Diffusion of multicomponent gases, which is a complex transport mechanism in coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs, needs to be accounted for in models of enhanced coalbed methane recovery (ECBM) and geological CO2 storage. We develop a numerical model that accounts for diffusion of free gas, diffusion of adsorbed gas, and competitive sorption. Our model also reflects adsorption-induced swelling and the impact of moisture. The simulator for modelling multicomponent gas diffusion is first validated by comparing its computed concentration field against those yielded by the general-purpose finite element solver COMSOL and the available analytical solutions. The model is then validated against the experimental measurements from the published literature. Subsequently, our simulator is used to model the CO2 Enhanced Coalbed Methane (CO2-ECBM) scenarios. The simulation results quantify the influence of different types of diffusion on the effective diffusion coefficient of coal. We analyse diffusion of methane and carbon dioxide that must be considered when modelling CBM reservoirs and analyse performance-based sensitivity of surface diffusion, moisture, matrix deformation, and pressure. Finally, the model is applied to a CO2 storage case. We calculate the CO2 storage volume and the equilibrium time under various pore pressures. The simulation shows that as pore pressure increases, the amount of CO2 stored increases and the equilibrium time decreases. Overall, this model can be applied to estimate the effective diffusion coefficient, to analyse the impact of rock and gas parameters on multicomponent gas diffusion, to provide insight into the physics of multiple gas transport in coal, and to estimate the feasibility of CO2 storage under various pore pressures.
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