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Coalbed Methane Development Process
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Coalbed Methane Development Process

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1290

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Songhang Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Energy, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: gas content; coalbed methane simulation; CO2-ECBM
Prof. Dr. Qiulei Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: petrophysics; coal petrology; organic geochemistry; CO2-ECBM
Dr. Xinlu Yan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Geological and Surveying Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030006, China
Interests: coalbed methane; numerical simulation; coal reservoir evaluation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the global demand for clean energy continuously increasing, reducing greenhouse gas emissions has become a consensus within the international community. Coalbed methane, as an unconventional natural gas resource, is favored for its low-carbon characteristics. Effective exploration and development of coalbed methane not only provide valuable energy sources but also reduce methane emissions during coal mining, holding significant resource and environmental implications. The development of deep coalbed methane represents the latest breakthrough in this field. Compared to shallow coalbed methane, the exploration and development of deep coalbed methane are more challenging. Deep reservoirs are typically located thousands of meters underground, facing complex geological conditions known as “four highs and two lows” (high temperature, high pressure, high geostatic stress, high free-gas content, low porosity, and low permeability). This necessitates more advanced technologies for drilling and completion, core evaluation, geophysical interpretation, and reservoir development. However, with continuous technological advancements, although numerous challenges remain, the exploration and development of deep coalbed methane have become increasingly feasible. In summary, the exploration and development of coalbed methane are at an exciting juncture. Through sustained technological innovation, coalbed methane is poised to occupy a more prominent position in the global energy structure, making a positive contribution to achieving sustainable development goals. This special issue aims to gather the latest research findings and innovative practices in this field, delving into how cutting-edge technologies can enhance the efficiency and benefits of coalbed methane exploration and development.

This Special Issue explores the latest developments in coalbed methane exploration and development. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: new theories and methods in coalbed methane geological exploration (evaluation technology of gas content in deep coal seams, simulation technology of coal macromolecule adsorption, evaluation technology of coal reservoir permeability, evaluation technology of coal reservoir fracturability, and numerical simulation technology of coalbed methane, etc.); innovations and applications in coalbed methane development technologies; the chemistry of produced water from coalbed methane wells; the treatment of produced water; the environmental effects of produced water (drilling and completion technology, fracturing technology, optimization technology of well pattern and well spacing, optimization technology of gas drainage, CO2-ECBM, etc.); and environmental protection measures during coalbed methane extraction (the chemistry of produced water from coalbed methane wells, the treatment of produced water, the environmental effects of produced water, etc.). The submissions should be presented in the form of academic papers, review articles, etc.

We look forward to your submissions.

Prof. Dr. Songhang Zhang
Prof. Dr. Qiulei Guo
Dr. Xinlu Yan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • deep coalbed methane
  • exploration and development
  • technological advancements
  • coal reservoir
  • gas content
  • water chemistry
  • CO2-enhanced coalbed methane
  • coalbed methane numerical simulation
  • dewatering optimization
  • production patterns and law of coalbed methane wells

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 28674 KiB  
Article
Innovative Stress Release Stimulation Through Sequential Cavity Completion for CBM Reservoir Enhancement
by Huaibin Zhen, Haifeng Zhao, Kai Wei, Yulong Liu, Shuguang Li, Zhenji Wei, Chengwang Wang and Gaojie Chen
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1567; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051567 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 211
Abstract
China holds substantial coalbed methane resources, yet low single-well productivity persists. While horizontal well cavity completion offers a permeability-enhancing solution through stress release, its effectiveness remains limited by the incomplete knowledge of stress redistribution and permeability evolution during stress release. To bridge this [...] Read more.
China holds substantial coalbed methane resources, yet low single-well productivity persists. While horizontal well cavity completion offers a permeability-enhancing solution through stress release, its effectiveness remains limited by the incomplete knowledge of stress redistribution and permeability evolution during stress release. To bridge this gap, a fully coupled hydromechanical 3D discrete element model (FLC3D) was developed to investigate stress redistribution and permeability evolution in deep coalbed methane reservoirs under varying cavity spacings and fluid pressures, and a novel sequential cavity completion technique integrated with hydraulic fracturing was proposed to amplify stress release zones and mitigate stress concentration effects. Key findings reveal that cavity-induced stress release zones predominantly develop proximal to the working face, exhibiting radial attenuation with increasing distance. Vertical stress concentrations at cavity termini reach peak intensities of 2.54 times initial stress levels, forming localized permeability barriers with 50–70% reduction. Stress release zones demonstrate permeability enhancement directly proportional to stress reduction magnitude, achieving a maximum permeability of 5.8 mD (483% increase from baseline). Prolonged drainage operations reduce stress release zone volumes by 17% while expanding stress concentration zones by 31%. The developed sequential cavity hydraulic fracturing technology demonstrates, through simulation, that strategically induced hydraulic fractures elevate fluid pressures in stress-concentrated regions, effectively neutralizing compressive stresses and restoring reservoir permeability. These findings provide actionable insights for optimizing stress release stimulation strategies in deep coalbed methane reservoirs, offering a viable pathway toward sustainable and efficient resource development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coalbed Methane Development Process)
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20 pages, 2340 KiB  
Article
Study on Coal Particle Properties and Critical Velocity Model in Coalbed Methane Horizontal Wells
by Ruili Zhou, Tian He, Yuxiang Liu, Peidong Mai and Guoqing Han
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051550 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 233
Abstract
During the drainage process of coalbed methane (CBM) horizontal wells, wellbore fluctuations exert a significant influence on gas–liquid–solid three-phase flow behavior and coal particle migration. This study investigates the effects of wellbore inclination, gas–liquid flow rates, and coal particle sizes on migration characteristics [...] Read more.
During the drainage process of coalbed methane (CBM) horizontal wells, wellbore fluctuations exert a significant influence on gas–liquid–solid three-phase flow behavior and coal particle migration. This study investigates the effects of wellbore inclination, gas–liquid flow rates, and coal particle sizes on migration characteristics through laboratory-scale experiments, based on an initial analysis of coal particle physical properties. A critical velocity model accounting for wellbore fluctuations is developed and refined. The migration states of coal particles under various operational conditions are examined, and the corresponding critical velocities and movement patterns are analyzed. The results show that coal particle migration is predominantly governed by the liquid phase, while the presence of particles has limited impact on the overall gas–liquid flow regime. Under different wellbore inclinations, the critical velocity increases with particle size; however, the influence of inclination is more pronounced than that of particle size. Coal particle entrainment follows three distinct stages: hopping, rolling, and suspension. The velocity during the rolling stage is identified as the critical velocity. At steeper inclination angles, particles are more easily entrained by the flow, and the associated critical velocity is higher. Based on the fitted experimental data, the model is revised to improve its predictive capability for coal particle transport in CBM wells. Finally, the model is validated using field data from a CBM well in the Ordos Basin. The results confirm the model’s ability to predict coal particle accumulation trends within the wellbore. This study provides new insights into coal particle migration mechanisms under fluctuating wellbore conditions, offering both experimental and theoretical support for understanding gas–liquid–solid flow behavior. It also presents technical guidance for optimizing drainage performance, controlling particle deposition, and formulating wellbore cleaning strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coalbed Methane Development Process)
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15 pages, 6634 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Assessment of Coalbed Methane Content Through Integrated Geophysical and Geological Analysis: Case Study from YJP Block
by Kaixin Gao, Suoliang Chang, Sheng Zhang, Bo Liu and Jing Liu
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1401; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051401 - 4 May 2025
Viewed by 315
Abstract
The study block is located on the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin and is one of the typical medium coalbed methane blocks in China that have previously been subjected to exploration and development work. The rich CBM resource base and good exploration [...] Read more.
The study block is located on the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin and is one of the typical medium coalbed methane blocks in China that have previously been subjected to exploration and development work. The rich CBM resource base and good exploration and development situation in this block mean there is an urgent need to accelerate development efforts, but compared with the current situation for tight sandstone gas where development is in full swing in the area, the production capacity construction of CBM wells in the area shows a phenomenon of lagging to a certain degree. In this study, taking the 4 + 5 coal seam of the YJP block in the Ordos Basin as the research object, we carried out technical research on an integrated program concerning CBM geology and engineering and put forward a comprehensive seismic geology analysis method for the prediction of the CBM content. The study quantitatively assessed the tectonic conditions, depositional environment, and coal seam thickness as potential controlling factors using gray relationship analysis, trend surface analysis, and seismic geological data integration. The results show that tectonic conditions, especially the burial depth, residual deformation, and fault development, are the main controlling factors affecting the coalbed methane content, showing a strong correlation (gray relational value greater than 0.75). The effects of the depositional environment (sand–shale ratio) and coal bed thickness were negligible. A weighted fusion model incorporating seismic attributes and geological parameters was developed to predict the gas content distribution, achieving relative prediction errors of below 15% in validation wells, significantly outperforming traditional interpolation methods. The integrated approach demonstrated enhanced spatial resolution and accuracy in delineating the lateral CBM distribution, particularly in structurally complex zones. However, limitations persist due to the seismic data resolution and logging data reliability. This method provides a robust framework for CBM exploration in heterogeneous coal reservoirs, emphasizing the critical role of tectonic characterization in gas content prediction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coalbed Methane Development Process)
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14 pages, 5234 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on Temperature Field Monitoring Methods During Gas Discharge in Coal Seams
by Feng Zhang, Jilin Shao and Ruihe Zhou
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051295 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 235
Abstract
The evolution of the coal seam temperature field is the key factor affecting gas extraction efficiency during heat injection, but its change law under different drilling layout schemes and heat injection methods is not clear, and achieving real-time monitoring is difficult. In order [...] Read more.
The evolution of the coal seam temperature field is the key factor affecting gas extraction efficiency during heat injection, but its change law under different drilling layout schemes and heat injection methods is not clear, and achieving real-time monitoring is difficult. In order to simply and quickly understand underground temperature field change, we conducted an experimental study of the temperature–resistivity correlation law; we based our study on the theory that rock resistivity changes accordingly with temperature. To study the relationship between rock resistivity and temperature, both indoor and outdoor experiments were performed. Multiple sets of rock sample heating experiments were conducted indoors on sandstone, mudstone, coal, and tuff, and a regression equation for the relationship between temperature rise and resistivity change was established. In situ heating experiments were conducted on mudstone rock masses at an underground field test site. Special geophysical equipment was used to obtain rock resistivity data corresponding to each temperature change stage. By processing and analyzing the obtained data, the actual situation of in situ saturated rock resistivity changes during temperature increase can be understood. According to the experiments, after a temperature increase of 20 °C, the resistivity of the rock decreases to approximately 80% of its initial level. After the temperature increases by 40 degrees, resistivity decreases to approximately 70% of the initial value. After a temperature increase of 70 degrees, it decreases to less than 50% of the initial resistivity. The results of indoor and outdoor in situ experiments show that by using electrical geophysical equipment to monitor changes in the electrical resistivity of rock masses, it is possible to understand the temperature change areas of underground rock masses in a timely manner. This study provides basic data for the real-time monitoring of changes in underground coalbed methane (CBM) temperature fields, which is expected to improve the efficiency of CBM mining by guiding and optimizing the drilling layout scheme and heat injection mode. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coalbed Methane Development Process)
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