Control of coal facies to adsorption-desorption divergence of coals: A case from the Xiqu Drainage Area, Gujiao CBM Block, North China

Abstract

Adsorption and desorption of coal to methane are substantially related to coal facies, referring to the production potential of a coalbed methane (CBM) well. Based on analyses of the stratified channel samples from coal seams No. 2, No. 4 and No. 9 in the Xiqu Drainage Area, Gujiao CBM Block, North China, the relationship between coal facies and adsorption-desorption behaviors was first proposed and discussed. Using the coal facies diagrams suggested by previous investigators, four types of coal facies were distinguished in the coal seams, including the upper delta plain wet forest swamp (I), the lower delta plain fen (II), the lower delta plain marsh (III) and the back barrier low moor (IV). The upper delta plain wet forest swamp occurred dominantly, developing at the bottom and top of all the coal seams. Both the ash yield and groundwater index (GWI) tend to increase from coal facies I to IV, whereas the volatile compounds, fixed carbon, organic sulfur, total sulfur, micropore volume and specific surface area, tissue preservation index (TPI) and vegetation index (VI) decreased, which indicates changes in the vegetation types, water supplements and disturbance, acid-base properties and redox conditions in the paleomires. Paleomire evolution accompanied the rise and drop of the sea level, with a transgression or regression process that could be represented by the coal facies sequence. Coal seams No. 2, No. 4 and No. 9 were discriminated into two, three and two evolving stages, respectively, and these stages were characterized by complete cycles, except stage 4-I from the lower delta plain marsh. Mudstone partings in the coal seams deposited during the highest sea level. Collectively, paleomire environments, especially the variation of vegetation types and mire water condition, result in adsorption and desorption divergences among different coal facies. Arborescent plants decrease from coal facies I to IV as the hydrodynamic intensity increases, leading to corresponding changes in botanical tissue preservation, medium oxidizability, mineral content and, ultimately, adsorption and desorption behaviors. In view of the gas content and desorption capacity of the coal layers in the same coal seam, the layers from the upper delta plain wet forest swamp may have the best potential for CBM drainage, followed by those from the lower delta plain fen and marsh, while those from the back barrier low moor may have the worst potential.