Characterization of anisotropic coal permeability with the effect of sorption-induced deformation and stress

Changes in permeability are related to coalbed methane (CBM) production activities, and to coal mining safety. However, inherent properties, i.g. anisotropy and heterogeneity make the gas flow mechanism more complex. In this work, an anisotropic coal permeability model with synergistic stress compression and gas adsorption was constructed to simulate gas flow behavior in all directions in coal. Changes in coal anisotropic permeability are restricted by the fracture deformation in coal in all directions. Wherein, the fracture deformation in coal is controlled by the effective volume strain coordinated by gas adsorption and stress. The influence of stress can be expressed by employing the generalized Hooke's law. Then, based on the coal matrix bridge structure, an internal swelling coefficient has been proposed to assess the control of the matrix swelling on fracture width during the gas adsorption process to further obtain the fracture deformation caused by gas adsorption. The anisotropic coal permeability model was verified by laboratory test data under different effective stresses, gas pressures, with respect to their combined influences. Subsequently, based on the experimental conditions of uniaxial strain, the permeability model of anisotropic coal during gas depletion was further deduced, and changes in anisotropic coal permeability under uniaxial strain were also calculated. In addition, the sensitivity of the reduction rate of the elastic modulus, and the internal swelling coefficient was also studied, to reveal the matrix-fracture interaction mechanism.

Automated summary

This study established an anisotropic coal permeability model and validated the changes in gas flow mechanism through experimental data. The internal swelling coefficient was used to assess the control effect of matrix swelling on fracture deformation, and the matrix-fracture interaction mechanism was also investigated.