IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v10y2017i9p1388-d111787.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A New Tree-Type Fracturing Method for Stimulating Coal Seam Gas Reservoirs

Author

Listed:
  • Qian Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
    National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Gas Drainage in Complex Coal Seam, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Yiyu Lu

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
    National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Gas Drainage in Complex Coal Seam, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Zhaolong Ge

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
    National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Gas Drainage in Complex Coal Seam, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Zhe Zhou

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
    National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Gas Drainage in Complex Coal Seam, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Jingwei Zheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
    National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Gas Drainage in Complex Coal Seam, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Songqiang Xiao

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
    National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Gas Drainage in Complex Coal Seam, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is used widely to stimulate coalbed methane production in coal mines. However, some factors associated with conventional hydraulic fracturing, such as the simple morphology of the fractures it generates and inhomogeneous stress relief, limit its scope of application in coal mines. These problems mean that gas extraction efficiency is low. Conventional fracturing may leave hidden pockets of gas, which will be safety hazards for subsequent coal mining operations. Based on a new drilling technique applicable to drilling boreholes in coal seams, this paper proposes a tree-type fracturing technique for stimulating reservoir volumes. Tree-type fracturing simulation experiments using a large-scale triaxial testing apparatus were conducted in the laboratory. In contrast to the single hole drilled for conventional hydraulic fracturing, the tree-type sub-boreholes induce radial and tangential fractures that form complex fracture networks. These fracture networks can eliminate the “blank area” that may host dangerous gas pockets. Gas seepage in tree-type fractures was analyzed, and gas seepage tests after tree-type fracturing showed that permeability was greatly enhanced. The equipment developed for tree-type fracturing was tested in the Fengchun underground coal mine in China. After implementing tree-type fracturing, the gas extraction rate was around 2.3 times greater than that for traditional fracturing, and the extraction rate remained high for a long time during a 30-day test. This shortened the gas drainage time and improved gas extraction efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian Li & Yiyu Lu & Zhaolong Ge & Zhe Zhou & Jingwei Zheng & Songqiang Xiao, 2017. "A New Tree-Type Fracturing Method for Stimulating Coal Seam Gas Reservoirs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:9:p:1388-:d:111787
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/9/1388/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/9/1388/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guozhong Hu & Jialin Xu & Fuxi Zhang & Changchun Zhao & Wei Qin & Yiran Zhu, 2015. "Coal and Coalbed Methane Co-Extraction Technology Based on the Ground Movement in the Yangquan Coalfield, China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Yiyu Lu & Zhe Zhou & Zhaolong Ge & Xinwei Zhang & Qian Li, 2015. "Research on and Design of a Self-Propelled Nozzle for the Tree-Type Drilling Technique in Underground Coal Mines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Zhaobin Zhang & Xiao Li, 2016. "Numerical Study on the Formation of Shear Fracture Network," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-16, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jingxuan Zhang & Xiangjun Liu & Xiaochen Wei & Lixi Liang & Jian Xiong & Wei Li, 2019. "Uncertainty Analysis of Factors Influencing Stimulated Fracture Volume in Layered Formation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-24, November.
    2. Zhenlong Song & Minghui Li & Guangzhi Yin & Pathegama Gamage Ranjith & Dongming Zhang & Chao Liu, 2018. "Effect of Intermediate Principal Stress on the Strength, Deformation, and Permeability of Sandstone," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-11, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yiyu Lu & Songqiang Xiao & Zhaolong Ge & Zhe Zhou & Kai Deng, 2016. "Rock-Breaking Properties of Multi-Nozzle Bits for Tree-Type Drilling in Underground Coal Mines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Jiwei Wen & Chen Chen, 2017. "Optimizing the Structure of the Straight Cone Nozzle and the Parameters of Borehole Hydraulic Mining for Huadian Oil Shale Based on Experimental Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Yiyu Lu & Zhe Zhou & Zhaolong Ge & Xinwei Zhang & Qian Li, 2015. "Research on and Design of a Self-Propelled Nozzle for the Tree-Type Drilling Technique in Underground Coal Mines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Mandadige Samintha Anne Perera & Ashani Savinda Ranathunga & Pathegama Gamage Ranjith, 2016. "Effect of Coal Rank on Various Fluid Saturations Creating Mechanical Property Alterations Using Australian Coals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Zhaolong Ge & Kai Deng & Yiyu Lu & Liang Cheng & Shaojie Zuo & Xingdi Tian, 2016. "A Novel Method for Borehole Blockage Removal and Experimental Study on a Hydraulic Self-Propelled Nozzle in Underground Coal Mines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Xin Chang & Yintong Guo & Jun Zhou & Xuehang Song & Chunhe Yang, 2018. "Numerical and Experimental Investigations of the Interactions between Hydraulic and Natural Fractures in Shale Formations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-27, September.
    7. Zhenlong Fang & Qiang Wu & Mengda Zhang & Haoyang Liu & Pan Jiang & Deng Li, 2019. "Large Eddy Simulation of Self-Excited Oscillation Pulsed Jet (SEOPJ) Induced by a Helmholtz Oscillator in Underground Mining," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, June.
    8. Qiuping Qin & Qingfeng Xue & Zizhuo Ma & Yikang Zheng & Hongyu Zhai, 2021. "Hydraulic Fracturing Simulations with Real-Time Evolution of Physical Parameters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, March.
    9. Zhongxiang Liu & Minghui Wei & Peng Zhang & Yutao Zhang & Tingtao Lu & Rui Xiong & Changchun Qin, 2020. "Drilling Localization and Error Analysis of Radial Horizontal Jet Drilling Based on Magnetic Gradient Tensor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-10, September.
    10. Yiyu Lu & Shaojie Zuo & Zhaolong Ge & Songqiang Xiao & Yugang Cheng, 2016. "Experimental Study of Crack Initiation and Extension Induced by Hydraulic Fracturing in a Tree-Type Borehole Array," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-15, June.
    11. Xiaowei Feng & Nong Zhang & Xiaoting Chen & Lianyuan Gong & Chuangxin Lv & Yu Guo, 2016. "Exploitation Contradictions Concerning Multi-Energy Resources among Coal, Gas, Oil, and Uranium: A Case Study in the Ordos Basin (Western North China Craton and Southern Side of Yinshan Mountains)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Jianming He & Zhaobin Zhang & Xiao Li, 2017. "Numerical Analysis on the Formation of Fracture Network during the Hydraulic Fracturing of Shale with Pre-Existing Fractures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-10, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:9:p:1388-:d:111787. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.