Geochemical Characteristics and Productivity Response of Produced Water from Coalbed Methane Wells in the Yuwang Block, Eastern Yunnan, China

Abstract

Coalbed methane (CBM) well-produced water contains abundant geochemical information that can guide productivity predictions of CBM wells. The geochemical characteristics and productivity responses of water produced from six CBM wells in the Yuwang block, eastern Yunnan, were analyzed using data of conventional ions, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The results showed that the produced water type of well L-3 is mainly Na-HCO3, while those from the other five wells are Na-Cl-HCO3. The isotope characteristics of produced water are affected greatly by water-rock interaction. Combined with the enrichment mechanisms of isotopes D and 18O, we found that the water samples exhibit an obvious D drift trend relative to the local meteoric water line. The 13C enrichment of DIC in the water samples suggests that DIC is mainly produced by the dissolution of carbonate minerals in coal seams. The concentration of HCO3-, D drift trend, and enrichment of 13CDIC in produced water are positively correlated with CBM production, which can be verified by wells L-4 and L-6.