Desorption hysteresis of coalbed methane and its controlling factors: a brief review

Abstract

Most coal reservoirs show high gas content with relatively low desorption efficiency, which restricts the efficiency of coalbed methane (CBM) extraction and single-well productivity. This review highlights the desorption hysteresis mechanism and its controlling factors as well as methods and models to reveal desorption hysteresis and potential solutions. Methane adsorption and desorption can be recorded by both gravimetric and volumetric experiments. Although different adsorption models are used, desorption is generally considered with the Langmuir model. Desorption hysteresis is influenced by the petrophysical composition, thermal maturity, pore structure distribution of the coal, reservoir temperature, and moisture and water content. Methods for calculating desorption hysteresis include the area index, hysteresis index and introduction of a hysteresis factor and a hysteresis coefficient. Molecular dynamics simulations of methane desorption are mainly based on theories of kinetics, thermodynamics, and potential energy. The interaction forces operating among coal, water, and methane molecules can be calculated from microscopic intermolecular forces (van der Waals forces). The desorption hysteresis mechanism and desorption process still lack quantitative probe methodologies, and future research should focus on coal wettability under the constraints of liquid content, potential energy adjustment mechanism, and quantitative analysis of methane desorption rates. Further research is expected to reveal the desorption kinetics of methane through the use of the solid–liquid–gas three-phase coupling theory associated with the quantitative analysis of methane desorption hysteresis, thereby enhancing the recovery rate and efficiency of CBM wells.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

desorption hysteresis / diffusion process / kinetics / multiphase coupling / coalbed methane production

References

[1] Bae J S, Bhatia S K, Rudolph V, Massarotto P (2009). Pore accessibility of methane and carbon dioxide in coals. Energy Fuels, 23(6): 3319–3327

[2] Battistutta E, van Hemert P, Lutynski M, Bruining H, Wolf K H (2010). Swelling and sorption experiments on methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide on dry Selar Cornish coal. Int J Coal Geol, 84(1): 39–48

[3] Braida W J, Pignatello J J, Lu Y, Ravikovitch P I, Neimark A V, Xing B (2003). Sorption hysteresis of benzene in charcoal particles. Environ Sci Technol, 37(2): 409–417

[4] Bustin R M, Clarkson C R (1998). Geological controls on coalbed methane reservoir capacity and gas content. Int J Coal Geol, 38(1-2): 3–26

[5] Busch A, Gensterblum Y, Krooss B M (2003). Methane and CO₂ sorption and desorption measurements on dry Argonne premium coals: pure components and mixtures. Int J Coal Geol, 55(2-4): 205–224

[6] Busch A, Gensterblum Y, Krooss B M, Littke R (2004). Methane and carbon dioxide adsorption-diffusion experiments on coal: upscaling and modeling. Int J Coal Geol, 60(2–4): 151–168

[7] Busch A, Gensterblum Y, Krooss B M, Siemons N (2006). Investigation of high-pressure selective adsorption/desorption behaviour of CO₂ and CH₄ on coals: an experimental study. Int J Coal Geol, 66(1–2): 53–68

[8] Charrière D, Behra P (2010). Water sorption on coals. J Colloid Interface Sci, 344(2): 460–467

[9] Chattaraj S, Mohanty D, Kumar T, Halder G (2016). Thermodynamics, kinetics and modeling of sorption behaviour of coalbed methane—a review. J Unconvent Oil and Gas Resourc, 16: 14–33

[10] Chen J, Wang F C, Liu H, Wu H A (2017). Molecular mechanism of adsorption/desorption hysteresis: dynamics of shale gas in nanopores. Science China (Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy), 60(1): 014611

[11] Clarkson C R, Bustin R M, Levy J H (1997). Application of the mono/multilayer and adsorption potential theories to coal methane adsorption isotherms at elevated temperature and pressure. Carbon, 35(12): 1689–1705

[12] Clarkson C R, Bustin R M (1999a). The effect of pore structure and gas pressure upon the transport properties of coal: a laboratory and modeling study. 1. Isotherms and pore volume distributions. Fuel, 78(11): 1333–1344

[13] Clarkson C R, Bustin R M (1999b). The effect of pore structure and gas pressure upon the transport properties of coal: a laboratory and modeling study. 2. Adsorption rate modeling. Fuel, 78(11): 1345–1362

[14] Collins R E (1991). New theory for gas adsorption and transport in coal. In: Proceedings of the 1991 coalbed methane symposium, Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama

[15] 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

[16] Crosdale P J, Moore T A, Mares T E (2008). Influence of moisture content and temperature on methane adsorption isotherm analysis for coals from a low-rank, biogenically-sourced gas reservoir. Int J Coal Geol, 76(1–2): 166–174

[17] Czerw K (2011). Methane and carbon dioxide sorption/desorption on bituminous coal-experiments on cubicoid sample cut from the primal coal lump. Int J Coal Geol, 85(1): 72–77

[18] Day S, Sakurovs R, Weir S (2008a). Supercritical gas sorption on moist coals. Int J Coal Geol, 74(3–4): 203–214

[19] Day S, Duffy G, Sakurovs R, Weir S (2008b). Effect of coal properties on CO₂ sorption capacity under supercritical conditions. Energy. Int J Greenh Gas Control, 2(3): 342–352

[20] Ding G, Rice J A (2011). Effect of lipids on sorption/desorption hysteresis in natural organic matter. Chemosphere, 84(4): 519–526

[21] Faiz M, Saghafi A, Sherwood N, Wang I (2007). The influence of petrological properties and burial history on coal seam methane reservoir characterisation, Sydney Basin, Australia. Int J Coal Geol, 70(1–3): 193–208

[22] Feng Z C, Zhao D, Zhao Y S, Zhao J, Liu Z X (2016). Effects of temperature and pressure on gas desorption in coal in an enclosed system: a theoretical and experimental study. Int J Oil Gas Coal Technol, 11(2): 193–203

[23] Han F, Busch A, Krooss B M, Liu Z, Yang J (2013). CH₄ and CO₂ sorption isotherms and kinetics for different size fractions of two coals. Fuel, 108: 137–142

[24] Jian X, Guan P, Zhang W (2012). Carbon dioxide sorption and diffusion in coals: experimental investigation and modeling. Sci China Earth Sci, 55(4): 633–643

[25] Jiang H N, Cheng Y P, Yuan L (2015). A Langmuir-like desorption model for reflecting the inhomogeneous pore structure of coal and its experimental verification. RSC Advances, 5(4): 2434–2440

[26] Krooss B M, van Bergen F, Gensterblum Y, Siemons N, Pagnier H J M, David P (2002). High-pressure methane and carbon dioxide adsorption on dry and moisture-equilibrated Pennsylvanian coals. Int J Coal Geol, 51(2): 69–92

[27] Lafortune S, Adelise F, Garrido D R R, Pokryszka Z (2014). Assessing CO₂ adsorption capacities onto shales through gravimetric experiments: a first step in the feasibility study of coupling “fracking” with carbon storage. Energ Procedia, 63: 5933–5937

[28] Langmuir I (1917). The constitution and fundamental properties of solids and liquids. J Franklin Inst, 183(1): 102–105

[29] Levy J H, Day S J, Killingley J S (1997). Methane capacities of Bowen Basin coals related to coal properties. Fuel, 76(9): 813–819

[30] Li D, Liu Q, Weniger P, Gensterblum Y, Busch A, Krooss B M (2010). High-pressure sorption isotherms and sorption kinetics of CH₄ and CO₂ on coals. Fuel, 89(3): 569–580

[31] Li K, Horne R N. Systematic study of steam–water capillary pressure. Geothermics, 36(6): 558–574

[32] 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. Energ Fuels, 28(9): 5587–5595

[33] Li Y, Yang J H, Pan Z J, Meng S Z, Wang K, Niu X L (2019). Unconventional natural gas accumulations in stacked deposits: a discussion of upper Paleozoic coal-bearing strata in the east margin of the Ordos Basin, China. Acta Geol Sin (English Edition), 93(1): 111–129

[34] Li Y, Zhang C, Tang D Z, Gan Q, Niu X L, Wang K, Shen R Y (2017). 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

[35] Li Y, Wang Y B, Wang J, Pan Z J (2020a). Variation in permeability during CO₂-CH₄ displacement in coal seams: part 1-experimental insights. Fuel, 263: 116666

[36] Li Y, Yang J H, Pan Z J, Tong W S (2020b). Nanoscale pore structure and mechanical property analysis of coal: an insight combining AFM and SEM images. Fuel, 260: 116352

[37] Lin Y B, Jia X M, Ma D M (2016). Research on CBM desorption hysteresis effects and its evaluation methods. Coal Sci Tech, 44(S1): 160–163 (in Chinese)

[38] Ma D M, Zhang S A, Wang P G, Lin Y B, Wang C (2011). Mechanism of coalbed methane desorption at different temperatures. Coal Geo & Explor, 39(1): 20–23 (in Chinese)

[39] Marecka A, Mianowski A(1998). Kinetics of CO₂ and CH₄ sorption on high rank coal at ambient temperatures. Fuel, 77(14): 1691–1696

[40] Moore T A (2012). Coalbed methane: a review. Int J Coal Geol, 101: 36–81

[41] Mosher K, He J J, Liu Y Y, Rupp E, Wilcox J (2013). Molecular simulation of methane adsorption in micro-and mesoporous carbons with applications to coal and gas shale systems. Int J Coal Geol, 109–110: 36-44

[42] Mu F, Zhong W, Zhao X, Che C, Chen Y, Zhu J, Wang B (2015). Strategies for the development of CBM gas industry in China. Nat Gas Indust B, 2(4): 383–389

[43] Pan Z, Connell L D, Camilleri M, Connelly L (2010). Effects of matrix moisture on gas diffusion and flow in coal. Fuel, 89(11): 3207–3217

[44] Qi X Y, Yang D S, Chen W Z (2016). Research of a bidisperse diffusion model based on adsorption hysteresis. J China Coal Soc, 41(S2): 475–481 (in Chinese)

[45] Ran Y, Xing B, Suresh P, Rao C, Fu J (2004). Importance of adsorption (hole-filling) mechanism for hydrophobic organic contaminants on an aquifer kerogen isolate. Environ Sci Technol, 38(16): 4340–4348

[46] Sakurovs R, He L, Melnichenko Y B, Radlinski A P, Blach T, Lemmel H, Mildner D F R (2012). Pore size distribution and accessible pore size distribution in bituminous coals. Int J Coal Geol, 100: 51–64

[47] Sakurovs R, Day S, Weir S, Duffy G (2007). Application of a modified Dubinin-Radushkevich equation to adsorption of gases by coals under supercritical conditions. Energ Fuels, 21(2): 992–997

[48] Shao L Y, Hou H H, Tang Y, Lu J, Qiu H J, Wang X T, Zhang J Q (2015). Selection of strategic replacement areas for CBM exploration and development in China. Nat Gas Indust B, 2(2–3): 211–221

[49] Shi W R, Wang X Z, Zhang C M, Feng A G, Huang Z S (2019). Experimental study on gas content of adsorption and desorption in fuling shale gas field. J Petrol Sci Eng, 180: 1069–1076

[50] Suuberg E M, Otake Y, Yun Y, Deevi S C (1993). Role of moisture in coal structure and the effects of drying upon the accessibility of coal structure. Energ Fuels, 7(3): 384–392

[51] Tang Y G, Li R Q, Wang S Q (2020). Research progress and prospects of coal petrology and coal quality in China. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 7(2): 273–287

[52] Terzyk A P, Gauden P A, Kowalczyk P (2002). Homogeneous and heterogeneous micropore structures in carbonaceous adsorbents--twenty years later. J Colloid Interface Sci, 254(2): 242–249

[53] Wang K, Wang G D, Ren T, Cheng Y P (2014a). Methane and CO₂ sorption hysteresis on coal: a critical review. Int J Coal Geol, 132: 60–80

[54] Wang L, Jiang B (2016). Experimental study of the effect of static water on imbibition gas recovery in coalbed methane reservoirs. J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 35: 1284–1292

[55] Wang Q, Su X B, Su L N, Zhou F D (2020). CBM geological characteristics and exploration potential in the Sunan Syncline block, southern north China basin. J Petrol Sci Eng, 186: 106713

[56] Wang Z F, Yue G W, Kang B, Xie C (2014b). Gas desorption inhibitory effect of coal in low temperature environment. J Chongqing U, 37(9): 106–112 (in Chinese)

[57] Wen S M, Zhou K, Lu Q (2019). A discussion on CBM development strategies in China: a case study of PetroChina Coalbed Methane Co., Ltd. Nat Gas Indust B, 6(6): 610–618

[58] Wu W, Sun H (2010). Sorption-desorption hysteresis of phenanthrene--effect of nanopores, solute concentration, and salinity. Chemosphere, 81(7): 961–967

[59] Yan J W, Meng Z P, Li G Q (2021). Diffusion characteristics of methane in various rank coals and the control mechanism. Fuel, 283: 118959

[60] Yang X N, Zong Z M, Zhang Z X, Lang W W (2013). Research on adsorption-desorption of deformed coal in No.12 mine of Pingdingshan. J Henan Instit Eng, 25(1): 52–57 (in Chinses)

[61] Zelenka T (2016). Adsorption and desorption of nitrogen at 77 K on micro-and meso-porous materials: study of transport kinetics. Micropor Mesopor Mater, 227: 202–209

[62] Zhang R, Liu S M (2017). Experimental and theoretical characterization of methane and CO₂ sorption hysteresis in coals based on Langmuir desorption. Int J Coal Geol, 171: 49–60

[63] Zhang L, Aziz N, Ren T, Wang Z W (2011), Influence of temperature on coal sorption characteristics and the theory of coal surface free energy. Procedia Eng, 89(3):1430–1439

[64] Zhao L, Qin Y, Cai C F, Xie Y W, Wang G, Huang B, Xu C L (2017). Control of coal facies to adsorption-desorption divergence of coals: a case from the Xiqu Drainage Area, Gujiao CBM Block, north China. Int J Coal Geol, 171: 169–184

[65] Zheng M, Li J Z, Wu X Z, Wang S J, Guo Q L, Yu J D, Zheng M, Chen N S, Yi Q (2018). China’s conventional and unconventional natural gas resources: potential and exploration targets. J Nat Gas Geosci, 3(6): 295–309

[66] Zhou F, Hussain F, Guo Z, Yanici S, Cinar Y (2013). Adsorption/desorption characteristics for methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide of coal samples from southeast Qinshui Basin, China. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, 31(4): 645–665

[67] Zhou Y B, Zhang R L, Wang J, Huang J L, Li X R, Wu J G (2020). Desorption hysteresis of CO₂ and CH₄ in different coals with cyclic desorption experiments. J CO₂ Utilization, 40: 101200

[68] Zhou Y N, Sun W J, Chu W, Liu X Q, Jing F L, Xue Y (2016). Theoretical insight into the enhanced CH₄ desorption via H₂O adsorption on different rank coal surfaces. J Energ Chem, 25(4): 677–682

[69] Zhu H, Selim H M (2000). Hysteretic behavior of metolachlor adsorption-desorption in soils. Soil Sci, 165(8): 632–645

[70] Zhu C J, Ren J, Wan J M, Lin B Q, Yang K, Li Y (2019). Methane adsorption on coals with different coal rank under elevated temperature and pressure. Fuel, 254: 115686

[71] Zhuravlev Y N, Porokhnov A N (2019). Computer simulation of coal organic mass structure and its sorption properties. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 6(3): 438–444

[72] Zou G, She J, Peng S, Yin Q, Liu H, Che Y (2020). Two-dimensional SEM image-based analysis of coal porosity and its pore structure. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 7(2): 350–361

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press