Effect of permeability and its horizontal anisotropy on enhanced coalbed methane recovery with CO₂ storage: quantitative evaluation based on staged CH₄ output inhibition

Abstract

The permeability and its horizontal anisotropy induce a critical influence on staged CH₄ output inhibition process. However, a quantitative evaluation of this influence has been rarely reported in the literature. In this work, the impact of horizontal anisotropic permeability on CO₂-ECBM was numerically investigated. The variation in the staged CH₄ output inhibition was analyzed. The ideal displacement profile of the CO₂-ECBM process was established for the first time. Moreover, the variation in CH₄ output of different wellbores was discussed. The results showed that 1) low-permeable or weak-anisotropic reservoirs were not conducive to enhanced CH₄ recovery owing to long inhibition time (> 1091 days) and high inhibition level (> 36.9%). As permeability and anisotropy increased, due to the accelerated seepage of free water, the hysteresis time and inhibition time could decrease to as short as 5 days and 87 days, respectively, and the inhibition level could weaken to as low as 5.00%. Additionally, the CH₄ output and CO₂ injection could increase significantly. 2) Nevertheless, high permeability and strong anisotropy easily induced CO₂ breakthrough, resulting in lower CH₄ production, CO₂ injection and CO₂ storage than expected. While maintaining high efficiency of CO₂ storage (> 99%), upregulating CO₂ breakthrough concentration from 10% to 20% might ease the unfavorable trend. 3) Along the direction of fluid flow, the ideal displacement profile consisted of CO₂ enriched bank, CO₂ and CH₄ mixed bank, CH₄ enriched bank, and water enriched bank, whereas a remarkable gap in the displacement profiles of the dominant and non-dominant seepage directions was observed. 4) The potential of CH₄ output might vary greatly among different wellbores. The producers along the dominant seepage direction held more potential for CH₄ recovery in the short-term, while those along the non-dominant seepage direction avoided becoming invalid only if a long-time injection measure was taken for the injectors. These findings pave the way to understand fluid seepage in real complex reservoirs during CO₂-ECBM and conduct further field projects.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

CO₂-ECBM / permeability / anisotropy / the staged CH₄ output inhibition / displacement profile

References

[1] Balan H O, Gumrah F (2009). Assessment of shrinkage–swelling influences in coal seams using rank-dependent physical coal properties.Int J Coal Geol, 77(1–2): 203–213

[2] Bui M, Adjiman C S, Bardow A, Anthony E J, Boston A, Brown S, Fennell P S, Fuss S, Galindo A, Hackett L A, Hallett J P, Herzog H J, Jackson G, Kemper J, Krevor S, Maitland G C, Matuszewski M, Metcalfe I S, Petit C, Puxty G, Reimer J, Reiner D M, Rubin E S, Scott S A, Shah N, Smit B, Trusler J P M, Webley P, Wilcox J, Mac Dowell N (2018). Carbon capture and storage (CCS): the way forward.Energy Environ Sci, 11(5): 1062–1176

[3] Connell L D, Detournay C (2009). Coupled flow and geomechanical processes during enhanced coal seam methane recovery through CO₂ sequestration.Int J Coal Geol, 77(1–2): 222–233

[4] Du Y, Sang S, Pan Z, Wang W, Liu S, Fu C, Zhao Y, Zhang J (2019). Experimental study of supercritical CO₂–H₂O-coal interactions and the effect on coal permeability.Fuel, 253: 369–382

[5] Durucan S, Shi J Q (2009). Improving the CO₂ well injectivity and enhanced coalbed methane production performance in coal seams.Int J Coal Geol, 77(1–2): 214–221

[6] Fan C, Elsworth D, Li S, Zhou L, Yang Z, Song Y (2019). Thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical couplings controlling CH₄ production and CO₂ sequestration in enhanced coalbed methane recovery.Energy, 173: 1054–1077

[7] Fan J L, Xu M, Wei S, Shen S, Diao Y, Zhang X (2021). Carbon reduction potential of China’s coal-fired power plants based on a CCUS source-sink matching model.Resour Conserv Recycling, 168: 105320

[8] Fan Y, Deng C, Zhang X, Li F, Wang X, Qiao L (2018). Numerical study of CO₂-enhanced coalbed methane recovery.Int J Greenh Gas Control, 76: 12–23

[9] Fang H, Sang S, Liu S (2019a). Establishment of dynamic permeability model of coal reservoir and its numerical simulation during the CO₂-ECBM process.J Petrol Sci Eng, 179: 885–898

[10] Fang H, Sang S, Liu S, Liu S (2019b). Experimental simulation of replacing and displacing CH₄ by injecting supercritical CO₂ and its geological significance.Int J Greenh Gas Control, 81: 115–125

[11] Godec M, Koperna G, Gale J (2014). CO₂-ECBM: a review of its status and global potential.Energy Procedia, 63: 5858–5869

[12] Hasan M M F, First E L, Boukouvala F, Floudas C A (2015). A multi-scale framework for CO₂ capture, utilization, and sequestration: CCUS and CCU.Comput Chem Eng, 81: 2–21

[13] Jiang K, Ashworth P, Zhang S, Liang X, Sun Y, Angus D (2020). China’s carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) policy: a critical review.Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 119: 109601

[14] Kang J, Fu X, Li X, Liang S (2019). Nitrogen injection to enhance methane and water production: an experimental study using the LF-NMR relaxation method.Int J Coal Geol, 211: 103228

[15] Kumar H, Elsworth D, Mathews J, Liu J, Pone D (2014). Effect of CO₂ injection on heterogeneously permeable coalbed reservoirs.Fuel, 135: 509–521

[16] Leonzio G, Foscolo P U, Zondervan E (2019). An outlook towards 2030: optimization and design of a CCUS supply chain in Germany.Comput Chem Eng, 125: 499–513

[17] Li Q, Chen Z A, Zhang J T, Liu L C, Li X C, Jia L (2016). Positioning and revision of CCUS technology development in China.Int J Greenh Gas Control, 46: 282–293

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

[19] Liu S, Fang H, Sang S, Ashutosh T, Wu J, Zhang S, Zhang B (2020). CO₂ injectability and CH₄ recovery of the engineering test in Qinshui Basin, China based on numerical simulation.Int J Greenh Gas Control, 95: 102980

[20] Liu T, Lin B, Yang W (2017). Impact of matrix-fracture interactions on coal permeability: model development and analysis.Fuel, 207: 522–532

[21] L᾽Orange Seigo S, Dohle S, Siegrist M (2014). Public perception of carbon capture and storage (CCS): a review.Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 38: 848–863

[22] Luo F, Xu R N, Jiang P X (2013). Numerical investigation of the influence of vertical permeability heterogeneity in stratified formation and of injection/production well perforation placement on CO₂ geological storage with enhanced CH₄ recovery.Appl Energy, 102: 1314–1323

[23] Mazumder S, Wolf K H (2008). Differential swelling and permeability change of coal in response to CO₂ injection for ECBM.Int J Coal Geol, 74(2): 123–138

[24] Omotilewa O J, Panja P, Vega-Ortiz C, McLennan J (2021). Evaluation of enhanced coalbed methane recovery and carbon dioxide sequestration potential in high volatile bituminous coal.J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 91: 103979

[25] Pan Z, Connell L D (2012). Modelling permeability for coal reservoirs: a review of analytical models and testing data.Int J Coal Geol, 92: 1–44

[26] Pan Z, Connell L D (2011). Modelling of anisotropic coal swelling and its impact on permeability behaviour for primary and enhanced coalbed methane recovery.Int J Coal Geol, 85(3–4): 257–267

[27] PaulG W, SawyerW K, DeanR H (1990). Validation of 3D coalbed simulators. In: SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, Louisiana, SPE-20733-MS

[28] ReevesS, PekotL (2001). Advanced reservoir modeling in desorption-controlled reservoirs. In: SPE Rocky Mountain Petroleum Technology Conference, Keystone, Colorado, SPE-71090-MS

[29] SangS X (2018). Research review on technical effectiveness of CO₂ geological storage and enhanced coalbed methane recovery. Coal Geol Explor, 46: 1–9 (in Chinese)

[30] SangS X, WangR, ZhouX Z, Huang H Z, LiuS Q, HanS J (2021). Review on carbon neutralization associated with coal geology. Coal Geol Explor, 49(1): 1–11 (in Chinese)

[31] SawyerW K, PaulG W, SchraufnagelR A (1990). Development and application of a 3-D coalbed simulator. In: Annual Technical Meeting, Petroleum Society of Canada, Calgary, Alberta

[32] Shi J Q, Durucan S (2005). A model for changes in coalbed permeability during primary and enhanced methane, recovery.SPE Reservoir Eval Eng, 8(4): 291–299

[33] Sun L, Chen W (2022). Impact of carbon tax on CCUS source-sink matching: finding from the improved ChinaCCS DSS.J Clean Prod, 333: 130027

[34] Sun Z, Shi J, Wang K, Miao Y, Zhang T, Feng D, Sun F, Wang S, Han S, Li X (2018a). The gas-water two phase flow behavior in low-permeability CBM reservoirs with multiple mechanisms coupling.J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 52: 82–93

[35] Sun Z, Shi J, Zhang T, Wu K, Feng D, Sun F, Huang L, Hou C, Li X (2018b). A fully-coupled semi-analytical model for effective gas/water phase permeability during coal-bed methane production.Fuel, 223: 44–52

[36] Tang H, Zhang S, Chen W (2021). Assessing representative CCUS layouts for China’s power sector toward carbon neutrality.Environ Sci Technol, 55(16): 11225–11235

[37] Tapia J F D, Lee J Y, Ooi R E H, Foo D C Y, Tan R R (2018). A review of optimization and decision-making models for the planning of CO₂ capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) systems.Sustain Product Consump, 13: 1–15

[38] Vishal V, Mahanta B, Pradhan S P, Singh T N, Ranjith P G (2018). Simulation of CO₂ enhanced coalbed methane recovery in Jharia coalfields, India.Energy, 159: 1185–1194

[39] Vishal V, Singh L, Pradhan S P, Singh T N, Ranjith P G (2013). Numerical modeling of Gondwana coal seams in India as coalbed methane reservoirs substituted for carbon dioxide sequestration.Energy, 49: 384–394

[40] Wang C, Zhang J, Zang Y, Zhong R, Wang J, Wu Y, Jiang Y, Chen Z (2021). Time-dependent coal permeability: impact of gas transport from coal cleats to matrices.J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 88: 103806

[41] Wang Z, Sang S, Zhou X, Liu X (2022). Numerical study on CO₂ sequestration in low-permeability coal reservoirs to enhance CH₄ recovery: gas driving water and staged inhibition on CH₄ output.J Petrol Sci Eng, 214: 110478

[42] Warren J E, Root P J (1963). The behavior of naturally fractured reservoirs.Soc Pet Eng J, 3(3): 245–255

[43] WeiC, QinY, FuX, ShenJ (2015). Coalbed Methane Reservoir Modeling. Beijing: Science Press

[44] White C M, Smith D H, Jones K L, Goodman A L, Jikich S A, LaCount R B, DuBose S B, Ozdemir E, Morsi B I, Schroeder K T (2005). Sequestration of carbon dioxide in coal with enhanced coalbed methane recovery−a review.Energy Fuels, 19(3): 659–724

[45] Xu S, Dai S (2021). CCUS as a second-best choice for China’s carbon neutrality: an institutional analysis.Clim Policy, 21(7): 927–938

[46] Xue D J, Zhou H W, Liu Y T, Deng L S, Zhang L (2018). Study of drainage and percolation of nitrogen-water flooding in tight coal by NMR imaging.Rock Mech Rock Eng, 51(11): 3421–3437

[47] Yu S, Horing J, Liu Q, Dahowski R, Davidson C, Edmonds J, Liu B, Mcjeon H, McLeod J, Patel P, Clarke L (2019). CCUS in China’s mitigation strategy: insights from integrated assessment modeling.Int J Greenh Gas Control, 84: 204–218

[48] ZhangS, Tang S, Zhang S, Wang J (2022). Simulation and evaluation of enhanced coalbed methane recovery by CO₂storage in coal reservoirs with different drainage and production levels. J China Coal Soc, 47: 1275–1285 (in Chinese)

[49] Zhang X, Ranjith P G (2019). Experimental investigation of effects of CO₂ injection on enhanced methane recovery in coal seam reservoirs.J CO₂ Utilization, 33: 394–404

[50] Zhao Y, Lin B, Liu T (2020). Thermo-hydro-mechanical couplings controlling gas migration in heterogeneous and elastically-deformed coal.Comput Geotech, 123: 103570

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42141012), the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2018YFB0605600), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2023 Higher Education Press