Research on the Processes of Injecting CO2 into Coal Seams with CH4 Recovery Using Horizontal Wells

Abstract

The paper presents a research study on modeling and computer simulation of injecting CO2 into the coal seams of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland connected with enhanced coal bed methane (ECBM) recovery. In the initial stage of the research activities, a structural parameter model was developed specifically with reference to the coal-bearing formations of the Upper Carboniferous for which basic parameters of coal quality and the distribution of methane content were estimated. In addition, a lithological model of the overall reservoir structure was developed and the reservoir parameters of the storage site were analyzed. In the next stage of the research, the static model was supplemented with detailed reservoir parameters as well as the thermodynamic properties of fluids and complex gases. The paper discusses a series of simulations of an enhanced coalbed methane recovery process with a simultaneous injection of carbon dioxide. The analyses were performed using the ECLIPSE software designed for simulating coal seam processes. The results of the simulations demonstrated that the total volume of CO2 injected to a designated seam in a coal mine during the period of one year equaled 1,954,213 sm3. The total amount of water obtained from the production wells during the whole period of the simulations (6.5 years) was 9867 sm3. At the same time, 15,558,906 sm3 of gas was recovered, out of which 14,445,424 sm3 was methane. The remaining 7% of the extracted gas was carbon dioxide as a result of reverse production of the previously injected CO2. However, taking into consideration the phenomena of coal matrix shrinking and swelling, the total amount of injected CO2 decreased to approximately 625,000 sm3.

Resource Assessment and Numerical Modeling of CBM Extraction in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

“…The package of petrel reservoir engineering core modules, combined with an ECLIPSE industry-reference simulator, provides a set of numerical solutions for forecasting the dynamic reservoir processes and for designing plans for the exploration, development, and production. The modeling of bituminous coal seams using Schlumberger Petrel software enables to perform numerical simulations of coal bed methane extraction by means of directional drilling from the surface [19,20], as well as computer simulations of enhanced methane recovery combined with injecting CO 2 into the coal seams-enhanced coal bed methane (ECBM) [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

“…Methane is stored by means of sorption in a poorly permeable coal matrix characterized by varied porosity in comparison to the cleat system where the phenomenon of desorbed gas flow takes place. Additionally, gas adsorption isotherms described in ECLIPSE 300 by means of an extended Langmuir isotherm are applied in the model [30]. Besides the parameters of the extended Langmuir isotherm, the developed model also incorporates the coal density, methane diffusion coefficient, and minimum production pressure.…”

Numerical Simulations of Carbon Dioxide Storage in Selected Geological Structures in North-Western Poland

“…In addition, intensive activities were carried out in Poland regarding the possibility of storing CO 2 in saline aquifers (Uliasz-Misiak, 2007;Nagy and Siemek, 2009;Stopa et al, 2009;Solik-Heliasz, 2011). A number of formations and structures located in the area of Poland were analysed during the conducted research (Bromek et al, 2009;Jureczka et al, 2012;Wójcicki, 2012;Urych and Lutyński, 2019;Chećko et al, 2020;Koteras et al, 2020) in terms of safe CO 2 storage and the potential for CO 2 storage in saline aquifers in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin using numerical modelling methods (Urych and Smoliński, 2019). Additionally, potential geological structures for CO 2 storage in formations occurring in the Polish Lowlands were characterized in detail (Marek et al, 2010), including the possibility of using the anticlines of Choszczno and Suliszewo for underground CO 2 storage (Dziewińska and Tarkowski, 2012;Marek et al, 2013).…”

Eco-Efficiency Assessment of the Application of Large-Scale Rechargeable Batteries in a Coal-Fired Power Plant

“…However, this research is at an early stage of development. In addition, the possibilities of using this method of reducing CO 2 emissions in the energy sector are limited by geological considerations [16,17].…”