<i>In-situ</i> stress distribution and coalbed methane reservoir permeability in the Linxing area, eastern Ordos Basin, China

doi:10.1007/s11707-017-0676-6

Front. Earth Sci.

2018, Vol. 12

Issue (3) : 545-554 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-017-0676-6

RESEARCH ARTICLE

In-situ stress distribution and coalbed methane reservoir permeability in the Linxing area, eastern Ordos Basin, China

Wei JU^1,²(

), Jian SHEN^1,², Yong QIN^1,², Shangzhi MENG³, Chao LI², Guozhang LI², Guang YANG²

¹. Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
². School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
³. China United Coalbed Methane Corporation, Ltd., Beijing 100011, China

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Abstract

Understanding the distribution of in-situ stresses is extremely important in a wide range of fields such as oil and gas exploration and development, CO₂ sequestration, borehole stability, and stress-related geohazards assessment. In the present study, the in-situ stress distribution in the Linxing area of eastern Ordos Basin, China, was analyzed based on well tested parameters. The maximum horizontal principal stress (S_H_max), minimum horizontal principal stress (S_h_min), and vertical stress (S_v) were calculated, and they were linearly correlated with burial depth. In general, two types of in-situ stress fields were determined in the Linxing area: (i) the in-situ stress state followed the relation S_v>S_H_max>S_h_min in shallow layers with burial depths of less than about 940 m, indicating a normal faulting stress regime; (ii) the S_H_max magnitude increased conspicuously and was greater than the S_v magnitude in deep layers with depths more than about 940 m, and the in-situ stress state followed the relation S_H_max>S_v>S_h_min, demonstrating a strike-slip faulting stress regime. The horizontal differential stress (S_H_max–S_h_min) increased with burial depth, indicating that wellbore instability may be a potentially significant problem when drilling deep vertical wells. The lateral stress coefficient ranged from 0.73 to 1.08 with an average of 0.93 in the Linxing area. The coalbed methane (CBM) reservoir permeability was also analyzed. No obvious exponential relationship was found between coal permeability and effective in-situ stress magnitude. Coal permeability was relatively high under a larger effective in-situ stress magnitude. Multiple factors, including fracture development, contribute to the variation of CBM reservoir permeability in the Linxing area of eastern Ordos Basin.

Keywords in-situ stress coalbed methane permeability lateral stress coefficient Linxing area Ordos Basin

Corresponding Author(s): Wei JU

Just Accepted Date: 27 September 2017 Online First Date: 14 November 2017 Issue Date: 05 September 2018

Cite this article:

Wei JU,Jian SHEN,Yong QIN, et al. In-situ stress distribution and coalbed methane reservoir permeability in the Linxing area, eastern Ordos Basin, China[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2018, 12(3): 545-554.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-017-0676-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2018/V12/I3/545

Fig.1 Geologic conditions in the Linxing area of eastern Ordos Basin, China. (a) coal thickness in the Benxi Formation; (b) generalized stratigraphic column of the Benxi Formation, Taiyuan Formation and Shanxi Formation.

Fig.2 Schematic illustration showing the Andersonian tectonic classification (after ^{Brooke-Barnett et al., 2015}). The pink plane represents the orientation of a propagated hydraulic fracture in the associated tectonic classification.

Fig.3 Relationships among the P_o, P_f, P_r, and P_c and burial depth in the Linxing area. (a) Relationship between the P_o and burial depth, (b) relationship between the P_f and burial depth, (c) relationship between the P_r and burial depth, and (d) relationship between the P_c and burial depth.

Tab.1 In-situ stress magnitudes in the Linxing area

Fig.4 The S_v, S_H_max and S_h_min magnitude in the Linxing area. (a) distribution of calculated in-situ stress magnitudes, (b) distribution pattern of in-situ stress magnitudes.

Fig.5 Scatter diagrams showing lateral stress coefficient variation with burial depth (a) in the world (after ^{Brown and Hoek, 1978}; ^{Hoek and Brown, 1980}) and (b) in China (after ^{Yang et al., 2012}).

Fig.6 The relationship between lateral stress coefficient and burial depth in the Linxing area.

Fig.7 Scatter diagrams showing the relationship between in-situ stress ratio and burial depth in the Linxing area. (a) Relationship between the S_H_max/S_h_min ratio and burial depth, (b) relationship between the S_v/S_H_max ratio and burial depth, and (c) relationship between the S_v/S_h_min ratio and burial depth.

Fig.8 The relationship between effective S_hmin and effective S_v in the Linxing area.

Tab.2 Coal permeability and effective in-situ stress magnitudes in the Linxing area

Fig.9 Photos showing the development of fractures in coal seams in the Linxing area. (a) Well L-4, No. 8+9 coal seam, –1823.00 m; (b) Well L-4, No. 8+9 coal seam, –1827.10 m.

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