The
aim of this research is to explore the occurrence mechanism
of dynamic disasters of coal and rocks in low-temperature oxidation
of coal-bed methane (CBM) reservoirs. For this purpose, the occurrence
probability of dynamic disasters at different oxidizing temperatures
was assessed by using the comprehensive predictive index K for dynamic
disasters involving coal and rocks. By employing nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) technology, the evolution law of diameter and quantity
of pores inside coal was detected during low-temperature oxidation
of coal masses. In addition, fracture development of coal masses was
monitored and analyzed by applying various instruments, including
an instrument for measuring ΔP, hardness tester,
gas chromatograph, and measuring system for rocks using the P-wave.
The results showed that both the diameter and quantity of pores inside
coal increased with the rise of the oxidizing temperature of the coal
masses: the porosity increased by 72.2% as the temperature rose by
200 °C. The gas chromatograph and industrial analytical experiment
proved that the whole fracture development process of coal masses
was divided into two stages during low-temperature oxidation. In the
initial stage of low-temperature oxidation (30–130 °C),
water inside coal masses was lost and evaporated, resulting in the
expansion and connection of micropores to mesopores. In the later
period of low-temperature oxidation (130–230 °C), mesopores
expanded and connected to macropores and microfractures because of
oxygenolysis of the macromolecules and volatiles in coal. On the basis
of the comprehensive predictive index K for dynamic coal disasters,
the occurrence probability of dynamic disasters in low-temperature
oxidation of CBM reservoirs was verified to increase with the increasing
oxidizing temperature according to the measured data. In addition,
the maximum allowable oxidizing temperature of the CBM reservoir where
the specimen was collected was 130 °C.