An imaging and fractal approach towards understanding reservoir scale changes in coal due to bioconversion

Pandey, Rohit; Harpalani, Satya

doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.171

Title: An imaging and fractal approach towards understanding reservoir scale changes in coal due to bioconversion

Journal Article · Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Fuel

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.171· OSTI ID:1614255

Pandey, Rohit ^[1]; Harpalani, Satya ^[1]

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL (United States)

Microbially enhanced coalbed methane (MECBM) aims to replicate the natural process of microbial methane generation in coal under in situ conditions. Considerable work has been reported over the years to optimize the associated microbial geo-chemistry. However, there is very little insight with regards to changes in the physical structure of coal due to bioconversion, and its impact on fluid flow properties. Here this paper presents the result of an image and fractal-based approach used to evaluate the changes in physical properties of coal. Samples of coal treated over 30, 60 and 120 days respectively were imaged before and after bioconversion. The results revealed that coal bioconversion resulted in swelling of the coal matrix. Cleats narrower than 5 µm reduced in its width post-bioconversion. A 77% drop in the permeability of coal is expected from the obtained results. Bioconversion also resulted in separation of thin layers of coal flakes from the coal surface, serving as a potential source of fines. Fractal analysis of the images revealed a decrease in the fractal dimension post bioconversion, which is in agreement with the previously reported studies, thus corroborating the variations in sorption-trends observed due to bioconversion. Additionally, the methodology to determine the fractal dimension via two-dimensional image processing was modified to improve its accuracy, and remove the dependency of the dimension to the scale of the obtained images. Bioconversion also resulted in formation of new pores/fractures. Shorter treatment duration resulted in nanometer-scale discontinuous pores, which do not contribute to Darcian flow. Longer treatment periods resulted in sub-micron wide continuous pores. Also, few larger fractures (>5 µm wide) saw an increase in its aperture post-treatment. This opens up new avenues, such as, utilizing artificially induced fracturing techniques to enhance biogenic methane production in future.

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Research Organization:: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0026161

OSTI ID:: 1614255

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1532593

Journal Information:: Fuel, Vol. 230, Issue C; ISSN 0016-2361

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 23 works

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