Pore Size Distribution and Fractal Characteristics of Deep Coal in the Daning–Jixian Block on the Eastern Margin of the Ordos Basin

Abstract

Important breakthroughs have recently been achieved in deep coalbed methane (CBM) exploration and development in regions such as the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, China. Investigating the development characteristics of various-scale pores in deep coalbeds is of great significance for resource assessment and selection of favorable zones for CBM exploration. Herein, six deep coal samples were selected from the Shanxi and Taiyuan Formations in the Daning−Jixian block on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin. Low-pressure CO 2 /N 2 adsorption (LP-CO 2 /N 2 GA) and high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI) methods were employed to analyze pore volume, specific surface area, and pore size distribution, thereby evaluating the full-scale pore characteristics. Furthermore, the fractal dimension characteristics of deep coal rock pores were elucidated, revealing the influence of pore structure, burial depth, and coal composition. The results indicate that micropores in deep coal rocks have the highest volume and specific surface area proportions, while mesopores have the smallest volume proportion, and macropores make the least contribution to the total specific surface area. The V−S, Frenkel−Halsey−Hill, and Sierpinski models were suitable for calculating the fractal dimensions of micropores, mesopores, and macropores with LP-CO 2 GA, LP-N 2 GA, and HPMI experimental data, respectively. Other than the relatively smaller mesopore fractal dimension of samples 20−8 and 20−10, the micropore, mesopore, and macropore fractal dimensions successively increased in the other four samples. The comprehensive fractal dimension, which exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing pore volume and specific surface area, was negatively correlated with burial depth, mineral and moisture contents, and ash and volatile component yields, while it was positively correlated with vitrinite and fixed carbon contents.