Influence of overpressure on coalbed methane reservoir in south Qinshui basin

In theory, from the high temperature and pressure during the coal generating gas to the present low temperature and pressure of coalbed methane reservoir, the accumulation of coalbed methane was from oversaturated to undersaturated. The gas content of the coalbed methane reservoir in the south Qinshui basin was 12-35.7 m3/t. According to the isotherm and measured gas content of No. 3 coal, the adsorbed gas content in some wells was highly saturated and oversaturated, which was hard to theoretically understand. In addition, there were no thermogenic and biogenic gases at the late stage in the south Qinshui basin. This article proposed that the overpressure was the main reason for the present high saturation of the coalbed methane reservoir. In early Cretaceous, the coalbed methane reservoir was characterized by overpressure and high saturation caused by gas generation from coal measure source rocks. In late Cretaceous, the coalbed methane reservoir was rapidly uplifted, and with the temperature and pressure decreasing, the pressure condition of adsorbed gas changed from overpressure to normal-under pressure, which resulted in the high saturation and gas content in the present coalbed methane reservoir.