Coal facies characteristics and its control on methane content in South Yanchuan Block, Southeast Ordos Basin, China

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe variability in depositional environments in ancient peat bog and coal facies characteristics was investigated with 29 coal samples from four coalbed methane wells in South Yanchuan Block, Southeast Ordos Basin, China. The control of methane content is described as coal facies parameters and the corresponding measurements of methane content. The results indicated that the depositional environment of ancient peat bog in South Yanchuan Block is primarily a lower delta plain, and a low tissue preservation index (TPI) and high gelification index (GI) are typical features of reservoir’s coal facies, reflecting a deep water depositional environment in ancient peat bog. Compared with the coal facies characteristics of the western area, the coal reservoir in the eastern area displays low GI and high ash content as a result of ancient peat bog’s proximity to sea and source area. Various lateral methane contents are influenced by burial depth, whereas the characteristics of coal facies have a strong control on methane content within the single well in vertical direction. The methane content increases with increase in GI and vitrinite to inertinite ratio (V:I), while there are indistinct relationships between TPI and transportation index with methane content. With high GI and longer distance to sea and source area, the methane content in the western area is higher than that of the eastern area. High desmocollinite content also has a negative influence on methane content.