Influence of depositional environment on coalbed methane accumulation in the Carboniferous-Permian coal of the Qinshui Basin, northern China

doi:10.1007/s11707-018-0742-8

Front. Earth Sci.

2019, Vol. 13

Issue (3) : 535-550 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-018-0742-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Influence of depositional environment on coalbed methane accumulation in the Carboniferous-Permian coal of the Qinshui Basin, northern China

Haihai HOU^1,²(

), Longyi SHAO¹(

), Shuai WANG¹, Zhenghui XIAO³, Xuetian WANG¹, Zhen LI¹, Guangyuan MU¹

¹. College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
². College of Mining, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 123000, China
³. School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China

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Abstract

Based on analyses of the lithofacies palaeogeography of the Taiyuan and the Shanxi Formations in the Qinshui Basin, the spatial variations of the coal seam thickness, coal maceral composition, coal quality, and gas content, together with the lithofacies of the surrounding rocks in each palaeogeographic unit were investigated. The results show that the thick coals of the Taiyuan Formation are mainly distributed in delta and barrier island depositional units in the Yangquan area in the northern part of the basin and the Zhangzi area in the southeastern part of the basin. The thick coals of the Shanxi Formation are located within transitional areas between delta plain and delta front depositional units in the central southern part of the basin. The Taiyuan Formation generally includes mudstone in its lower part, thick, continuous coal seams and limestones in its middle part, and thin, discontinuous coal seams and limestone and sand-mud interbeds in its top part. The Shanxi Formation consists of thick, continuous sandstones in its lower part, thick coal seams in its middle part, and thin coal seams, sandstone, and thick mudstone in its upper part. From the perspective of coal-bearing sedimentology and coalbed methane (CBM) geology, the lithology and thickness of the surrounding rocks of coal seams play more significant roles in controlling gas content variation than other factors such as coal thickness, coal macerals, and coal quality. Furthermore, it is found that the key factors influencing the gas content variation are the thicknesses of mudstone and limestone overlying a coal seam. At similar burial depths, the gas content of the Taiyuan coal seams decreases gradually in the lower delta plain, barrier-lagoon, delta front, barrier-tidal flat, and carbonate platform depositional units. The CBM enrichment areas tend to be located in zones of poorly developed limestone and well-developed mudstone. In addition, the gas content of the Shanxi Formation is higher in the coals of the delta front facies compared to those in the lower delta plain. The CBM enrichment areas tend to be associated with the thicker mudstones. Therefore, based on the lithologic distribution and thickness of the rocks overlying the coal seam in each palaeogeographic unit of the Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations, the areas with higher gas content are located in the north-central basin for the Taiyuan coals and in the southern basin for the Shanxi coals. Both of these areas should be favorable for CBM exploration in the Qinshui Basin.

Keywords depositional environment coalbed methane enrichment condition gas content Taiyuan Formation Shanxi Formation

Corresponding Author(s): Haihai HOU,Longyi SHAO

Just Accepted Date: 18 March 2019 Online First Date: 08 August 2019 Issue Date: 15 October 2019

Cite this article:

Haihai HOU,Longyi SHAO,Shuai WANG, et al. Influence of depositional environment on coalbed methane accumulation in the Carboniferous-Permian coal of the Qinshui Basin, northern China[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2019, 13(3): 535-550.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-018-0742-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2019/V13/I3/535

Fig.1 (a) The tectonic outline map with the distribution of mine gas grade in the Qinshui Basin; (b) the changes of gas content close to the Niangziguan karstic groundwater system in the northern basin; (c) the variation of gas content close to the Sanguquan karstic groundwater system in the southern basin; gas content data from Song et al. (2013).

Fig.2 Columnar section of sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphic delineation of the 511 borehole in the Wangjiayu coal mine, Wuxiang county, Qinshui Basin (C. – Carboniferous; F.M. – Formation; SS – sequence sets; HSS – high-stand sequence set; TSS – transgressive sequence set; LSS – low-stand sequence set; K₁?K₄, K₇– marker beds of limestone or sandstone).

Fig.3 Lithofacies palaeogeography and coal accumulation of the Taiyuan Formation in the Qinshui Basin (^{Shao et al., 2015}).

Fig.4 Lithofacies palaeogeography and coal accumulation of the Shanxi Formation in the Qinshui Basin (^{Shao et al., 2015}).

Fig.5 Relationship between coal thickness and gas content. (a) No. 15 coal seam of Taiyuan Formation in the Heshun Tianchi coal mine; (b) No.3 coal seam of Shanxi Formation in the northern Shizhuang Block; data of Fig. 5(b) from ^{(Hu et al., 2016}).

Fig.6 The coal macerals and coal qualities of No. 15 coal seam of the Taiyuan Formation in the Qinshui Basin.

Fig.7 The coal macerals and coal qualities of No. 3 coal seam of the Shanxi Formation in the Qinshui Basin.

Fig.8 Sedimentary facies and surrounding rocks of coal measures in the Taiyuan Formation, Qinshui Basin.

Fig.9 Sedimentary facies and surrounding rock combination characteristics of the Shanxi Formation in the Qinshui Basin.

Fig.10 Types of main coal seam surrounding rock combinations and gas bearing evaluation of the Taiyuan and Shanxi coals in the Qinshui Basin.

Fig.11 Variation of gas contents within different palaeogeographic units and different burial depths, Taiyuan Formation, Qinshui Basin.

Fig.12 Gas content variation of different palaeogeographic units and different burial depths, Shanxi Formation, Qinshui Basin.

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