The verification of displacement methane effect caused by hydraulic fracturing in gassy coal seams

During hydraulic fracturing in gassy coal seams, the gas concentration in mining path ways is found to increase significantly. This phenomenon should be the displacement methane effect caused by hydraulic fracturing. Does this effect exist objectively? To this end, laboratory and field verification experiments were carried out. An experimental system integrated with true triaxial hydraulic fracturing, seepage, and displacement gas was developed. The largest sample size was 500x500x500mm(3). Proper sealing was assured in the experimental system, and the effects of coal bed methane were simulated effectively. Methane at a specific pressure was injected into a sealed coal sample. After pressure stabilization and the methane adsorption reached its equilibrium level, the high-pressure water was injected into the coal sample from the surface. Absorbed methane in the coal sample was displaced from the bottom of the coal by water pressure seepage. After the conduction of deep borehole hydraulic fracturing in a high gassy coal seam, the gas was displaced inward and outward from the main fracture section. The permeability, diffusion, and transfer of the gas resulted in a region of increased methane content in both sides of the main fracture section. And the methane content in the main fracture section was decreased. Along the length of the borehole, the methane content changed significantly. The existence of displaced methane caused by hydraulic fracturing in gassy coal seams was first verified by laboratory experiments and then field tests. The pore-pressure gradient provides power for driving methane by hydraulic fracturing. The amount of desorbed methane resulted from the competitive adsorption of water and methane is more than that of the absorbed methane resulted from increased methane pressure, which provides material guarantee for displacing methane by hydraulic fracturing. The displacement methane caused by hydraulic fracturing in gassy coal seams was also found to be time dependent.