Dynamic transport and reaction behaviour of high-pressure gases in high-rank coal

Abstract

This paper presents the results obtained through continuous and simultaneous measurements of gas flow, temperature and coal deformation during high-pressure gas injection in high-rank coal samples, obtained from the South Wales coalfield (UK). The results demonstrate that CO2 flow rates experience an initial decline due to internal coal swelling, followed by the flow rate recovery and global coal swelling. As the flow of high-pressure CO2 induces measurable temperature drop within the sample related to the Joule-Thomson cooling, the changes induced by the variations in thermal state of the system are associated with abrupt shift in coal response to reactive gas flow. However, subsequent injections of He and N2 show that the changes induced by CO2 sorption on coal permeability to gases are irreversible. This work demonstrates the importance of considering the coupled reactive gas and heat transport, and consequent coal deformation mechanisms while assessing the storage potential of coal seams.