Reservoir Properties and Gas Potential of the Carboniferous Deep Coal Seam in the Yulin Area of Ordos Basin, North China

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 18; no. 15; p. 3987
• Main Authors: Fang, Xianglong, Qiu, Feng, Shu, Longyong, Huo, Zhonggang, Li, Zhentao, Cai, Yidong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.08.2025
• Subjects: Adsorption; Analysis; CBM; Coal; Coalbed methane; deep coal seam; Drilling and boring; gas potential; Geology; Methane; Natural gas reserves; Ordos Basin; Permeability; Physical properties; Porosity; R&D; Research & development; reservoir properties; Stone; China
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en18153987

In comparison to shallow coal seams, deep coal seams exhibit characteristics of high temperature, pressure, and in-situ stress, leading to significant differences in reservoir properties that constrain the effective development of deep coalbed methane (CBM). This study takes the Carboniferous deep 8# coal seam in the Yulin area of Ordos basin as the research subject. Based on the test results from core drilling wells, a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics and variation patterns of coal reservoir properties and a comparative analysis of the exploration and development potential of deep CBM are conducted, aiming to provide guidance for the development of deep CBM in the Ordos basin. The research results indicate that the coal seams are primarily composed of primary structure coal, with semi-bright to bright being the dominant macroscopic coal types. The maximum vitrinite reflectance (Ro,max) ranges between 1.99% and 2.24%, the organic is type III, and the high Vitrinite content provides a substantial material basis for the generation of CBM. Longitudinally, influenced by sedimentary environment and plant types, the lower part of the coal seam exhibits higher Vitrinite content and fixed carbon (FCad). The pore morphology is mainly characterized by wedge-shaped/parallel plate-shaped pores and open ventilation pores, with good connectivity, which is favorable for the storage and output of CBM. Micropores (<2 nm) have the highest volume proportion, showing an increasing trend with burial depth, and due to interlayer sliding and capillary condensation, the pore size (<2 nm) distribution follows an N shape. The full-scale pore heterogeneity (fractal dimension) gradually increases with increasing buried depth. Macroscopic fractures are mostly found in bright coal bands, while microscopic fractures are more developed in Vitrinite, showing a positive correlation between fracture density and Vitrinite content. The porosity and permeability conditions of reservoirs are comparable to the Daning–Jixian block, mostly constituting oversaturated gas reservoirs with a critical depth of 2400–2600 m and a high proportion of free gas, exhibiting promising development prospects, and the middle and upper coal seams are favorable intervals. In terms of resource conditions, preservation conditions, and reservoir alterability, the development potential of CBM from the Carboniferous deep 8# coal seam is comparable to the Linxing block but inferior to the Daning–Jixian block and Baijiahai uplift.