Characteristics of the Microfracture and Pore Structure of Middle- and High-Rank Coal and Their Implications for CBM Exploration and Development in Northern Guizhou

Abstract

The microfracture and pore structure characteristics of coal reservoirs are crucial for coalbed methane (CBM) development. This study examines the evolution of pore and fracture structures at the microscopic level and their fractal characteristics, elucidating their impact on CBM development in the northern Guizhou coal reservoirs. The results indicate that the pores and fractures in the coal reservoirs are relatively well-developed, which facilitates the adsorption of CBM. The density of primary fractures ranges from 5.8 to 14.4 pcs/cm, while the density of secondary fractures ranges from 3.6 to 11.8 pcs/cm. As the metamorphic degree of coal increases, the density of primary fractures initially increases and then decreases, whereas the density of secondary fractures decreases with increasing metamorphic degree. With increasing vitrinite reflectance, the specific surface area and pore volume of the coal samples first decrease and then increase. The fractal dimension ranges from 2.3761 to 2.8361; as the vitrinite reflectance of the coal samples increases, the fractal dimension D1 decreases initially and then increases, while D2 decreases. In the northern Guizhou region, CBM is characterized by an enrichment model of “anticline dominance + fault-hydrogeological dual sealing” along with geological controlling factors of” burial depth controlling gas content and permeability + local fault controlling accumulation”. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for the occurrence and extraction of CBM in northern Guizhou.