Mathematical Modeling and Simulation on the Stimulation Interactions in Coalbed Methane Thermal Recovery

Heat stimulation of coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs has remarkable promotion to gas desorption that enhances gas recovery. However, coalbed deformation, methane delivery and heat transport interplay each other during the stimulation process. This paper experimentally validated the evolutions of gas sorption and coal permeability under variable temperature. Then, a completely coupled heat-gas-coal model was theoretically developed and applied to a computational simulation of CBM thermal recovery based on a finite element approach of COMSOL with MATLAB. Modeling and simulation results show that: Although different heat-gas-coal interactions have different effects on CBM recovery, thermal stimulation of coalbed can promote methane production effectively. However, CBM thermal recovery needs a forerunner heating time before the apparent enhancement of production. The modeling and simulation results may improve the current cognitions of CBM thermal recovery.