Structure- and hydrology-controlled isotopic coupling and heterogeneity of coalbed gases and co-produced water in the Yanchuannan block, southeastern Ordos Basin

Abstract

Gas and water geochemistry in the No.2 coal reservoir of the Yanchuannan CBM block in the southeastern Ordos basin reflects a complex interaction of tectonic, hydrodynamic, thermogenic, and biogenic processes. Stable isotope and component analyses of gas and water samples from the No. 2 coal seam of 17 CBM wells were performed to determine the correlations between stable isotopes of gases and co-produced water, and to understand the controls of structure and hydrology on isotope distribution. The results show that the co-produced water continuously ranges from brackish, isotopically lighter Na-HCO3/Na-HCO3-Cl water to hypersaline, isotopically heavier Na-Cl/Na-Ca-Cl brine. Based on the hydrochemical features, fault development, and burial depth of coal seam, four structure-controlled hydrodynamic zones are distinguished, including strong through-flow, medium through-flow, weak through-flow, and stagnant zones. The gas isotope analysis shows that thermogenic methane is the dominant source of CBM, and secondary biogenic gases only exist in the strong through-flow zone. δ2H-CH4 is ultimately inherited from formation water, and more 2H can be transferred during the formation of thermogenic gases. δ13C-CH4 and δ13C-CO2 are mainly controlled by thermal maturity and gas genesis respectively, and there is a negative correlation between them. The stable isotopes of coalbed gases and water show strong spatial heterogeneity with the changing hydrodynamic strength. Owing to the influence of water recharge, gas leakage, and secondary biogas formation, the strong through-flow zone is characterized by the most negative δ13C-CH4, δ2H-CH4, δ18O-H2O, δ2H-H2O and the most positive δ13C-CO2, Δ2H-(H2O-CH4) and Δ13C-(CO2-CH4). However, the stagnant zone has maintained stable in a long geological period, which leads to the high concentration of original connate water and mass preservation of coalbed gases, and hence its isotopic feature is completely opposite to the strong through-flow zone. This study confirms the significant controls of hydrogeological conditions on the migration of water and gas and the application of isotopic indicators in the exploration of deep CBM.