Abstract:
In the process of CO
2 storage in deep coal seam, the change of seepage pore structure in water-bearing coal seam by supercritical CO
2 (SCCO
2) greatly determines the recovery of CH
4. Thus, the interaction of SCCO
2-H
2O mixture fluid with low water rate (mass ratio of SCCO
2∶H
2O =10∶1) with three rank coals (long flame coal, gas coal and anthracite) was simulated on a SCCO
2 geo-reaction system under conditions of temperature of 45 ℃ and pressure of 12 MPa. Mercury intrusion method was used to address the response of seepage pore distribution to SCCO
2-H
2O exposure, and the influence of SCCO
2-H
2O on seepage pore heterogeneity of coal samples was discussed based on thermodynamic fractal model. The results show that SCCO
2-H
2O exposure causes an increase in porosity and pore volume of all coal samples. As a result, the permeability of coals increases. Nevertheless, the response of seepage pores to SCCO
2-H
2O varies with coal rank. After SCCO
2-H
2O exposure, the seepage pore volume of long flame coal shows a remarkable increase, the meso-porosity of gas coal rapidly increases, while slight increase in macropore and mesopore is found for anthracite. The increase in seepage pore volume of coal samples can be attributed to the chemical reaction, dissolution and mobilization of mineral matters, water loss, and sorption swelling. The content and distribution of mineral matters greatly determine the change in seepage pore structure of various rank coals. SCCO
2-H
2O interaction degrades the seepage pore heterogeneity of coal samples and thus smoothen pore structure, improve pore connectivity and increase permeability.