Coal deformation characteristics during methane displacement by pulsed nitrogen injection: New method of using pulsed energy to improve coal permeability

The displacement of methane by injecting nitrogen is an effective method for improving extraction efficiency in low-permeability coal seams. By conducting the experiments on uniform/pulsed pressure nitrogen injection for methane displacement (UPNI-MD/PPNI-MD), the coal deformation characteristics are quantitatively characterized, and the coal deformation mechanism is discussed. The results show that the technology of methane displacement by PPNI-MD is more effective in enhancing the permeability of low-permeability coal seams. The pressure of nitrogen injection and the amount of methane/nitrogen adsorption are crucial factors affecting the coal deformation during the process of UPNI-MD/PPNI-MD. The erosive effect of methane adsorption on the mechanical properties of coal decreases, while the erosive effect of nitrogen adsorption on the mechanical properties of coal shows a “wave-like” variation in the case of PPNI-MD. The application of PPNI-MD technology can effectively decrease the coal expansion deformation while undergoing the methane displacement process. Nitrogen injection to displace methane breaks the system energy balance of coal, resulting in deformation. And the coal deformation during nitrogen injection for methane displacement depends on the energy carried by the injected nitrogen, the energy change during gas competitive adsorption and the heat exchange between nitrogen and coal. The effective stress of coal depends on the change in methane/nitrogen pressure. The mechanical properties of coal depend on the amount of methane/nitrogen adsorption and the pore pressure. High-energy nitrogen damage to coal during the process of PPNI-MD is manifested in coal deformation caused by methane/nitrogen pressure, coal deformation caused by methane/nitrogen adsorption, and damage to coal mechanical properties caused by methane/nitrogen adsorption.