Mechanisms of gas flow in coal

and permeability
Dr Abouna Saghafi
ECBM Research Team Leader
CSIRO Energy Technology

Module overview
Coal seam and gas flow
Fluid flow properties of coal
Gas and water flow (relative permeability)
Fracture and matrix permeability
In situ measurement of permeability
Micro permeability measurement
Diffusion
Diff i flow
fl
and
d measurementt off
diffusivity
y
Page 1

Fluid migration
g
in coal
An important
p
difference
between coal and other
sedimentary reservoirs is
the regularity and high
density of joints and
fissures in coal. These
regularly distributed
fractures (cleat) allow the
migration of fluid across the
medi m following
medium
follo ing
permeation and diffusion
mechanisms.

Page 2

Coal seam and gas flow

Coal is a sedimentary
rock with extensive
network of fissures and
g it
micro fractures making
both a gas reservoir and
an aquifer.
Fractures in coal (cleats)
are formed during
coalification process and
due to mechanical stress.
Some cleats are filled with
secondary minerals
reducing the capacity of
coal for gas movement.
Page 3

Viscous/laminar flow in porous media

Visco
Viscous
s fluid
fl id flow,
flo in
fractures, occurs when
there is a difference in
fluid pressure along the
flow path (pressure
Upstream
gradient).
fluid at
Darcy law (Henry Darcy, 1855)

k dp
=
dx
d

pressure
P1

Downstream
fluid at
pressure P2

1: Fluid flux (m3 per m2 per

second)
p: Fluid pressure (Pa)
k: Permeability (m2)
((1 darcyy = ~10-12 m2)

: Fluid dynamic viscosity (Pa.s)

Page 4

Simultaneous gas and water flow (relative permeability)

Permeability to gas is
reduced in presence of
water.

k g = kr * K
kr < 1.0

Relative
permeability

At certain level of saturation,

water stream becomes
disconnected and gas
permeability can not be
increased further (residual
water
t saturation).
t
ti ) agents may be used to
Surfactant
reduce water interfacial tension and
increase gas permeability.

Gas saturation
0.8 0.6 0.4
0.2
1.0

CH4

H2O

0.8
0.6
0.4
02
0.2

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Water saturation

Page 5

1.0

Gas and water in reservoirs

In conventional reservoirs
almost all gas is stored in
available void space
above water.
water
Gas production is
achieved as soon as well
iscoal
completed.
In
reservoirs gas is held in
microspores and cleats. It can not
desorb in presence of water.
water
Therefore, the hydrostatic pressure
should be lowered to allow the gas
d
desorption.
ti
There is a period of the dewatering
before g
gas production
p
is achieved.

Coal
reservoir

CH4

H2O

Conventional
reservoir
i

CH4

H2O

Page 6

Gas and water in coal

Gas in coal microspores
p
and cleats is held by
capillary and water
pressure forces
(hydrostatic pressure).
No gas is desorbed before
th water
the
t pressure is
i
lowered to reach the gas
desorption pressure.

Gas & water in a coal

reservoir fracture
pg = pdesorption
pg= pw

Pg< pw

CH4

H2O

Hence, a coal seam must be dewatered

b f
before
gas from
f
micropores
i
can desorb
d
b
into fractures.

Page 7

Gas production and dewatering

Coal seam must be
dewatered before gas
desorbs into fractures.
There are 3 stages:
Increase gas production
(dewatering)
Stable
S
production
Decline production

The quantity of water discharge

depends on:
coal type
type,
depth, and
the hydrology of the area.

Water
production
(barrel/day)

Gas
production
(m3/day)

Stable production stage

CH4

H 2O

Time (months)

Page 8

Fracture permeability (macro permeability)

Permeability is a measure of the ease with which a fluid flows

in a reservoir fractures.
Fracture permeability is a function of,

Frequency, openness and connectivity of the fractures

Depth, stress and fluid pressure (effective stress)
Relative amounts of water and gas in the coal

Page 9

Effect of stress on permeability of coal

Coal
permeabil
bil
ity
decrease
s with
depth
(
(effective
stress).

Effective stress
=-p
Page 10

Permeability stimulation
Permeability can be
increased artificially by
generating new gas
pathways and void
Cavity completion is one
such technique, creating
a large cavity at the gas
outlet in the seam

Page 11

Permeability stimulation
Permeability can be
increased by creating a
vertical fracture along the
coal seam: hydraulic
fracturing
g technique
q

Page 12

In situ measurement of permeability

The rate of pressure build
build-up
up
and the time required to
reach the asymptotic value of
gas pressure in a sealed
section of a borehole yields a
measure of the in-situ coal
permeability.
bilit

Coal seam

Packer

Pressure
e

A single or a double packer

system is used, measuring
gas pressure and
composition
composition.

Borehole

Time
Page 13

In-situ
In
situ measurement of permeability
A packer is
being
introduced
into the
b
borehole
h l for
f
gas
pressure
build up
and gas
compositio
p
n
measureme
nt

Page 14

In situ measurement of permeability

A single or
a double
packer
y
is
system
used,
measurin
g gas
pressure
and
compositi
on.

Page 15

Example of in-situ permeability measurement

The permeability
can be estimated
from the rate of
pressure increase
in the borehole
borehole.

10

Pressu
ure (atm)

In this case gas

pressure in a
sealed section of
borehole increased
t about
to
b t 700 kPa.
kP

0
0

10

15

20

Time elapsed (hours)

Page 16

Fluid flow properties of coal

Gas flow in coal
takes place in two
major regimes:
Plug or viscous
flow in large
fracture and
fissures (Fracture
flow)
Diffusion or
dispersive flow in
micro fractures
and fissures
(Matrix flow)

Viscous flow is in the direction of

negative pressure gradient

Page 17

From desorption to viscous flow

Page 18

Gas flow in coal: permeability and diffusivity

1 Laminar flow of free gas
takes in fractures by
permeation mechanism (
Darcys
y law))
2 Desorption and flow of
desorbed gas in small
fissures and pores take
place by diffusion
(slipping flow, Knudsen
fl
flow,
Fi
Ficks
k law)
l )

k p
1 =
x
c
2 = D
x
Gas flow

1
2

Page 19

Modelling gas flow in coal

Three mechanisms of gas
flow in coal can be
defined:

Conceptual Gas Flow Model

in
i Coal
C
l

1. Diffusive flow from coal

matrix
t i into
i t fractures,
f t
2. Slipping flow of adsorbed
gas on the pore surface,
and
3. Viscous flow of free gas in
fractures.

A unifying equation of flow

can be developed to
yield a first
approximation of flow
rate of gas and gas
content.
t t

1
2
3

ux
Fl

1. Diffusive flow

2. Slipping flow

3. Viscous flow

Page 20

Permeability scales
Large fracture permeability (macro
permeability) affects gas production
in short term.
However
However, long term gas
production depends on matrix
permeability (micro permeability).

P1 > P2

P1

P2

Micro permeability is required if long term gas

production needs to be investigated.
p
g

Page 21

Micro permeability affecting parameters

Medium structural parameters
Porosity, volume and pore size distribution
Tortuosity
Tortuosity

Fluid and environmental parameters

Viscosity, shape and molecular polarity of gas
Pressure and temperature

Page 22

Measurement of micro permeability in laboratory

Permeability is measured by forcing
gas to flow through a solid coal
sample under the forces of pressure
(pressure g
(p
gradient).
)
The pressures in two chambers are
monitored and used to calculate the
permeability of coal to a given gas. Pressure
(MPa)

P1

P1>P2

P1

P2

P2

Time ((days)
y )

Page 23

Permeability calculation
For permeability determination the equations of mass conservation and Darcy flow
are used.
used
(u x )
( )
=
Conservation of mass across the coal
x
t
sample:
steady
t d state
t t & id
ideall gas assumptions
ti

Pressure in the coal sample

p : P 2 (x ) =

P22 (t ) P12 (t )
x + P12 (t )
L

lln (P1 (t ) P2 (t )) = Pf t + K

P22 (t ) P12 (t )
P (x ) =
x + P12 (t )
L
2

Q
k P
u= =
S
x

c = Pf =

k=

cL
1
1
SPf +
V1 V2

1
k S 1
+ Pf
L V1 V2

Page 24

Permeabilityy system,
y
, Outside view
Gas inlet valves

hood

pressure transducers

heater

pressure
indicator

Page 25

Permeability and Diffusitivity measurement

Permeability
Hi h gas
High
pressure is
maintained at
one end of the
core sample
and the time to
reach the
eq ilibri m
equilibrium
pressure at the
other end is
the measure of
permeability

Page 26

Permeability system

Length of the disk: L = 6 mm

Diameter of the disk: D = 16 mm

sample disk

O-ring

spacer

Disk holder
Page 27

Example : measurement
P1 = 600 kPa, P2 = 500 kPa, T = 27 C

P1 > P2

Pressure vs. Time

0.62
0.6

Pressure (MPa)

0.58

P1

Final pressure: Pf = 550 kPa

P2

0.56
0.54

Experiments
p
time: t80%=27
h

0.52
0.5
0.48
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Time (hr)

Page 28

Example: calculation
Evolution of pressure difference (P1 -P2 )
400 0
400.0

50
5.0

P1-P2 (kPa)
ln(P1-P2)

4.5

Linear (ln(P1-P2))

4.0

P 1-P 2 (kPa)

300.0

3.5
y = -0.0609x
0 0609x + 4
4.6078
6078
R2 = 0.9998

3.0
2.5 Ln (P 1-P 2)

200.0

2.0
1.5

100.0

1.0
0.5

0.0

0.0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

Time (h)

C = -0.0609 hr-1

k=

cL
1
1
SPf +
V1 V2

K = 4.2410-19 m2
K = 0.43
0 43 D
D

Page 29

Effect of gas type and pressure on micro

permeability of sandstone

Permeability vs. Mean pore pressure

9 For all gases the

permeability reduces with
pore gas pressure.

0.90

P e r m e a b ility (m ic r o D a r c y )

9 Permeability is highest for

Argon and lowest for carbon
dioxide. In descending order:
Ar
N2
CH4
Kr
CO2

0.80

Ar

0.70

N2
CH4

0.60

Kr
CO2

0 50
0.50
0.40
0.30
500

600

700

800

900

1000

Mean pore pressure (kPa)

Page 30

Effect of gas type and pressure on micro

permeability of coal

For two gases the

permeability reduces
with pressure.
pressure

0.10
0 09
0.09

P e r m e a b ility (m ic r o D a r c y )

Coal permeability is
higher for CH4 than
f CO2.
for

Permeability vs. Mean pore pressure (Coal)

0.08
0.07
0 06
0.06
CH4

0.05

CO2

0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

900

950

Mean pore pressure (kPa)

Page 31

1000

Shrinkage/swelling of coal : permeability change

Coal shrinks
following
gg
gas
desorption.

z1

z2

Permeability
increases with
fracture aperture

k1
z1
= ( )
k2
z2
Page 32

Measurement of swelling (CSIRO)

The system measures the
change in coal sample
dimensions with change in gas
pressure.
No physical contact with the
sample is undertaken during the
test.

A Jerguson sight gauge and a

number of digital cameras and a
video imaging software are the
main parts of the system.
Page 33

Measurement of swelling
Swelling/shrinkag
e of coal can have
important effect
on the
permeability of
coal to gas.
Seam gas swells
coal and CO2
swelling
g is twice
as much as CH4

Linear swelling = L/L*100

Linear
swelling
2.50
%

Australian low rank coal

CO2

2.00

1.50

1.00

CH4

0.50

0.00
0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

Pressure (MPa)

Page 34

Gas diffusion in coal/rock

Gas transport under
concentration gradient, no
pressure forces exist in this
type
yp of transport
p
(P
( 1 = P2)).

Diffusion
coefficient

dc
2 = D
d
dx

Random molecular motions

Ficks Law (Adolf Fick, 1855)
generate the flux of gas from
high concentration area to
low concentration area.
Diffusion flow

P1

Coal or Sandstone

P2

Diffusion flow

Page 35

Diffusivityy system
y
- Schematic
GC control & Data logging
CH4

N2
CO2

Syringe pump
Vent/vacuum

GC

Water bath

Coal sample
The system is being developed at CSIRO during the last 18 years.
It can measure the diffusivity to gas at a wide range of environmental conditions:
- Various temperatures (generally 20 60 C)
- Various pressures up to 12 MPa

Page 36

Diffusivityy system
y
- Outside
Above view
Sampling valves

Front view

Sampling bags
Temperature indicator

Pressure indicators
GC

Chamber valves

Vacuum valve Pressure transducers

Gas inlet & outlet valves

Page 37

Data Logging
gg g
Software interface

Page 38

Measurement of gas diffusion coefficient

2
Feed Chamber
C1,1(t 0) = 100%

C
2C
=D 2
t
x
C
= D
x

Steady state

Coal or Sandstone

Measuring chamber
C1,2 (t 0) = 0

Cm (t ) = C0 +

A C1 C2
t
D
V
L

A
Cm (t ) = C0 + x =l dt
V 0

A C1 C2
V
l

= D

Volu
ume of gas diffused (% )

Cm(t) =t +

where

(t) (hour)

Page 39

Gas diffusion through solid coal

Prefrential seam gas diffusion
through solid coal

Diffusivity depends on
gas type.
g
yp
Cumulatedgasvolumediiffused(%)

CO2 diffuses in coal

faster than CH4.

10

CO2
4

CH4

0
0

50

100

Time (hour)

Australian high volatile bituminous coal

Page 40

Higher diffusivity of CO2 in coal relative to CH4

16.0
CO2 diffusion
coefficient
14.0
6
2
(Dx10 , cm /s)

DCO2 : DCH4 =2.3

12.0
DCO2 : DCH4 =1.1
10.0

CO2 diffuses faster in

coal than CH4.
3 times
t es faster
aste
Up to 2.3
for coals from Sydney
Basin.

8.0
6.0
4.0
CH4 diffusion coefficient

2.0

(Dx10 , cm /s)

0.0
00
0.0

20
2.0

40
4.0

60
6.0

80
8.0

10 0
10.0

12 0
12.0

14 0
14.0

Page 41

16 0
16.0

Dr Ab
D
Abouna S
Saghafi
h fi
Division of Energy Technology
Senior Principle Research Scientist
Email: abouna.saghafi@csiro.au
Web: www.csiro.au/group

Thank you
Contact Us
Phone: 1300 363 400 or +61 3 9545 2176
Email: enquiries@csiro.au Web: www.csiro.au
Page 42

References

Saghafi, A., Faiz, M. and Roberts, D., 2007. CO2 storage and
diffusivity properties of Sydney Basin coals. International
Journal of Coal Geology 70, pp 240-254.

Saghafi A., 2001. Coal seam gas reservoir characterisation,

In: Proceedings of the Gas from Coal Symposium,
Organised by Ultra System Technology
Technology, March 2001,
2001
Brisbane. Also available at
http://www.australiancoal.csiro.au/pdfs/saghafi.pdf

Page 43