In-Situ Stress Partition and Its Implication on Coalbed Methane Occurrence in the Basin–Mountain Transition Zone: a Case Study of the Pingdingshan Coalfield, China
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Sådhanå (2020) 45:47 Ó Indian Academy of Sciences https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-020-1278-7Sadhana(0123456789().,-volV)FT3](0123456789().,-volV) In-situ stress partition and its implication on coalbed methane occurrence in the basin–mountain transition zone: a case study of the Pingdingshan coalfield, China JIANGWEI YAN1,2,3, TIANRANG JIA1,2,3,*, GUOYING WEI1,2,4,*, MINGJIE ZHANG1,2 and YIWEN JU5 1 State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China 2 College of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China 3 Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Jiaozuo 454003, Henan Province, China 4 Collaborative Innovation Center of Coal Safety Production of Henan Province, Jiaozuo 454003, China 5 Key Laboratory of Computational Geodynamics, College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] MS received 25 June 2019; revised 2 December 2019; accepted 5 December 2019 Abstract. The basin–mountain transition zone presents complex geologic structures and non-uniformly dis- tributed in-situ stress. Studying the spatial distribution laws of in-situ stress and their influences on coalbed methane (CBM) occurrence in coal seams plays a significant role in CBM extraction and prevention of coalmine disasters. Based on the actual measured in-situ stress data, CBM content and gas pressure data in the Pingdingshan coalfield, located in the basin–mountain transition zone in the south of the late Palaeozoic basins in the North China block, this research investigated the distribution characteristics of geologic structures and partition of in-situ stress as well as the effects of in-situ stresses on CBM occurrence in the research area using evolution theories of geologic structure and a statistical analysis method. The research results show that geologic structure and in-situ stress distribution in the research area have obvious partition characteristics. The research area is divided into three tectonic zonations. In-situ stress distribution is controlled by tectonic types and tectonic stress field evolution of different tectonic zonations, which are divided into high tectonic stress zonation, tectonic stress zonation and vertical stress zonation from east to west. Also, the research results reveal the characteristics of each stress zonation and the relationship between CBM occurrence and in-situ stress in this research area. Keywords. Partition of in-situ stress; control of geological structure; coalbed methane occurrence; basin– mountain transition zone; geologic structure evolution; coalfield. 1. Introduction [1, 2]. Further, stress measurement results have indicated that tectonic stress generally exists in the rock mass of the In-situ stress in the earth’s crust is formed under the effects earth’s crust, and its value is generally much larger than the of earth gravity, crustal movement and artificial distur- gravity stress of the rock mass and the lateral stress caused bance. In-situ stress can be divided into gravity stress, by gravity. The direction of tectonic stress is generally tectonic stress and mining-induced stress. Before mining, horizontal or near horizontal [3]. The horizontal stress is mainly gravity stress and tectonic stress exist. Tectonic generated by the tectonic stress [1, 4]. The value of maxi- stress, as in-situ stress generated during the movement of mum horizontal stress is generally 1.0–2.0 times that of the crust and existing in the crust (paleo-tectonic stress and gravity stress within the current depth of coal mining present tectonic stress included), primarily comes from the (\1200 m). Under the squeezing, expansion and shear collision of plates and deep material activities in plates effects due to multi-stage paleo-tectonic stress, coal-bear- ing strata are deformed and displaced, thus changing the formation, migration and preservation conditions of gas in *For correspondence 47 Page 2 of 17 Sådhanå (2020) 45:47 coal seams and damaging the structure of the coal body field in the Mediterranean region. Martin [48] measured a [1, 2, 4–6]. As a result, various types of deformed coals and significant increase in stress magnitude beneath the sub- diverse structures are formed, including open and closed horizontal fracture zone. Jia et al [7] considered that faults faults and folds. This also causes the relative lift and set- significantly affect in-situ stress distribution and that the tlement of coal-bearing strata and therefore controls the relationship between the fault trend and action direction of production, migration and storage of gas in coal seams. The principal stresses is an important factor influencing gas current structural feature and framework, gas content in outburst. Homand et al [49] identified two distinct stress coal seams and the development and distribution laws of areas in an arc syncline in the Provence coal basin. Han deformed coal are closely related to the effects of paleo- et al [34] reported that the orientation and magnitude of tectonic stress. As the main body of the current in-situ principal stress in the Kaiping syncline diverge widely from stress, the present tectonic stress exerts squeezing and the regional stress field and the stress regime, with 77% tension effects on existing geologic structures, provides strike-slip faulting and the remainder thrust faulting. Jia conditions in favour of the storage and release of gas in coal et al [21] studied the stress distribution laws of folded seams and is also the major cause of coal and gas outbursts structures under the modern stress field and their influences [2, 7–9]. Thus, it has a direct part in the gas outbursts. Due on CBM occurrence. Moreover, they found that the shear to the existence of geologic structures enhancing the stress concentration in a certain range of both sides of the heterogeneity of coal seams and the inhomogeneity of anticline is the primary cause of the strip distribution of tectonic stress distribution, in-situ stress is different in coal and gas outburst. different types of geologic structures and different locations Located in the southern margin of the North China plate of geologic structures; therefore, stress-concentrated zones and to the north of the Qinling orogenic belt [50], the and stress-increased zones are likely to be formed [1, 10]. Pingdingshan coalfield has complex geologic structures High tectonic stress determines the existence of high gas [51, 52], unevenly distributed in-situ stress [53–55], high pressure and content. The gravity stress primarily depends gas content and gas pressure, and severe risk of coal and on the thickness, lithology and other characteristics of the gas outburst [51, 52]. Penetrating studies on CBM occur- overlying strata. The larger the gravity stress, the lower the rence laws in the Pingdingshan coalfield have shown that possibility of gas to migrate and dissipate from coal seams in-situ stress significantly influences CBM occurrence and to the surface and it is easier for the gases to be stored. that in-situ stress distribution is controlled by geologic Otherwise, the gases are more likely to be dissipated. structures [53–55]. However, some issues yet will not be In-situ stress is an important parameter for academic clarified, such as distribution of in-situ stress, the control research and engineering applications in earth sciences, relation between geologic structures and in-situ stress, and energy science and safety science. For example, in-situ the influences of in-situ stress on gas occurrence. At pre- stress is a key factor for permeability prediction and fluid sent, mining in the Pingdingshan coalfield has entered deep flow in coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs and develop- areas (overburden depth of about 1,200 m), and a large ments [11–20], and coal and gas outburst prediction amount of in-situ stress data have been measured, which [4, 7, 21–23]; it also facilitates roadway support and rock provide a basis for studying in-situ stress distribution in the burst control in underground coal mines [24–27]. In addi- Pingdingshan coalfield. Using evolution theories of geo- tion, vertical stress is significant in the numerical simula- logic structure and statistical analysis method, this study tion of faulted zones, rock stiffness and rock falls [28–30]. investigated in-situ stress distribution laws and its control In a word, estimation of in-situ stress for coal-bearing strata factors in the Pingdingshan coalfield and analysed the has been applied widely in underground mines. influences of in-situ stresses on CBM occurrence. The Along with study of in-situ stress, numerous macro- and research results offer significant guidance for the develop- micro-tectonic studies have been undertaken to understand ment of CBM resources, prediction of gas outburst and local and far-field stress activities [31], and increasing roadway supports in the Pingdingshan coalfield. numbers of researchers have realized that in-situ stress is deeply affected by tectonic and gravitational forces and is particularly associated with horizontal tectonic movements 2. Geological setting [32, 33]. Many other factors are related to in-situ stress, such as geological structures [34–37], layering [38, 39], 2.1 Structural characteristics of the Pingdingshan rock heterogeneities [40–42] and so on. coalfield The magnitude and