Numerical simulation of a coupled gas flow and geomechanics process in fractured coalbed methane reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract The pores and throats of coal seam are narrow, and the permeability is very low. It is a porous medium with complicated deformation mechanism. In the process of gas production, the change of stress, pore pressure, gas adsorption and desorption will lead to the change of grains, pore volume, and the seepage capacity of coal seam. Based on the theory of poroelastic and seepage mechanics, a physical model of fractured horizontal well and a coupled mathematic model of coal deformation and gas flow are established. The dynamic change model of permeability is deduced too. The development characteristics and laws of coalbed methane are numerically simulated by using numerical analysis software Comsol Multiphysics. Finally, the sensitivity of the key parameters in the model and the influence of the fracture parameters are analyzed. The results show that the application of fractured horizontal well is an effective measure to increase production of coalbed reservoirs; with the increase of Langmuir volumetric strain constant, fracture half‐length, and the numbers of fracture, the production of coalbed methane is increasing. In the case of constant total fracture length, number, and spacing, when fracture half‐lengths are long and short interlaced distribution, the production is the highest and it is the best fracture distribution pattern. The study provides a theoretical basis for the further study of coalbed deformation, gas migration, efficient, and rational development of coalbed methane reservoirs.