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

Abstract

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 dimensionmore » 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.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
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  1. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States); Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
OSTI Identifier:
1614255
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1532593
Grant/Contract Number:  
FE0026161
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Fuel
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 230; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0016-2361
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; coal bioconversion; SEM imaging; fractal analysis; reservoir flow properties

Citation Formats

Pandey, Rohit, and Harpalani, Satya. An imaging and fractal approach towards understanding reservoir scale changes in coal due to bioconversion. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.171.
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Pandey, Rohit, & Harpalani, Satya. An imaging and fractal approach towards understanding reservoir scale changes in coal due to bioconversion. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.171
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Pandey, Rohit, and Harpalani, Satya. Tue . "An imaging and fractal approach towards understanding reservoir scale changes in coal due to bioconversion". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.171. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1614255.
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@article{osti_1614255,
title = {An imaging and fractal approach towards understanding reservoir scale changes in coal due to bioconversion},
author = {Pandey, Rohit and Harpalani, Satya},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.171},
journal = {Fuel},
number = C,
volume = 230,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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