Fuel, Vol.253, 1325-1332, 2019
Impact of temperature and pressure on the characteristics of two-phase flow in coal
Temperature and pressure are key factors affecting gas-liquid two-phase flows in porous media. Although evidence supports the effect of temperature on coal-bed methane (CBM) exploration, the fluid production is, at present, not sufficiently understood. By conducting nitrogen and water two-phase displacement experiments under different temperatures and pressures and monitoring the production of fluids at different times, this study obtained quantitative experimental measures for investigating the multi-phase seepage properties. The results indicated that (1) in the temperature range of 30-180 degrees C, the liquid produced was mainly the free water in the coal, and heating a coal reservoir facilitated the desorption of the water; (2) experimental testing provided a novel characteristic curve for the entire two-phase displacement process, which could be separated into the liquid seepage stage, gas-liquid multi-phase seepage stage, and gas flow stage; (3) increasing the temperature affected the gas and liquid phase velocities, production, and saturations during displacement; (4) with an increase in pressure, the irreducible water increased, whereas the two-phase percolation area decreased. The experimental methodology and obtained results provided evidence that during heat injection enhanced CBM recovery, the gas production rate might increase after breakthrough, with a simultaneous increase in the liquid production. Heating coal seams can thus improve the gas production efficiency, but has disadvantages compared to the initial drainage.