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The microfracture and pore structure characteristics of coal reservoirs are crucial for coalbed methane (CBM) development. This study examines the evolution of pore and fracture structures at the microscopic level and their fractal characteristics, elucidating their impact on CBM development in the northern Guizhou coal reservoirs. The results indicate that the pores and fractures in the coal reservoirs are relatively well-developed, which facilitates the adsorption of CBM. The density of primary fractures ranges from 5.8 to 14.4 pcs/cm, while the density of secondary fractures ranges from 3.6 to 11.8 pcs/cm. As the metamorphic degree of coal increases, the density of primary fractures initially increases and then decreases, whereas the density of secondary fractures decreases with increasing metamorphic degree. With increasing vitrinite reflectance, the specific surface area and pore volume of the coal samples first decrease and then increase. The fractal dimension ranges from 2.3761 to 2.8361; as the vitrinite reflectance of the coal samples increases, the fractal dimension D1 decreases initially and then increases, while D2 decreases. In the northern Guizhou region, CBM is characterized by an enrichment model of “anticline dominance + fault-hydrogeological dual sealing” along with geological controlling factors of” burial depth controlling gas content and permeability + local fault controlling accumulation”. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for the occurrence and extraction of CBM in northern Guizhou.

The prediction of the optimal coalbed methane (CBM) layer plays a significant role in the efficient development of CBM in multiple coal seam groups. In this article, the XGBoost model optimized by the tree-structured Parzen estimator (TPE) algorithm was established to automatically predict the optimal CBM layer in complex multi-coal seams of the Dahebian block in Guizhou Province, China. The research results indicate that the TPE XGBoost model has higher evaluation metrics than traditional machine learning models, with higher accuracy and generalization ability. The optimal coalbed methane layer predicted by the model for the Dacong 1–3 well is the 11th coal seam. In addition, the interpretation results of the model indicate that sonic (AC) and caliper logging (CAL) are relatively important in determining the optimal CBM layer. The favorable layers for coalbed methane development are distributed in coal seams with developed fractures and high gas content. The TPE-XGBoost model can help us objectively analyze the significance of different types of logging, quickly predict the optimal layer in complex multiple coal seam groups, and greatly reduce costs and subjective impact. It provides a new approach to predict the best CBM layer in multiple coal seam groups in the Guizhou Province in the southwest of China.

The macroscopic structural fractures (joints) and geostress distribution characteristics of coal reservoirs are important factors affecting the exploitation of coalbed methane (CBM). In this study, the joints in the sedimentary strata of the Dahebian block in Liupanshui area, Guizhou Province were investigated. Directional coal samples were collected for observation and statistical analysis of coal microfractures, the paleotectonic stress fields of the study area were reconstructed, and the tectonic evolution was elucidated. The geostress distribution characteristics of the target coal seam (coal seam No. 11, P3l) in the study area were analyzed using the finite element numerical simulation method. The results indicate that the structural evolution of the Dahebian syncline in the study area can be divided into two stages. The Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous stage (Early Yanshanian) is the first stage. Affected by the sinistral strike slip of the Weining–Ziyun–Luodian (WZL) fault zone, the derived stress field in the study area exhibits maximum principal stress (σ1) in the NEE–SWW direction. The Late Cretaceous stage (Late Yanshanian) is the second stage. Affected by the dextral strike slip of the WZL fault zone, the derived stress field exhibits σ1 in the NNW–SSE direction. The folds and faults formed in the first stage were modified by the structural deformation in the second stage. The dominant strikes of joints in the sedimentary strata are found to be in the NW–NNW (300°–360°) and NE (30°–60°) directions, with dip angles mostly ranging from 60° to 90°. The dominant strikes of coal microfractures are in the NW (285°–304°) and NE (43°–53°) directions. The distribution of geostress in the study area is characterized by high levels of geostress in the syncline center, decreasing towards the surrounding periphery. The overall trend of the geostress contour line is similar to the shape of the syncline and is influenced by folds and faults. The σ1 of coal seam No. 11 is vertical stress. The prediction results show that the joint density of coal seam No. 11 in the block is 36–50 joints/m, and the shape of the joint density contour line is also affected by the axial direction of the Dahebian syncline and the surrounding faults. The variation in coal seam joint density and the control effect of geostress on joints opening or closing affects the permeability of coal reservoirs. The study results provide significant guidance for the exploitation of CBM.

Cork spot is a common physiological disorder in pear fruits, which has been found in some pear cultivars. Mineral nutrition imbalance in fruit is regarded as the principal influence factor for disorder incidence, with some ongoing confusion and controversy. In our research, we explored the cork spot characteristics in Japanese pear ‘Akizuki’ (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai), adopted metabolome and mineral content analysis for healthy and disordered fruits, and made a correlation analysis of mineral and metabolites. Cork spots are mainly distributed on the outer flesh beneath the fruit peel. In cork spotted tissues, superoxide (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content, increased. A total of 1024 known metabolites were identified from all the samples and more changes in metabolism were detected between normal and cork spotted flesh tissues. Correlation analysis displayed that Ca, especially the Mg/Ca in fruits, could be used to predict whether an orchard will develop cork spot disorder; Mg and B were associated with the appearance of symptoms, and the contents of Zn, Fe, and Mg, as well as Mg/B and Zn/B, might be strongly tied to the formation of cork spots in pears. This research provides insights into the occurrence of pear cork spot disorder and clarifies the role of minerals.

In order to explore the influences of effective stress change on gas adsorption–desorption behaviors, primary undeformed coal (PUC) and tectonically deformed coal (TDC) from the same coal seam were used for adsorption–desorption experiments under different effective stress conditions. Experimental results showed that gas adsorption and desorption behaviors were controlled by the coal core structure and the pore-fissure connectivity under effective stress. The coal matrixes and fissures were compressed together under effective stress to reduce connectivity, and it was difficult for gas to absorb and desorb as the stress increased in primary undeformed coal. The loose structure of tectonically deformed coal cores can help gas to fully contact with the coal matrix, resulting in higher adsorption gas volumes. The support of coal particles in tectonically deformed coal cores weakens the compression of intergranular pores when effective stress increases, which in this study manifested in the fact that while the volumetric strain of the coal matrix change rapidly under low effective stress, but the adsorbed gas volume did not decrease significantly. The reduction in effective stress induced the rapid elastic recovery of the coal matrix and the expansion of cracks, and increased desorption gas volumes. The stress reduction significantly increased the initial gas volume of the tectonically deformed coal, while promoting slow and continuous gas desorption in primary undeformed coal. Therefore, the promotion effect of the reservoir pressure reduction on gas desorption and coal connectivity enhancement can help to improve coalbed methane recovery in primary undeformed coal and tectonically deformed coal reservoirs.