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This article presents an effective method for improving the structure and performance of coal rock masses, thereby facilitating coalbed methane extraction -- the grouting solidification technique. A systematic review is conducted on grouting solidification materials, process methods, evaluation techniques, and other related aspects. In conclusion, it is emphasized that the grouting solidification technique requires further refinement in its system, and its continued significance in the dynamically evolving energy and coal industry is underscored. This is crucial for ensuring the efficient development and sustainable utilization of coal and coalbed methane resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coalbed methane content (CMC) is an important parameter to evaluate the degree of coalbed methane enrichment, and also an important reservoir parameter to calculate coalbed methane resources, productivity prediction and reservoir simulation. Accurately identifying the distribution of CMC is crucial to the exploration of CBM. In this study, we developed a prediction method for the CMC distribution via seismic techniques identification of key geological parameters such as structure, coal thickness and sedimentation. Firstly, the geological factors that control the generation and preservation of CBM in the study area are quantitatively characterized by using five parameters: surface ( X 1 ), residual ( X 2 ), dip ( X 3 ), coal thickness ( X 4 ) and the ratio of sand to mud ( X 5 ). Secondly, the geological parameters are extracted by seismic structure interpretation and inversion prediction technology. Thirdly, the key geological parameters of CMC are screened out by grey correlation analysis. Finally, the functional relationship of CMC and the key geological parameters is established to predict the CMC distribution. The method is applied to the CMC distribution prediction of two coal seams of a study area in the southern Qinshui Basin, China. Results show that different coal seams differ in key geological parameters of CMC, resulting in various CMC distribution laws. The CMC prediction method based on the key geological factors can effectively delineate the CBM enrichment area in the study area, providing important reference for the CBM exploration and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tectonic coal in coal seams not only seriously restricts the development of coalbed methane (CBM), but also easily forms coal and gas outburst risk areas. Therefore, it is of great significance to effectively predict the tectonic coal in coal seams under the development scale. Currently, the prediction methods of tectonic coal include geological prediction and geophysical prediction. Due to the large scale of geological analysis and the low identifiability of geophysical response of thin coal seam, these two methods are difficult to meet the prediction requirements of tectonic coal in the development process. Therefore, this paper proposes a new method for predicting tectonic coal based on seismic–geological integrated analysis of main controlling factors. Firstly, the control factors of tectonic coal and their quantitative characterization are determined by geological analysis. Then, the characterization parameters of control factors are obtained by various seismic technologies. Finally, the main control factors are screened by grey correlation analysis, and the prediction model of tectonic coal distribution is established by using the main control factors, and applied in the Qinshui Basin. The results show that the structure, surrounding rock lithology and coal thickness are three kinds of geological factors controlling the development of tectonic coal and the control weight of each factor is different. Structure plays the most important role in controlling the development of tectonic coal, followed by coal thickness and surrounding rock lithology. The prediction error of two verification wells is less than 2%, which indicates that the method can provide effective guidance for coal structure evaluation in the process of CBM development and coal mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate identification of the lithofacies and sedimentary facies of coal-bearing series is significant in the study of peat accumulation, coal thickness variation and coal-measured unconventional gas. This research integrated core, logging and 3D seismic data to conduct a comprehensive seismic–geological study on the sedimentary evolution characteristics and peat accumulation regularity of the Shanxi Formation in the Xinjing mining area of the Qinshui Basin. Firstly, the high-resolution sequence interface was identified, and the isochronous stratigraphic framework of the coal-bearing series was constructed. Then, the temporal and spatial evolution of sedimentary filling and sedimentary facies was dynamically analyzed using waveform clustering, phase rotation, stratal slice and frequency–division amplitude fusion methods. The results show that the Shanxi Formation in the study area can be divided into one third-order sequence and two fourth-order sequences. It developed a river-dominated deltaic system, mainly with delta plain deposits, and underwent a constructive–abandoned–constructive development stage. The locally distributed No. 6 coal seam was formed in a backswamp environment with distribution constrained by the distributary channels. The delta was abandoned at the later stage of the SS1 sequence, and the peat accumulation rate was balanced with the growth rate of the accommodation, forming a large-area distributed No. 3 thick coal seam. During the formation of the SS2 sequence, the No. 3 coal seam was locally thinned by epigenetic erosion of the river, and the thin coal belt caused by erosion is controlled by the location of the distributary channels and their extension direction. This study can provide a reference for the research on the distribution of thin sand bodies, sedimentary evolution and peat accumulation regularity in the coal-bearing series under the marine–continental transitional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal macrolithotypes control the reservoir heterogeneity, which plays a significant role in the exploration and development of coalbed methane. Traditional methods for coal macrolithotype evaluation often rely on core observation, but these techniques are non-economical and insufficient. The geophysical logging data are easily available for coalbed methane exploration; thus, it is necessary to find a relationship between core observation results and wireline logging data, and then to provide a new method to quantify coal macrolithotypes of a whole coal seam. In this study, we propose a L-Index model by combing the multiple geophysical logging data with principal component analysis, and we use the L-Index model to quantitatively evaluate the vertical and regional distributions of the macrolithotypes of No. 3 coal seam in Zhengzhuang field, southern Qinshui basin. Moreover, we also proposed a S-Index model to quantitatively evaluate the general brightness of a whole coal seam: the increase of the S-Index from 1 to 3.7, indicates decreasing brightness, i.e., from bright coal to dull coal. Finally, we discussed the relationship between S-Index and the hydro-fracturing effect. It was found that the coal seam with low S-Index values can easily form long extending fractures during hydraulic fracturing. Therefore, the lower S-Index values indicate much more favorable gas production potential in the Zhengzhuang field. This study provides a new methodology to evaluate coal macrolithotypes by using geophysical logging data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]