Abstract

In this paper, whether the coal fines can be induced by shear failure during drainage process has been discussed in detail. By coupling with the percolation theory, the elasticity mechanics were used to construe the extra stresses in the formation surrounding with the hydraulic fracture. The safe window of the bottom hole pressure was also calculated from the failure envelope. The research shows that the formation pressure on the fracture surface of the coal seam is negatively related with the bottom hole pressure, and the induced stress is positively related with the bottom hole pressure during the drainage process of fractured CBM wells. The pore pressure around the fracture changed due to pore-elastic effects, which also caused a significant change of the in situ stresses. In order to avoid the breakout of the coal seam around hydraulic fracture during drainage process, the model of the reasonable bottom hole pressure is also built.

Highlights

  • IntroductionThe coalbed methane (CBM) resources in China are abundant, and the exploration and development of CBM in China have made great achievements; what is more, the CBM has achieved commercial exploitation and development

  • The coalbed methane (CBM) resources in China are abundant, and the exploration and development of CBM in China have made great achievements; what is more, the CBM has achieved commercial exploitation and development.During the operation of CBM wells, coal fines are generated due to the rise of liquid level or pressure changes (Liu et al 2012a, b; Zhang et al 2009)

  • The conclusion can be made that the formation pressure on the fracture surface of the coal seam is negatively related with the bottom hole pressure, and the induced stress is positively related with the bottom hole pressure

Read more

Summary

Introduction

The coalbed methane (CBM) resources in China are abundant, and the exploration and development of CBM in China have made great achievements; what is more, the CBM has achieved commercial exploitation and development. During the operation of CBM wells, coal fines are generated due to the rise of liquid level or pressure changes (Liu et al 2012a, b; Zhang et al 2009). Wei et al (2013) points out that coal fines production results from unreasonable drainage operation parameters, such as unreasonable bottom hole pressure and drainage quantity (Wei et al 2013). Hydraulic fracturing can produce induced stress and result in the formation pressure declination in the coal seam, which leads to the redistribution of the in situ stress field near the fractures. The stability of fractures surface can be evaluated by the instability criterion, which is good to determine reasonable bottom hole pressure and hinders coal fines production

Analytical model of stress field
Stress Induced by hydraulic fracturing
Decreasing formation pressure induces stress
Stress induced by pore elasticity effect
Stress induced by desorption
Total induced stress caused by decreasing formation pressure
The analysis method of critical parameters
Case study on analysis of fracture surface stability
Indoor experiment and analysis
The analysis of induced stress on the fracture surface
Analysis of safety window of bottom hole pressure
Conclusions

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.