). Emerging advances in petrophysics: porous media characterization and modeling of multiphase flow. Energies, 12(2): 282
Cai Y D, Liu D M, Pan Z J, Yao Y B, Li J Q, Qiu Y K (2013). Pore structure and its impact on CH4 adsorption capacity and flow capability of bituminous and subbituminous coals from northeast China. Fuel, 103: 258–268
Cai Y D, Liu D M, Mathew J P, Pan Z J, Elsworth D, Yao Y B, Li J Q, Guo X Q (2014). Permeability evolution in fractured coal-Combining triaxial confinement with X-ray computed tomography, acoustic emission and ultrasonic techniques. Int J Coal Geol, 122: 91–104
Cai Y D, Li Q, Liu D M, Zhou Y F, Lv D W (2018). Insights into matrix compressibility of coals by mercury intrusion porosimetry and N2 adsorption. Int J Coal Geol, 200: 199–212
Chinelatto G F, Belila A M, Basso M, Souza J P, Vidal A C (2020). A taphofacies interpretation of shell concentrations and their relationship with petrophysics: a case study of Barremian-Aptian coquinas in the Itapema Formation, Santos Basin-Brazil. Mar Pet Geol, 116: 104317
Clarkson C R, Qanbari F (2016). A semi-analytical method for forecasting wells completed in low permeability, undersaturated CBM reservoirs. J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 30: 19–27
Crosdale P J, Beamish B B, Valix M (1998). Coalbed methane sorption related to coal composition. Int J Coal Geol, 35(1–4): 147–158
Davudov D, Moghanloo R G (2018). Impact of pore compressibility and connectivity loss on shale permeability. Int J Coal Geol, 187: 98–113
Du Y, Sang S X, Pan Z J, Wang W F, Liu S Q, Fu C Q, Zhao Y C, Zhang J Y (2019). Experimental study of supercritical CO2-H2O-coal interactions and the effect on coal permeability. Fuel, 253: 369–382
Eble C F, Greb S F, Williams D A, Hower J C, O’Keefe J M K (2019). Palynology, organic petrology and geochemistry of the Bell coal bed in Western Kentucky, Eastern Interior (Illinois) Basin, USA. Int J Coal Geol, 213: 103264
Fan J J, Ju Y W, Hou Q L, Tan J Q, Wei M M (2010). Pore structure characteristics of different metamorphic-deformed coal reservoirs and its restriction on recovery of coalbed methane. Earth Sci Front, 17(5): 325–335
Fang X L, Cai Y D, Liu D M, Zhou Y F (2018). A mercury intrusion porosimetry method for methane diffusivity and permeability evaluation in coals: a comparative analysis. Appl Sci (Basel), 8(6): 860–876
Fu X H, Qin Y, Zhang W H, Wei C T, Zhou R F (2005). Fractal classification and natural classification of coal pore structure based on migration of coal bed methane. Chin Sci Bull, 66(S1): 51–55
Goodarzi F, Haeri-Ardakani O, Gentzis T, Pedersen P K (2019). Organic petrology and geochemistry of Tournaisian-age Albert Formation oil shales, New Brunswick, Canada. Int J Coal Geol, 205: 43–57
Guo H Y, Su X B, Xia D P, Ni X M, Li G S (2010). Relationship of the permeability and geological strength index (GSI) of coal reservoir and its significance. J China Coal Soc, 35(8): 1319–1322
Guo W, Yao Y B, Liu D M, Sun X X, Gao Y W (2016). Research on measurement of pores in coals with NMRC technique. Oil Gas Geol, 7(1): 141–148
Harpalani S, Chen G (1995). Estimation of changes in fracture porosity of coal with gas emission. Fuel, 74(10): 1491–1498
Hodot B B (1966). Outburst of Coal and Coalbed Gas. Beijing: China Industry Press (in Chinese)
Hoffman B T, Caers J (2005). Regional probability perturbations for history matching. J Petrol Sci Eng, 46(1–2): 53–71
Hou S H, Wang X M, Wang X J, Yuan Y D, Pan S D, Wang X M (2017). Pore structure characterization of low volatile bituminous coals with different particle size and tectonic deformation using low pressure gas adsorption. Int J Coal Geol, 183: 1–13
Ibrahim A F, Nasr-El-Din H A (2015). A comprehensive model to history match and predict gas/water production from coal seams. Int J Coal Geol, 146: 79–90
IUPAC (1972). Manual of symbols and terminology. Pure Appl Chem, 31: 578
Jia Q F, Ni X M, Zhao Y C, Cao Y X (2019). Fracture extension law of hydraulic fracture in coal with different structure. Coal Geol Explor, 47(2): 51–57
Jiang B, Qu Z H, Wang G G X, Li M (2010). Effects of structural deformation on formation of coalbed methane reservoirs in Huaibei coalfield, China. Int J Coal Geol, 82(3–4): 175–183
Jiang B, Wang J L, Qu Z H, Li C G, Wang L L, Li M, Liu J G (2016). The stress characteristics of the Daning-Jixian Area and its influence on the permeability of the coal reservoir. Earth Sci Front, 23(3): 17–23
Jiang W P, Song X Z, Zhong L W (2011). Research on the pore properties of different coal body structure coals and the effects on gas outburst based on the low-temperature nitrogen adsorption method. J China Coal Soc, 36(4): 609–614
Ju Y W, Jian B, Hou Q L, Wang G L, Fang A M (2005). Structural evolution of nano-scale pores of tectonic coals in southern north China and its mechanism. Acta Geol Sin, 79(2): 269–285
Karacan C Ö, Okandan E (2000). Fracture/cleat analysis of coals from Zonguldak Basin (northwestern Turkey) relative to the potential of coalbed methane production. Int J Coal Geol, 44(2): 109–125
Karacan C Ö (2013). Production history matching to determine reservoir properties of important coal groups in the Upper Pottsville formation, Brookwood and Oak Grove fields, Black Warrior Basin, Alabama. J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 10: 51–67
Karayiğit A I Mastalerz M, Oskay R G, Buzkan I (2018). Bituminous coal seams from underground mines in the Zonguldak Basin (NW Turkey): insights from mineralogy, coal petrography, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and meso- and microporosity. Int J Coal Geol, 199: 91–112
Kumar H, Elsworth D, Mathews J P, Marone C (2016). Permeability evolution in sorbing media: analogies between organic-rich shale and coal. Geofluids, 16(1): 43–55
Li J Q, Lu S F, Xue H T, Wang W M, Zhang P (2016a). Intra-stratal heterogeneity of high rank coalbed methane reservoirs and their quantitative evaluation: a case study from Zhengzhuang block in the southern Qinshui Basin. Oil Gas Geol, 37(1): 72–79
Li J Q, Zhang P F, Lu S F, Chen C, Xue H T, Wang S Y, Li W B (2019a). Scale-dependent nature of porosity and pore size distribution in lacustrine shales: an investigation by BIB-SEM and X-Ray CT Methods. J Earth Sci, 30(4): 823–833
Li J Q, Lu S F, Zhang P F, Cai J C, Li W B, Wang S Y, Feng W J (2020a). Estimation of gas-in-place content in coal and shale reservoirs: a process analysis method and its preliminary application. Fuel, 259: 116266
Li Q, Liu D M, Cai Y D, Zhao B, Qiu Y K, Zhou Y F (2020b). Scale-span pore structure heterogeneity of high volatile bituminous coal and anthracite by FIB-SEM and X-ray m-CT. J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 81: 103443
Li Y, Tang D Z, Elsworth D, Xu H (2014). Characterization of coalbed methane reservoirs at multiple length scales: a cross-section from southeastern Ordos Basin, China. Energy Fuels, 28(9): 5587–5595
Li Y, Cao D Y, Wu P, Nin X L, Zhang Y (2017a). Variation in maceral composition and gas content with vitrinite reflectance in bituminous coal of the eastern Ordos Basin, China. J Petrol Sci Eng, 149: 114–125
Li Y, Zhang C, Tang D Z, Gan Q, Niu X L, Wang K, Shen R Y (2017b). Coal pore size distributions controlled by the coalification process: an experimental study of coals from the Junggar, Ordos and Qinshui Basins in China. Fuel, 206: 352–363
Li Y, Wang Z S, Pan Z J, Niu X L, Yu Y, Meng S Z (2019b). Pore structure and its fractal dimensions of transitional shale: a cross-section from east margin of the Ordos Basin, China. Fuel, 241: 417–431
Li Y, Yang J H, Pan Z J, Tong W S (2020c). Nanoscale pore structure and mechanical property analysis of coal: an insight combining AFM and SEM images. Fuel, 260: 116352
Li S, Tang D Z, Xu H, Tao S (2016b). Progress in geological researches on the deep coalbed methane reservoirs. Earth Sci Front, 23(3): 10–16
Li Z T, Liu D M, Cai Y D, Yao Y B, Wang H (2015). Pore structure and compressibility of coal matrix with elevated temperatures by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Energ Explor Exploit, 33(6): 809–826
Li Z T, Liu D M, Cai Y D, Ranjith P G, Yao Y B (2017c). Multi-scale quantitative characterization of 3-D pore-fracture networks in bituminous and anthracite coals using FIB-SEM tomography and X-ray m-CT. Fuel, 209: 43–53
Liu S, Ma J, Sang S, Wang T, Du Y, Fang H (2018a). The effects of supercritical CO2 on mesopore and macropore structure in bituminous and anthracite coal. Fuel, 223: 32–43
Liu Z S, Liu D M, Cai Y D, Pan Z J (2018b). The impacts of flow velocity on permeability and porosity of coals by core flooding and nuclear magnetic resonance: implications for coalbed methane production. J Petrol Sci Eng, 171: 938–950
Lu Y J, Liu D M, Cai Y D, Li Q, Jia Q F (2020). Pore-fractures of coalbed methane reservoir restricted by coal facies in Sangjiang-Muling coal-bearing Basins, northeast China. Energies, 13(5): 1196–1218
Lupton N, Connell L D, Heryanto D, Sander R, Camilleri M, Down D I, Pan Z J (2020). Enhancing biogenic methane generation in coalbed methane reservoirs—core flooding experiments on coals at in situ conditions. Int J Coal Geol, 219: 103377
Majdi A, Hassani F P, Nasiri M Y (2012). Prediction of the height of destressed zone above the mined panel roof in longwall coal mining. Int J Coal Geol, 98: 62–72
Mazumder S, Scott M, Jiang J (2012). Permeability increase in Bowen Basin coal as a result of matrix shrinkage during primary depletion. Int J Coal Geol, 96–97(6): 109–119
Mora C A, Wattenbarger R A (2009). Comparison of computation methods for CBM production performance. J Can Pet Technol, 48(4): 42–48
Ni X M, Jia Q F, Wang Y B (2018). Characterization of permeability changes in coal of high rank during the CH4-CO2 replacement process. Geofluids, 2018: 8321974
Ni X M, Jia Q F, Wang Y B (2019). The relationship between current ground stress and permeability of coal in superimposed zones of multistage tectonic movement. Geofluids, 2019: 9021586
Oskay R G, Bechtel A, Karayigit A I (2019). Mineralogy, petrography and organic geochemistry of Miocene coal seams in the Kınık coalfield (Soma Basin-Western Turkey): insights into depositional environment and palaeovegetation. Int J Coal Geol, 210: 103205
Pillalamarry M, Harpalani S, Liu S M (2011). Gas diffusion behavior of coal and its impact on production from coalbed methane reservoirs. Int J Coal Geol, 86(4): 342–348
Prinz D, Pyckhout-Hintzen W, Littke R (2004). Development of the meso-and macroporous structure of coals with rank as analysed with small angle neutron scattering and adsorption experiments. Fuel, 83(4–5): 547–556
Qin Y, Xu Z W, Zhang J (1995). Natural classification of the high-rank coal pore structure and its application. J China Coal Soc, 3: 266–271
Radlinski A P, Mastalerz M, Hinde A L, Hainbuchner A, Rauch H, Baron M, Lin J S, Fan L, Thiyagarajan P (2004). Application of SAXS and SANS in evaluation of porosity, pore size distribution and surface area of coal. Int J Coal Geol, 59(3–4): 245–271
Rice C A, Flores R M, Stricker G D, Ellis M S (2008). Chemical and stable isotopic evidence for water/rock interaction and biogentic origin of coalbed methane, Fort Union Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana USA. Int J Coal Geol, 76(1–2): 76–85
Salmachi A, Karacan C Ö (2017). Cross-formational flow of water into coalbed methane reservoirs: controls on relative permeability curve shape and production profile. Environ Earth Sci, 76(5): 200–216
Scott A R (2002). Hydrogeologic factors affecting gas content distribution in coal beds. Int J Coal Geol, 50(1–4): 363–387
Song D Y, He K K, Ji X F, Li Y B, Zhao H T (2018). Fine characterization of pores and fractures in coal based on a CT scan. Nat Gas Ind, 38(3): 41–49
Su X B, Feng Y L, Chen J F (2002). The classification of fractures in coal. Coal Geol Explor, 30(4): 21–24
Tao Y J, Zhao Y N, Xian Y S, Shi Z X, Wang Y P, Zhang W C (2020). Study of dissociation characteristics of low rank bituminous coal macerals and enhanced gravity separation. J China U Mining Technol, 49(1): 184–189
Wang G, Qin X J, Shen J N, Zhang Z Y, Han D Y, Jiang C H (2019). Quantitative analysis of microscopic structure and gas seepage characteristics of low-rank coal based on CT three-dimensional reconstruction of CT images and fractal theory. Fuel, 256: 115900
Yang Y H, Meng Z P, Chen Y J, Yang Y L, Gan D Y (2015). Geo-stress condition of coal reservoirs in Qinnan-Xiadian block and its influences on permeability. Acta Petrol Sin, 36(S1): 91–96
Yang Z B, Zhang Z G, Qin Y, Wu C C, Yi T S, Li Y Y, Tang J, Chen J (2018). Optimization methods of production layer combination for coalbed methane development in multi-coal seams. Pet Explor Dev, 45(2): 312–320
Yang Z B, Li Y Y, Qin Y, Sun H S, Zhang P, Zhang Z G, Wu C C, Li C L, Chen C X (2019a). Development unit division and favorable area evaluation for joint mining coalbed methane. Pet Explor Dev, 46(3): 583–593
Yang Z B, Peng H, Zhang Z G, Ju W, Li G, Li C L (2019b). Atmospheric-variational pressure-saturated water characteristics of medium-high rank coal reservoir based on NMR technology. Fuel, 256: 115976
Yang Z B, Qin Y, Wu C C, Qin Z H, Li G, Li C L (2019c). Geochemical response of produced water in the CBM well group with multiple coal seams and its geological significance—a case study of Songhe well group in western Guizhou. Int J Coal Geol, 207: 39–51
Yao Y B, Liu D M (2012). Comparison of low-field NMR and mercury intrusion porosimetry in characterizing pore size distributions of coals. Fuel, 95: 152–158
Yao Y B, Liu D M, Che Y, Tang D Z, Tang S H, Huang W H (2009). Non-destructive characterization of coal samples from China using microfocus X-ray computed tomography. Int J Coal Geol, 80(2): 113–123
Yao Y B, Liu D M, Tang D Z, Tang S H, Huang W H (2010a). Influence and control of coal petrological composition on the development of microfracture of coal reservoir in the Qinshui Basin. J China U Min Technol, 39(1): 6–13
Yao Y B, Liu D M, Che Y, Tang D Z, Tang S H, Huang W H (2010b). Petrophysical characterization of coals by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Fuel, 89(7): 1371–1380
Yu S, Jiang B, Li M, Hou C L, Xu S C (2020). A review on pore-fractures in tectonically deformed coals. Fuel, 278: 118248
Zhang S H, Tang S H, Tang D Z, Pan Z J, Yang F (2009). The characteristics of coal reservoir pores and coal facies in Liulin district, Hedong coal field of China. Int J Coal Geol, 80(2): 113–123
Zhang Y, Lebedev M, Al-Yaseri A, Yu H, Xu X, Sarmadivaleh M, Barifcani A, Iglauer S (2018). Nanoscale rock mechanical property changes in heterogeneous coal after water adsorption. Fuel, 218: 23–32
Zhao J, Tang D, Qin Y, Xu H, Liu Y, Wu H (2018). Characteristics of methane (CH4) diffusion in coal and its influencing factors in the Qinshui and Ordos basins. Energy Fuels, 32(2): 1196–1205
Zhao S H, Li Y, Wang Y B, Ma Z T, Huang X Q (2019). Quantitative study on coal and shale pore structure and surface roughness based on atomic force microscopy and image processing. Fuel, 244: 78–90
Zhao Y X, Liu S M, Elsworth D, Jiang Y D, Zhu J (2014). Pore structure characterization of coal by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Energy Fuels, 28(6): 3704–3711
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41830427, 41772160 and 41922016). We are very grateful to the reviewers and editors for their valuable comments and suggestions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jia, Q., Liu, D., Cai, Y. et al. Petrophysics characteristics of coalbed methane reservoir: A comprehensive review. Front. Earth Sci. 15, 202–223 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-020-0833-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-020-0833-1