Geological and Geochemical Characteristics of the Secondary Biogenic Gas
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Geological and geochemical characteristics of the secondary biogenic gas in coalbed gases, Huainan coalfield Zhang Xiaojun1,2 Cao Zhenglin1 Tao Mingxin2,3 Wang Wanchun2 Ma Jinlong4 (1. Northwest Branch,Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development,PetroChina,Gansu Lanzhou 730020; 2. Key Laboratory of Gas Geochemistry, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Gansu Lanzhou 730000); 3. College of Resources Sciences and Technology,Beijing Normal University,Beijing 100875; 4. School of Resources and Environmental Sciences,Lanzhou University, Gansu Lanzhou 730000) Abstract The research on coalbed gases genetic type of the different mining area is of great significance for exploration and development of the coalbed gases in Huainan coalfield. Through a combination of geological and geochemical method, we have conducted an in-depth study on the coalbed gases genetic type of main mining area in Panji and Zhangji. The research results show that the compositions of coalbed gases in Huainan coalfield have high content methane, low content heavy hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, and special dry gas. This characteristic is accordant with coalbed gases composition of secondary biogenic gas in the domestic and oversea. 13 The evolution coal is at the stage of generation of thermogenic gases, but the δ C1 values within 13 the range of biogenic gas (the range of δ C1 values from -56.7‰ to –67.9‰). Comparative 13 studies show thatδ C1 values of coalbed gases in Huainan coalfield was lower than that of the 13 coal type gases in China and coalbed gases of main area in the worldm, and it was similar toδ C1 13 values of secondary biogenic gas reported in the domestic and oversea.The δ C2 value of coalbed gases in Huainan coalfield shows not only the features of the thermogenic ethane, but also the mixed features of the biogenic methane and thermogenic ethane. In geological characteristics, Huainan coalfield has favorable conditions of generation of secondary biogenic gas, such as suitable coal rank, shallow coalbed result from the strong tectonic uplift, the fierce infiltration of surface water, the best temperature of generation of biogenic gas. Thus, favorable geological conditions and geochemical composition of coalbed gases proved the existence of secondary biogenic gas in Huainan coalfield. Key words coalbed gases; secondary biogenic gas; geochemistry; geology; characteristic Different genetic types of coalbed gas have different formation mechanism. And their composition and isotopic geochemistry characteristic have large differences. Both of them are of great significance for research on production, storage, transportation, exploration and theoretical study of coalbed gas [1] [2]. Therefore, in the study of coalbed gas exploration and utilization, people pay more attention to the causes of the coalbed gas. In 90s 20th century, Scott put forward the concept of secondary biogenic gas when he studied the coalbed gas in San Juan Basin in America. He believes that the coalbed gas was produced by moisture, n-alkanes and other organic 1 compounds generating from the coal-generated process. Other geochemical composition is similar to the native biogenic gas. But the main difference is that the thermal evolution of coal over passes the formation of the native bio-gas phase, and Coal is generally uplifted to shallow[3]. Due to the proposing and development of the cause theory, the United States lignite coal successfully done the commercial exploitation of low-level coalbed gas in the Powder River Basin in 1998,and thus made their production of caolbed gas jump to 32 billion [4] [5]. Chinese Huainan coalfield locates in the southern coal-gathering basin of Carboniferous– Permian, north China which is a coalbed gas high enrichment zone [6]. The past research towards to coalbed gas in Huainan coalfield was mainly focused on the applied geological problems. In contrast, the study of geochemical characteristics and genetic types is still relatively weak. In recent years, there was a first demonstration of generating type of the secondary biogenic gas in Huainan coalfield by Tao mingxin and also the changes of their isotopic characteristics was studied [7]. On this basis, we have done more detailed study on the isotopic characteristics of coalbed gas in Pan Ⅰ coal field, Pan Ⅲ coal field and Zhangji coal field, Huainan coalfield. Combined with geological data, we did a series of study on generating types of coalbed gas in each mining in order to provide some scientific basis for the comprehensive development. 1. Geological condition The study area is composed of, Taiyuan formation of Upper Carboniferous System, Shanxi Formation and Xiashihezi formation of Lower Permian System and, Shangshihezi formation of Upper Permian System. The coal in Taiyuan formation of Upper Carboniferous system is poorly developed, it is thin unstable coal bed with no production value. Shanxi formation, lower Shihezi formation and upper Shihezi formation of Permian System are all with a characteristic of multi-bedding coal, large thickness, and relative stability. There are generally 30 coal-bearing lays and the main coal reservoirs concentrating in lower Permian are 1, 8, 11-2 and 13-1 coal beds. The average thickness of 13-1coal bed is 4.33m, and 3.31m for 11-2 coal bed. They are the most stable coal bed and also the main coal bed for methane resource production in this area. Huainan coal field is a complex syncline with EW axis. Tan-Lu fault and Fuyang deep fault which are with NNE distribution control the eastern and western borders respectively. Synclinorium within the fold and faults are developed. Secondary anticline and syncline includes Xieqiao-Gugou syncline, Chenqiao anticline and Panji anticline. There are two groups of faults: one is striking overthrust distributing in the two wings of the synclinorium, the other is NNE cross-cutting normal faults parallel to Tan-Lu fault. Thus the ladder structure from east to west is formed. The coal metamorphism of Huainan coal field is mainly plutonic metamorphism and the metamorphic stage is mostly gas coal, and some are fat coal and coking coal[8]. 2 2. Sample collection and testing methods Study samples mainly come from Pan Ⅰ coal field, Pan Ⅲ coal field and 11 and 13 coal layers of Zhangji coal field with a depth of 500~700m. And the samples are mainly underground pumping gas. Gas sample is generally collected by drainage method, a few of them are collected using air bags and cylinders. Sample test was completed in Key Laboratory of Gas Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Carbon and hydrogen isotope are tested by Delta Plus XP Mass Spectrometers. The analysis accuracy of carbon isotope is ≤±0.25‰ using the international PDB standard. The analysis precision of hydrogen isotope is ≤±1.5‰ using international SMOW standard. Gas composition was tested by Mat-271 Mass Spectrometer. For low content components (C2H6、CO2), we did the testing with the methods of gradually increased the sample amount and repeated measurements in order to ensure the accuracy of the test data. 3. Geochemistry characteristic 3.1 Components of Coalbed Gas Characteristic components of coalbed gas are the main basis for identifying the causes. Research has shown [7] [9] [10] that the component of secondary biogenic coalbed gas is composed of methane, heavy hydrocarbons are very low, and CO2 is generally less than 5%, they are typical dry air and extra dry air. Table 1 The geochemical composition of secondary biogenic coalbed gas Coalbed Isotopic composition Basin/ Coal field Ro(%) Component age (‰,PDB) 13 CH 4 :97.44~99.23% δ C 1 :-64.4~-67.9‰ Pan Ⅰ coal field P 0.84~0.93 C 1 /C 1-3 >0.99 δDCH4 :-211~-217‰ (China) 13 CO20.48% δ C 2 :-27.9~-29.1‰ 13 CH 4 :94.61~97.83% δ C 1 :-56.7~-57.8‰ Pan Ⅲ coal field P 0.81~1.09 C 1 /C 1-3 >0.99 δDCH4 :-151~-265‰ (China) 13 CO24.51% δ C 2 :-22.2~-24.5‰ 13 CH 4 :82.05~99.37% δ C 1 :-59.9~-61.2‰ Zhangji coal field P 0.81~1.09 C 1 /C 1-3 >0.99 δDCH4 :-188~-221‰ (China) 13 CO21.28% δ C 2 :-21.4~-32.1‰ 13 [7] CH 4 :60~90% δ C 1 :-50.7~-61.3‰ Xinji coal field C,P 0.88~0.91 C 1 /C 1-5 >0.99 δDCH4 :-219~-243‰ (China) 13 CO22% δ C 2 :-15.9~-26.7‰ Sydney and 13 CH 4 /C 2 H6 ≥1000; δ C 1 :-60±10‰ Bowen basin P 0.8~1.2 [9] CO 2 <5%; δDCH4 :-217±17‰ (Australian) 13 δ C 1 : -44.5~-79.9‰ Upper Silesian CH 4 >90% C 2 δDCH4 : -153~-202‰ basin 0.59~1.17 C 1 /(C 2 +C3 ):122~10000 13 [10] δ C 2 :-22.3~-24.6‰ (Poland) CDMI:0.0~21.0% 13 δ C CO2 : -2.8~-27.2‰ Analysis results (table 1) from Pan Ⅰ coal field, Pan Ⅲ coal field and Zhangji coal field show that: components in each mine are mostly similar. The content of methane in coalbed gas is 82.05~99.37%, and with an average content of 94.79%. The content of heavy hydrocarbons is very low. The average contents of ethane and propane are 0.06% and 0.04% respectively. 3 Regulations on one of hydrocarbon gases, the average content of methane reached no less than 99.89%. It can clearly be seen the dominating situation of methane in hydrocarbon gases. In non-hydrocarbon components, the average content of N2 is 3.89%, CO2 is 0.92%, and C1/C1-3 is no less than 0.99. They are dry gases of high content of methane, heavy hydrocarbons and low content of CO2.