Influence of depressurization rate on gas production capacity of high-rank coal in the south of Qinshui Basin, China

Abstract

A desorption simulation experiment with the condition of simulated strata was designed. The experiment, under different depressurizing rates and the same fluid saturation, was conducted on the sample from 3# coal of Daning coal mine in Jincheng, Shanxi Province. The gas production rate and pressure change at both ends of the sample were studied systematically, and the mechanisms of some phenomena in the experiment were discussed. The experimental results show that, whether at fast or slow depressurizing rate, the methane adsorbed to high-rank coal can effectively desorb and the desorption efficiency can reach above 90%. There is an obvious inflection point on the gas yield curve during the desorption process and it appears after the pressure on the lump of coal reduces below the desorption pressure. The desorption of methane from high-rank coal is mainly driven by differential pressure, and high pressure difference is conducive to fast desorption. In the scenario of fast depressurization, the desorption inflection appears earlier and the gas production rate in the stage of rapid desorption is higher. It is experimentally concluded that the originally recognized strategy of long-term slow CBM production is doubtful and the economic benefit of CBM exploitation from high-rank coal can be effectively improved by rapid drainage and pressure reduction. The field experiment results in pilot blocks of Fanzhuang and Zhengzhuang show that by increasing the drainage depressurization rate, the peak production of gas well would increase greatly, the time of gas well to reach the economic production shortened, the average time for a gas well to reach expected production reduced by half, and the peak gas production is higher. Key words: Qinshui Basin, Fanzhuang Block, Zhengzhuang Block, high-rank coal, depressurization rate, gas production rate, simulation experiment, gas production capacity