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Evaluation indexes of coalbed methane accumulation in the strong deformed strike-slip fault zone considering tectonics and fractures: a 3D geomechanical simulation study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2018

SHUAI YIN Open the ORCID record for SHUAI YIN [Opens in a new window]  and
WENLONG DING
SHUAI YIN*
Affiliation:
School of Earth Science and Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an 710065, China
WENLONG DING
Affiliation:
School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
*
†Author for correspondence: speedysys@163.com
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Abstract

Both the deformation and rupture characteristics of rocks are related to geomechanics. In this paper, we identify the evaluation indexes related to coalbed methane (CBM) accumulation in strongly deformed strike-slip fault zones considering tectonics and fractures. We found that fault scale, the fault combination, the tectonic stress, the preservation conditions and fractures all have important effects on the CBM distribution. Areas near the large-scale opening faults are unfavourable to the preservation of coalbed methane. The distribution of gas wells with different capacities is influenced by tectonic extension and convergence. A 3D geomechanical method was used to analyse the influence of the ‘ribbon effect’ of strike-slip faults on the CBM distribution. Due to the influence of the ‘ribbon effect’, the tectonic stress presents a plane in situ stress heterogeneity, which in turn will affect the gas well productivity. We also calculated the integrated rupture rate (IF) to characterize the degree of tectonic fracture development in the target coal reservoir. The appropriate fracture development degree can improve the petrophysical properties of the coal reservoirs while maintaining good storage conditions, such that the gas wells can achieve a higher production capacity. This study is of great significance for the enrichment of the geomechanical theory of oil and gas exploration.

Keywords

Qinshui Basinstrike-slip fault zonecoal reservoirgeomechanical simulation
Type
Original Article
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 156 , Issue 6 , June 2019 , pp. 1052 - 1068
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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