# Numerical Simulation Research on Hydraulic Fracturing Promoting Coalbed Methane Extraction

Authors: Fan Yongpeng; Shu Longyong; Huo Zhonggang; Hao Jinwei; Yang Li
Journal: Shock and Vibration
 (2021)

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## Abstract

Although hydraulic fracturing technology has been comprehensively investigated, few scholars have studied the influence of hydraulic fracturing on the effect of coalbed methane (CBM) extraction, and few considered the interaction between water and CBM in the research process, which is not conducive to guiding the engineering design of hydraulic fracturing wells. In this work, a hydraulic-mechanical-thermal coupled model for CBM extraction in hydraulic fracturing well is established; it combines gas-liquid two-phase infiltration, where nonisothermal adsorption is also considered. The COMSOL Multiphysics software is used to carry out the numerical simulation study of the CBM extraction process in hydraulic fracturing well and analyze the influence of coalbed permeability, initial methane pressure, and fracture length on CBM extraction in hydraulic fracturing well, and the results show that the hydraulic-mechanical-thermal coupled model for CBM extraction can be used for CBM extraction research in hydraulic fracturing well. The initial coalbed permeability, initial gas pressure, and fracture length all affect the migration speed of CBM to surface well in different ways and have a greater impact on the CBM production rate of hydraulic fracturing well. The greater the initial coalbed permeability and methane pressure are, the longer the fracture length is and the greater the CMB production rate of hydraulic fracturing well is. The change trend of coalbed permeability during the extraction process of surface fracturing well is directly related to the state of the reservoir. The factors of stress, temperature, and CBM desorption jointly determine the increase or decrease of coal seam permeability.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

CBM is an associated gas of coal. Its calorific value is 1∼4 times that of general-purpose coal. With the rapid economic development and strong energy demand today, CBM development has become a hot issue [1]. China has the world’s third largest CBM resources, but 75% of the CBM is in low-permeability, soft, and deep-buried coal seams, which greatly increases the difficulty of CBM resource development [2]. In order to increase the production of CBM and promote the utilization of CBM resources, hydraulic fracturing technology is widely used in surface well CBM extraction projects [3, 4].The principle of coalbed hydraulic fracturing technology is to inject high-pressure liquid into the original coalbed to promote the development of fractures and increase coalbed migration channels [5]. In 1947, the world’s first fracturing well was completed in Hugoton Gas Field, Kansas, USA. With the rise of CBM development projects, it has been widely used in the field of CBM mining. In recent years, hydraulic fracturing wells have achieved widespread success in soft coalbed with low permeability. As of 2019, the CBM extraction volume of surface wells has reached 5.9 billion m3, most of which have adopted hydraulic fracturing technology.Many scholars have done a lot of research on hydraulic fracturing technology: the authors of [6] analyzed the influencing factors of hydraulic fracturing on oil and gas production and proposed strategies to use the latest findings to enhance primary recovery and alleviate some common problems in secondary recovery; the authors of [7] analyzed the influence of crustal stress field, confining pressure, and natural fractures on fractures in hydraulic fracturing wells by using similar laboratory tests; Zhang et al. [8] used a combination of hydraulic fracturing laboratory tests and three-dimensional scanning to analyze the influence of fracturing fluid injection pressure and velocity on the fracturing effect during the fracturing process; and Lei et al. [9] used true triaxial hydraulic fracturing physical simulation experimental equipment to analyze the influence of perforation on the direction of hydraulic pressure.In terms of numerical simulation research of hydraulic fracturing, the author of [10] established a fully coupled elastic-plastic hydraulic fracturing model based on related theories of rock mechanics and fluid mechanics; the authors of [11] used numerical simulation method to study the characteristics of coal fracture development and propagation; the authors of [12] studied the influence of hydraulic fracturing on faults by numerical simulation; the authors of [5] analyzed the connection between macroscopic mechanical parameters and mesoscopic mechanical parameters based on two-dimensional particle ﬂow code (PFC2D); the authors of [13] proposed a method to determine the maximum and minimum stresses and coal parameters of coalbed based on the pressure test values during hydraulic fracturing; and the authors of [14] established a thermohydromechanical coupled model to analyze the effects of coalbed permeability, gas pressure, temperature, and fracture radius on single-slit well gas drainage.In this work, a hydraulic-mechanical-thermal coupled model for CBM extraction in hydraulic fracturing well is established; it combines gas-liquid two-phase infiltration, where nonisothermal adsorption is also considered. The COMSOL Multiphysics software is used to carry out the numerical simulation study of the CBM extraction process in hydraulic fracturing well and analyze the influence of coalbed permeability, initial pressure, and fracture length on CBM extraction in hydraulic fracturing well.


## 2. The Hydraulic-Mechanical-Thermal Coupled Model for CBM Extraction in Hydraulic Fracturing Well

CBM extraction will cause a series of changes in the coalbed. For example, CBM desorbs from the coal skeleton and migrates in the fissures, water seeps into the wellhead under the action of the pressure gradient, the coal body deforms, and the temperature exchanges (Figure1). In order to establish a mathematical model describing the above process, the following hypotheses are proposed [1, 13, 15–17]:(1)
The coalbed is a homogeneous isotropic body(2)
Water and CBM filled the cracks in the coal(3)
Extraction desorption and adsorption are all completed in an instant(4)
The gas in coalbed is the ideal gas and does not consider the influence of temperature change on gas dynamic viscosityFigure 1
Schematic diagram of CBM exploitation process.


### 2.1. Fluid Seepage Control Equation

The coalbed is full of methane and water. Under the pressure gradient, the methane and water continue to flow to the surface well. The process can be described by the fluid continuity equation [18]:(1)∂m∂t+∇⋅−ρkμΔp=Q,where Q is the quality source, kg/(m3·s); m is the mass of fluid per unit volume of coal, kg/m3; ρ is the fluid density in the coalbed, kg/m3; q⟶g=−k/μΔp is the fluid seepage velocity in the coalbed, m/s; k is the coalbed permeability, m2; μ is the dynamic viscosity of gas, Pa⋅s; p is coalbed pressure, Pa.The methane mass per unit volume of coal can be expressed as [19](2)mg=ρgφsg+1−φρgaρsVcg,where φ is the porosity; ρga is the gas density under standard conditions, kg/m3; ρs is the density of coal skeleton, kg/m3; ρg=MgP/RT is the methane density in the coal seam, kg/m3; T is the coal seam temperature, K, m3/kg; Mg is the gas molar mass, kg/mol; R the gas molar constant, J/(mol·K); Vcg is the gas adsorbed per unit mass of coal volume [15].(3)Vcg=VLpmPL+pmexp−d21+d1pmT−Tt,where d1 is the pressure coefficient, Pa−1; d2 is the temperature coefficient, K−1; VL is the Langmuir volume constant, m3/kg; PL is the Langmuir pressure constant, Pa; Tt is the laboratory reference temperature, K.The mass of water per unit volume of coal can be expressed as(4)mw=ρwφsw,where sw is the water saturation in the coalbed; ρw is the density of water, kg/m3.The fluid seepage velocity in the coalbed can be expressed as(5)kg=kkrg,kw=kkrw.According to the relative permeability model of porous media [20–23],(6)krw=sw−swr1−swr4,krg=1−sw−swr1−swr−sgr21−sw−swr1−swr2,where swr is the irreducible water saturation; sgr is the irreducible gas saturation.Simultaneous formulas (1)–(5) are the seepage control equation of methane and water in the coalbed which can be expressed as(7)∂ρwφsw∂t+∇⋅−ρwkkrwμwΔpw=Qw,∂ρgφsg+1−φρgaρsVcg∂t+∇⋅−ρgkkrgμgΔpg=Qg,where μw and μg are dynamic viscosity coefficients of water and methane, respectively.


### 2.2. Control Equation of Coalbed Stress Field

The Navier equation of coal space balance is [24–26](8)σij,j+Fi=0,where σij is the total stress in the coal, N; Fi is the volume force component, N.The Cauchy equation satisfied by the strain component and displacement component of the coal body is(9)εij=12ui,j+uj,i,where εij is the component of strain tensor, m; u is the displacement component, m.Under the action of surface well, the amount of methane adsorption and temperature and stress on coal are constantly changing. The constitutive equation of coal hydraulic-mechanical-thermal coupling based on the theory of porous media can be expressed as [27, 28](10)εij=12Gσij−16G−19Kσkkδij+α3Kpgδij+αT3T−T0δij+εa3δij,where G is the Lame coefficient, G=E/2+2v, Pa; E is Young’s modulus of the coal, Pa; K is the bulk modulus of the coal, Pa; α=1−K/Ks is Biot coefficient of coal; Ks is the bulk modulus of coal matrix, Pa; αT is the volume thermal expansion coefficient, 1/K; εa=αaΔVcg is the adsorption strain; αa is the adsorption strain coefficient, kg/m3; δij is the Kronecker symbol; v is the coal body’s Poisson’s ratio.Combining (8)–(10) can obtain the control equation of coalbed stress field:(11)Gui,jj+G1−2νuj,ji−αpg,i−Kεs,i−KαTTi+Fi=0.


### 2.3. Control Equation of Coalbed Temperature Field

Under the action of surface well, there is temperature exchange between methane, water, and coal skeleton in the coalbed. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the coalbed temperature field control equation can be expressed as(12)∂ρCpcT∂t+η∇T−∇⋅λ∇T+KαTT∂εa∂t+qstρcρgaMg∂Vcg∂t=0,(13)ρCpc=1−φρsCs+φsgρgCg+φswρwCw,(14)η=−kkrgμg∇pgρgCg−kkrwμw∇pwρwCw,λ=1−φλs+sgφλg+swφλw,where Cg is the specific heat capacity of methane, J/(m3·K); λg is the thermal conductivity of methane, W/(m·K); Cs is the specific heat capacity of the coal skeleton, J/(m3·K); λs is the thermal conductivity of the coal skeleton, W/(m·K); qst is the equivalent heat of adsorption, J/mol; (ρCp)c is the effective specific heat capacity of coal and coal bed gas, J/(m3·K); η is the convection coefficient, J/(m2·s); λc is the thermal conductivity of coal skeleton and coal bed gas, W/(m·K).


### 2.4. Cross Coupling

During the process of CBM extraction in surface wells, the continuous change of coalbed porosity under the influence of stress, temperature, and methane desorption can be expressed as [29](15)φ=1−1−φ01+e1−αKΔp+αTΔT+αaVcg−Vcg0,where φ0 is the initial coalbed porosity.Considering coal body damage, the coalbed permeability during methane extraction can be expressed as [30](16)k=k01φ0−1−φ0φ01+e1−αKΔp+αTΔT+αaVcg−Vcg03,where k0 is the initial coalbed permeability, m2.


## 2.1. Fluid Seepage Control Equation

The coalbed is full of methane and water. Under the pressure gradient, the methane and water continue to flow to the surface well. The process can be described by the fluid continuity equation [18]:(1)∂m∂t+∇⋅−ρkμΔp=Q,where Q is the quality source, kg/(m3·s); m is the mass of fluid per unit volume of coal, kg/m3; ρ is the fluid density in the coalbed, kg/m3; q⟶g=−k/μΔp is the fluid seepage velocity in the coalbed, m/s; k is the coalbed permeability, m2; μ is the dynamic viscosity of gas, Pa⋅s; p is coalbed pressure, Pa.The methane mass per unit volume of coal can be expressed as [19](2)mg=ρgφsg+1−φρgaρsVcg,where φ is the porosity; ρga is the gas density under standard conditions, kg/m3; ρs is the density of coal skeleton, kg/m3; ρg=MgP/RT is the methane density in the coal seam, kg/m3; T is the coal seam temperature, K, m3/kg; Mg is the gas molar mass, kg/mol; R the gas molar constant, J/(mol·K); Vcg is the gas adsorbed per unit mass of coal volume [15].(3)Vcg=VLpmPL+pmexp−d21+d1pmT−Tt,where d1 is the pressure coefficient, Pa−1; d2 is the temperature coefficient, K−1; VL is the Langmuir volume constant, m3/kg; PL is the Langmuir pressure constant, Pa; Tt is the laboratory reference temperature, K.The mass of water per unit volume of coal can be expressed as(4)mw=ρwφsw,where sw is the water saturation in the coalbed; ρw is the density of water, kg/m3.The fluid seepage velocity in the coalbed can be expressed as(5)kg=kkrg,kw=kkrw.According to the relative permeability model of porous media [20–23],(6)krw=sw−swr1−swr4,krg=1−sw−swr1−swr−sgr21−sw−swr1−swr2,where swr is the irreducible water saturation; sgr is the irreducible gas saturation.Simultaneous formulas (1)–(5) are the seepage control equation of methane and water in the coalbed which can be expressed as(7)∂ρwφsw∂t+∇⋅−ρwkkrwμwΔpw=Qw,∂ρgφsg+1−φρgaρsVcg∂t+∇⋅−ρgkkrgμgΔpg=Qg,where μw and μg are dynamic viscosity coefficients of water and methane, respectively.


## 2.2. Control Equation of Coalbed Stress Field

The Navier equation of coal space balance is [24–26](8)σij,j+Fi=0,where σij is the total stress in the coal, N; Fi is the volume force component, N.The Cauchy equation satisfied by the strain component and displacement component of the coal body is(9)εij=12ui,j+uj,i,where εij is the component of strain tensor, m; u is the displacement component, m.Under the action of surface well, the amount of methane adsorption and temperature and stress on coal are constantly changing. The constitutive equation of coal hydraulic-mechanical-thermal coupling based on the theory of porous media can be expressed as [27, 28](10)εij=12Gσij−16G−19Kσkkδij+α3Kpgδij+αT3T−T0δij+εa3δij,where G is the Lame coefficient, G=E/2+2v, Pa; E is Young’s modulus of the coal, Pa; K is the bulk modulus of the coal, Pa; α=1−K/Ks is Biot coefficient of coal; Ks is the bulk modulus of coal matrix, Pa; αT is the volume thermal expansion coefficient, 1/K; εa=αaΔVcg is the adsorption strain; αa is the adsorption strain coefficient, kg/m3; δij is the Kronecker symbol; v is the coal body’s Poisson’s ratio.Combining (8)–(10) can obtain the control equation of coalbed stress field:(11)Gui,jj+G1−2νuj,ji−αpg,i−Kεs,i−KαTTi+Fi=0.


## 2.3. Control Equation of Coalbed Temperature Field

Under the action of surface well, there is temperature exchange between methane, water, and coal skeleton in the coalbed. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the coalbed temperature field control equation can be expressed as(12)∂ρCpcT∂t+η∇T−∇⋅λ∇T+KαTT∂εa∂t+qstρcρgaMg∂Vcg∂t=0,(13)ρCpc=1−φρsCs+φsgρgCg+φswρwCw,(14)η=−kkrgμg∇pgρgCg−kkrwμw∇pwρwCw,λ=1−φλs+sgφλg+swφλw,where Cg is the specific heat capacity of methane, J/(m3·K); λg is the thermal conductivity of methane, W/(m·K); Cs is the specific heat capacity of the coal skeleton, J/(m3·K); λs is the thermal conductivity of the coal skeleton, W/(m·K); qst is the equivalent heat of adsorption, J/mol; (ρCp)c is the effective specific heat capacity of coal and coal bed gas, J/(m3·K); η is the convection coefficient, J/(m2·s); λc is the thermal conductivity of coal skeleton and coal bed gas, W/(m·K).


## 2.4. Cross Coupling

During the process of CBM extraction in surface wells, the continuous change of coalbed porosity under the influence of stress, temperature, and methane desorption can be expressed as [29](15)φ=1−1−φ01+e1−αKΔp+αTΔT+αaVcg−Vcg0,where φ0 is the initial coalbed porosity.Considering coal body damage, the coalbed permeability during methane extraction can be expressed as [30](16)k=k01φ0−1−φ0φ01+e1−αKΔp+αTΔT+αaVcg−Vcg03,where k0 is the initial coalbed permeability, m2.


## 3. Model Validation

Yuwu Coal Mine is located in the east wing of Qinshui Basin in China, with a minefield area of 160.24 km2. The main coalbed is 3#, with an average coalbed thickness of 6 m and a methane reserve of 16,568.519 Mm3. Due to the large methane content in the minefield, the low coalbed permeability, and the difficulty of methane extraction, Yuwu Coal Mine has constructed 170 surface wells since 2008, of which 124 are hydraulic fracturing wells. The overall structure of the coal mine is gently dipping and monoclinic. On this basis, the development direction is relatively single and wide and gentle folds (the dip angle of the two wings is generally less than 10°); along the dip and strike, there are a small number of faults with a fault distance greater than 20 m and a certain number of faults less than 20 m fault and collapse column.In order to analyze the impact of coalbed hydraulic fracturing on methane extraction, the LA-019 surface fracturing well of Yuwu Coal Mine is taken as the simulation object. The model size is 300 m × 300 m. The fracture development length and shape are obtained from underground observations. The two main fractures are distributed on both sides of the fracturing well, with a one-way length of about 15 m and an azimuth angle of 50° (Figure2). The external boundary of this model is restrained from boundary-normal displacements and insulated for gas and thermal transport.Figure 2
Establishment of numerical simulation model.In order to facilitate the observation of the simulation effect, reference point B and reference line AC are set, and the coordinates of points A, B, and C are (0, 150), (200, 150), and (300, 150), respectively. Numerical simulation parameters come from the field, tests, or references (Table1). In order to study the influence of initial coalbed pressure, initial permeability, and fracture length on the methane extraction effect of hydraulic fracturing well, the three sets of data were simulated by the controlled variable method (Table 2).Table 1
Numerical simulation parameters.
VariableParameterValueUnitAcquisition approachRemarkEYoung’s modulus of coal2710MPaExperimentsvPoisson’s ratio0.3ExperimentsEsYoung’s modulus of coal skeleton9520MPaExperimentsαsAdsorption strain factor0.06kg/m3ExperimentsρsDensity of coal skeleton1380kg/m3Experimentsφ0Initial coalbed porosity0.037ExperimentsP0Initial pressure of coalbed3.53MPaField datak0Initial coalbed permeability5.14 × 10−16m2Field dataμgDynamic viscosity coefficient of methane1.84 × 10−5Pa·sReferences[18]μwDynamic viscosity coefficient of water1.01mPa·sReferences[18]αTThermal expansion coefficient2.4 × 10−51/KReferences[28]VLLangmuir volume constant0.02m3/kgExperimentsPLLangmuir pressure constant0.96MPaExperimentsd1Langmuir pressure correction factor0.07MPa−1References[28]d2Langmuir temperature correction factor0.02K−1References[28]TtLaboratory reference temperature300KReferences[28]CsSpecific heat capacity of the coal skeleton1300J/(kg·K)References[28]CgSpecific heat capacity of gas2550J/(kg·K)References[28]CwSpecific heat capacity of water4200J/(kg·K)ReferencesλsHeat conductivity of coal skeleton0.193W/(m·K)References[28]λgHeat conductivity of gas0.031W/(m·K)References[28]λwHeat conductivity of water0.598W/(m·K)References[18]qstIsosteric heat of adsorption33.4J/molReferences[28]swrIrreducible water saturation0.05References[18]sgrIrreducible gas saturation0.05References[18]Table 2
Simulation strategy.
ProgramModelCase 1: influence of initial permeability on methane extraction effect of hydraulic fracturing wellModel 1:k0 = 5 × 10−17 m2Model 2:k0 = 9 × 10−17 m2Model 3:k0 = 13 × 10−17 m2Model 4:k0 = 17 × 10−17 m2Case 2: influence of initial coalbed pressure on methane extraction effect of hydraulic fracturing wellModel 1:P0 = 2.53 MPa;Model 2:P0 = 3.53 MPaModel 3:P0 = 4.53 MPaModel 4:P0 = 5.53 MPaCase 3: influence of fracture length on methane extraction effect of hydraulic fracturing wellModel 1:L = 10 mModel 2:L = 15 mModel 3:L = 20 mModel 4:L = 25 mIn order to verify the accuracy of the model, the methane production rate data of LA-019 surface fracturing well in Yuwu Coal Mine was compared with the numerical simulation data (the calculation of gas production is in standard state). As illustrated in Figure3, although the field data fluctuates, there is a clear trend of change. The simulation results are highly matched with the field data, indicating that the built model can be used for methane extraction research in hydraulic fracturing wells.Figure 3
Comparison of numeric solution of methane production rate and field data of methane production rate.


## 4. Numerical Simulation of Methane Extraction in Hydraulic Fracturing Well

### 4.1. Influence of Initial Permeability on Methane Extraction Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Well

Figure4 shows the variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed permeability. As illustrated in Figure 4, the methane production rate of hydraulic fracturing wells gradually increases first and then gradually decreases. When the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5  t10−17 m2, 9  910−17 m2, 13  110−17 m2, 17  110−17 m2, the peak methane production rate is 254.29 m3/day, 361.99 m3/day, 490.21 m3/day, and 647.80 m3/day, respectively. Making the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5 da10−17 m2 as a reference, the peak methane production rate of k0 = 9 as10−17 m2, 13 3s10−17 m2, 17 7s10−17 m2 is increased by 42.35%, 92.78%, and 154.75%, respectively.Figure 4
Variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed permeability.Figure5 shows the variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed permeability. As illustrated in Figure 5, the greater the initial coalbed permeability, the better the methane extraction effect of hydraulic fracturing well. When the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5  t10−17 m2, 9  910−17 m2, 13  110−17 m2, 17  110−17 m2, after 3650 d of extraction, the average methane pressure of the coalbed is 2.79 MPa, 2.52 MPa, 2.32 MPa, and 2.17 MPa, respectively. Making the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5 Pa10−17 m2 as a reference, the average methane pressure of k0 = 9 as10−17 m2, 13 3s10−17 m2, 17 7s10−17 m2 is decreased by 9.38%, 16.84%, and 22.22%, respectively.Figure 5
Variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed permeability. (a)k0 = 5 × 10−17 m2. (b) k0 = 9 × 10−17 m2. (c) k0 = 13 × 10−17 m2. (d) k0 = 17 × 10−17 m2.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


### 4.2. Influence of Initial Coalbed Pressure on Methane Extraction Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Well

Figure6 shows the variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed pressure. As illustrated in Figure 6, because the coalbed methane seepage velocity is greatly affected by the methane pressure gradient, increasing the initial reservoir pressure increases the pressure gradient between the coalbed and the extraction well, and the methane production of hydraulic fracturing well increases. When the initial coalbed pressure is P0 = 2.53 MPa, 3.53 MPa, 4.53 MPa, and 5.53 MPa, the peak methane production rate is 284.21 m3/day, 312.87 m3/day, 413.16 m3/day, and 509.21 m3/day, respectively.Figure 6
Variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed pressure.Figure7 shows the variation of coalbed permeability with different initial coalbed pressure at the reference point B. As illustrated in Figure 7, during the process of methane extraction, coalbeds with different initial pressure have different trend in permeability. This is because the changes in coalbed permeability are the result of competition between two factors: the coal matrix shrinkage caused by temperature reduction and methane desorption and the coal matrix expansion caused by methane pressure decrease. When the methane pressure is high, the matrix expansion caused by methane pressure decrease dominates and the permeability decreases.Figure 7
Variation of coalbed permeability with different initial coalbed pressure at the reference point B.Figure8 shows the variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed pressure. As illustrated in Figure 8, although the permeability of the high initial pressure coalbed is lower than the low initial pressure coalbed in the process of methane extraction, the higher the initial pressure under the influence of the pressure gradient, the greater the average methane pressure drop of the coal seam bed in the same time of extraction.Figure 8
Variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed pressure. (a)P0 = 2.53 MPa. (b) P0 = 3.53 MPa. (c) P0 = 4.53 MPa. (d) P0 = 5.53 MPa.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


### 4.3. Influence of Fracture Length on Methane Extraction Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Well

Figure9 shows the variation of methane production rate with different fracture length. As illustrated in Figure 9, fractures increase the methane migration channel of the coalbed. The longer the fracture length is, the greater the methane production rate is. When the fracture length L = 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m, the peak methane production rate is 294.03 m3/day, 361.99 m3/day, 402.42 m3/day, and 451.45 m3/day, respectively.Figure 9
Variation of methane production rate with different fracture length.Figure10 shows the variation of coalbed permeability with different fracture length at the reference point B. As illustrated in Figure 10, affected by the efficiency of methane extraction, the permeability of the coalbed increases with the length of the fracture in the same extraction time. When the fracture length L = 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m, after 3650 days of extraction, the permeability at the reference point B is 9.32e−17 m2, 9.38e−17 m2, 9.46e−17 m2, and 9.55e−17 m2, respectively.Figure 10
Variation of coalbed permeability with different fracture length at the reference point B.Figure11 shows the variation of coalbed methane pressure with different fracture length. As illustrated in Figure 11, the longer the fracturing fracture is, the higher the extraction efficiency is. When the fracture length L = 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m, the average methane pressure of the coalbed is 2.79 MPa, 2.52 MPa, 2.32 MPa, and 2.17 MPa after 3650 days of extraction. Making the fracture length L = 10 m as a reference, the average coalbed methane pressure of L = 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m is decreased by 9.38%, 16.84%, and 22.22%, respectively.Figure 11
Variation of coalbed methane pressure with different fracture length. (a)L = 10 m. (b) L = 15 m. (c) L = 20 m. (d) L = 25 m.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 4.1. Influence of Initial Permeability on Methane Extraction Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Well

Figure4 shows the variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed permeability. As illustrated in Figure 4, the methane production rate of hydraulic fracturing wells gradually increases first and then gradually decreases. When the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5  t10−17 m2, 9  910−17 m2, 13  110−17 m2, 17  110−17 m2, the peak methane production rate is 254.29 m3/day, 361.99 m3/day, 490.21 m3/day, and 647.80 m3/day, respectively. Making the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5 da10−17 m2 as a reference, the peak methane production rate of k0 = 9 as10−17 m2, 13 3s10−17 m2, 17 7s10−17 m2 is increased by 42.35%, 92.78%, and 154.75%, respectively.Figure 4
Variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed permeability.Figure5 shows the variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed permeability. As illustrated in Figure 5, the greater the initial coalbed permeability, the better the methane extraction effect of hydraulic fracturing well. When the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5  t10−17 m2, 9  910−17 m2, 13  110−17 m2, 17  110−17 m2, after 3650 d of extraction, the average methane pressure of the coalbed is 2.79 MPa, 2.52 MPa, 2.32 MPa, and 2.17 MPa, respectively. Making the initial coalbed permeability k0 = 5 Pa10−17 m2 as a reference, the average methane pressure of k0 = 9 as10−17 m2, 13 3s10−17 m2, 17 7s10−17 m2 is decreased by 9.38%, 16.84%, and 22.22%, respectively.Figure 5
Variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed permeability. (a)k0 = 5 × 10−17 m2. (b) k0 = 9 × 10−17 m2. (c) k0 = 13 × 10−17 m2. (d) k0 = 17 × 10−17 m2.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 4.2. Influence of Initial Coalbed Pressure on Methane Extraction Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Well

Figure6 shows the variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed pressure. As illustrated in Figure 6, because the coalbed methane seepage velocity is greatly affected by the methane pressure gradient, increasing the initial reservoir pressure increases the pressure gradient between the coalbed and the extraction well, and the methane production of hydraulic fracturing well increases. When the initial coalbed pressure is P0 = 2.53 MPa, 3.53 MPa, 4.53 MPa, and 5.53 MPa, the peak methane production rate is 284.21 m3/day, 312.87 m3/day, 413.16 m3/day, and 509.21 m3/day, respectively.Figure 6
Variation of methane production rate with different initial coalbed pressure.Figure7 shows the variation of coalbed permeability with different initial coalbed pressure at the reference point B. As illustrated in Figure 7, during the process of methane extraction, coalbeds with different initial pressure have different trend in permeability. This is because the changes in coalbed permeability are the result of competition between two factors: the coal matrix shrinkage caused by temperature reduction and methane desorption and the coal matrix expansion caused by methane pressure decrease. When the methane pressure is high, the matrix expansion caused by methane pressure decrease dominates and the permeability decreases.Figure 7
Variation of coalbed permeability with different initial coalbed pressure at the reference point B.Figure8 shows the variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed pressure. As illustrated in Figure 8, although the permeability of the high initial pressure coalbed is lower than the low initial pressure coalbed in the process of methane extraction, the higher the initial pressure under the influence of the pressure gradient, the greater the average methane pressure drop of the coal seam bed in the same time of extraction.Figure 8
Variation of coalbed methane pressure with different initial coalbed pressure. (a)P0 = 2.53 MPa. (b) P0 = 3.53 MPa. (c) P0 = 4.53 MPa. (d) P0 = 5.53 MPa.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 4.3. Influence of Fracture Length on Methane Extraction Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Well

Figure9 shows the variation of methane production rate with different fracture length. As illustrated in Figure 9, fractures increase the methane migration channel of the coalbed. The longer the fracture length is, the greater the methane production rate is. When the fracture length L = 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m, the peak methane production rate is 294.03 m3/day, 361.99 m3/day, 402.42 m3/day, and 451.45 m3/day, respectively.Figure 9
Variation of methane production rate with different fracture length.Figure10 shows the variation of coalbed permeability with different fracture length at the reference point B. As illustrated in Figure 10, affected by the efficiency of methane extraction, the permeability of the coalbed increases with the length of the fracture in the same extraction time. When the fracture length L = 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m, after 3650 days of extraction, the permeability at the reference point B is 9.32e−17 m2, 9.38e−17 m2, 9.46e−17 m2, and 9.55e−17 m2, respectively.Figure 10
Variation of coalbed permeability with different fracture length at the reference point B.Figure11 shows the variation of coalbed methane pressure with different fracture length. As illustrated in Figure 11, the longer the fracturing fracture is, the higher the extraction efficiency is. When the fracture length L = 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m, the average methane pressure of the coalbed is 2.79 MPa, 2.52 MPa, 2.32 MPa, and 2.17 MPa after 3650 days of extraction. Making the fracture length L = 10 m as a reference, the average coalbed methane pressure of L = 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m is decreased by 9.38%, 16.84%, and 22.22%, respectively.Figure 11
Variation of coalbed methane pressure with different fracture length. (a)L = 10 m. (b) L = 15 m. (c) L = 20 m. (d) L = 25 m.
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 5. Conclusions

In this work, a hydraulic-mechanical-thermal coupled model for CBM extraction in hydraulic fracturing well is established, and it combines gas-liquid two-phase infiltration, where nonisothermal adsorption is also considered. The COMSOL Multiphysics software is used to carry out the numerical simulation study of the CBM extraction process in hydraulic fracturing well and analyze the influence of coalbed permeability, initial pressure, and fracture length on CBM extraction in hydraulic fracturing well. The following conclusions can be drawn:(1)
The hydraulic-mechanical-thermal coupled model for CBM extraction in hydraulic fracturing well established includes methane desorption, coal deformation, temperature exchange, and gas-water seepage. The numerical simulation effect of the model can be highly consistent with the field data, and it can be used for CBM extraction research in hydraulic fracturing well.(2)
The initial coalbed permeability, initial methane pressure, and fracture length all affect the migration speed of CBM to the hydraulic fracturing well in different ways. The greater the initial coalbed permeability and methane pressure is, the longer the fracture length is and the greater the CMB production rate of hydraulic fracturing well is.(3)
The change trend of coalbed permeability during the extraction process of surface fracturing well is directly related to the state of the reservoir. The factors of stress, temperature, and CBM desorption jointly determine the increase or decrease of coal seam permeability.



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*Source: 3269592-2021-07-14.xml*