Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical Coupling Simulation of CO2 Enhanced Coalbed Methane Recovery with Regards to Low-Rank but Relatively Shallow Coal Seams

CO2 injection technology into coal seams to enhance CH4 recovery (CO2-ECBM), therefore presenting the dual benefit of greenhouse gas emission reduction and clean fossil energy development. In order to gaze into the features of CO2 injection's influence on reservoir pressure and permeability, the Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical coupling mechanism of CO2 injection into the coal seam is considered for investigation. The competitive adsorption, diffusion, and seepage flowing of CO2 and CH4 as well as the dynamic evolution of fracture porosity of coal seams are considered. Fluid physical parameters are obtained by the fitting equation using MATLAB to call EOS software Refprop. Based on the Canadian CO2-ECBM project CSEMP, the numerical simulation targeting shallow low-rank coal is carried out, and the finite element method is used in the software COMSOL Multiphysics. Firstly, the direct recovery (CBM) and CO2-ECBM are compared, and it is confirmed that the injection of CO2 has a significant improvement effect on methane production. Secondly, the influence of injection pressure and temperature is discussed. Increasing the injection pressure can increase the pressure difference in the reservoir in a short time, so as to improve the CH4 production and CO2 storage. However, the increase in gas injection pressure will also lead to the rapid attenuation of near-well reservoir permeability, resulting in the weakening of injection capacity. Also, when the injection temperature increases, the CO2 concentration is relatively reduced, and the replacement effect on CH4 is weakened, resulting in a slight decrease in CBM production and CO2 storage.

Automated summary

CO2 injection technology into coal seams enhances CH4 recovery and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical coupling mechanism of CO2 injection into coal seams is investigated, considering competitive adsorption, diffusion, and seepage flowing of CO2 and CH4. Numerical simulations based on the Canadian CO2-ECBM project reveal that CO2 injection significantly improves methane production. Injection pressure and temperature have an impact on CH4 production and CO2 storage, with increasing pressure increasing production but weakening injection capacity, and increasing temperature slightly decreasing production and storage.