South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui Basin

The phenomenon of coalbed-methane synclinal accumulation in the Qinshui Basin has been widely reported, but it has mainly been observed in the core block of the Qinshui Syncline. The questions arise: does this phenomenon exist in the wing of the Qinshui Syncline and, if so, what is the mechanism beh...

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Main Authors: Bo Wang, Qingtian Zhang, Zhenghui Qu, Yiteng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/11/4521
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author Bo Wang
Qingtian Zhang
Zhenghui Qu
Yiteng Zhang
author_facet Bo Wang
Qingtian Zhang
Zhenghui Qu
Yiteng Zhang
author_sort Bo Wang
collection DOAJ
description The phenomenon of coalbed-methane synclinal accumulation in the Qinshui Basin has been widely reported, but it has mainly been observed in the core block of the Qinshui Syncline. The questions arise: does this phenomenon exist in the wing of the Qinshui Syncline and, if so, what is the mechanism behind it? Further study is required to answer these questions. This paper focuses on the South Anze No. 3 coal seam in the Qinshui Basin as an example. It conducts a systematic sorting of coalbed-methane geological characteristics and an analysis of the effects of structural assemblage characteristics, genetic mechanisms, and structural control on coalbed-methane accumulation. Additionally, it examines the basin structure and evolution during the critical period of the Qinshui Basin, as well as the gas geological characteristics of adjacent areas, in order to discuss the gas-rich mechanism of the syncline in the Qinshui Basin. Key insights obtained from the study include the following: (i) The whole South Anze is a nosing structure that plunges from west to east and superposes secondary folds and faults in different directions. Four deformation zones can be identified based on the characteristics of structural assemblage, including NEN-oriented compressive structures, ENE-trend shear fractures, EW-trend compressive fractures, and EW-trend compressive folds. The formation of structural assemblage in the study area is attributed to the compression in the Indosinian and Yanshanian, and the fault inversion in the Himalayan period. (ii) The ENE-trend shear fracture deformation area located in the nosing uplift is a low CBM (coalbed methane) content area due to gas diffusion during the Himalayan extension. The syncline in the combination of NEN-trend and EW-trend “ejective folds” in the west and south of the study area is a high-value area of coalbed-methane content. It is further verified that the law of syncline gas accumulation in the Qinshui Basin is also applicable to the wing of the Qinshui Syncline. (iii) Since the formation of the Qinshui Syncline, the main coal seam has been in an extensional environment below the neutral plane, resulting in the main dissipation of coalbed methane. During its geological history, surface water penetrated the aquifer above the main coal seam through two channels: the extensional area above the neutral plane of the adjacent anticline and the shear fracture. A hydrostatic pressure seal is formed in the Qinshui Syncline and the secondary syncline is superimposed upon it, which is the cause of gas enrichment in the syncline of the Qinshui Basin. (iv) Weak deformation in the syncline basin is the focus of global coalbed-methane exploration and development. The mechanism proposed in this paper can provide ideas and references for further understanding of coalbed-methane enrichment in this type of basin.
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spelling doaj.art-4649603a309a45e0b40144d616b9e1122023-11-18T07:49:55ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-06-011611452110.3390/en16114521South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui BasinBo Wang0Qingtian Zhang1Zhenghui Qu2Yiteng Zhang3Information Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Management of PRC, Beijing 100029, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources and Reservoir Formation Process of the Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources and Reservoir Formation Process of the Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaInformation Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Management of PRC, Beijing 100029, ChinaThe phenomenon of coalbed-methane synclinal accumulation in the Qinshui Basin has been widely reported, but it has mainly been observed in the core block of the Qinshui Syncline. The questions arise: does this phenomenon exist in the wing of the Qinshui Syncline and, if so, what is the mechanism behind it? Further study is required to answer these questions. This paper focuses on the South Anze No. 3 coal seam in the Qinshui Basin as an example. It conducts a systematic sorting of coalbed-methane geological characteristics and an analysis of the effects of structural assemblage characteristics, genetic mechanisms, and structural control on coalbed-methane accumulation. Additionally, it examines the basin structure and evolution during the critical period of the Qinshui Basin, as well as the gas geological characteristics of adjacent areas, in order to discuss the gas-rich mechanism of the syncline in the Qinshui Basin. Key insights obtained from the study include the following: (i) The whole South Anze is a nosing structure that plunges from west to east and superposes secondary folds and faults in different directions. Four deformation zones can be identified based on the characteristics of structural assemblage, including NEN-oriented compressive structures, ENE-trend shear fractures, EW-trend compressive fractures, and EW-trend compressive folds. The formation of structural assemblage in the study area is attributed to the compression in the Indosinian and Yanshanian, and the fault inversion in the Himalayan period. (ii) The ENE-trend shear fracture deformation area located in the nosing uplift is a low CBM (coalbed methane) content area due to gas diffusion during the Himalayan extension. The syncline in the combination of NEN-trend and EW-trend “ejective folds” in the west and south of the study area is a high-value area of coalbed-methane content. It is further verified that the law of syncline gas accumulation in the Qinshui Basin is also applicable to the wing of the Qinshui Syncline. (iii) Since the formation of the Qinshui Syncline, the main coal seam has been in an extensional environment below the neutral plane, resulting in the main dissipation of coalbed methane. During its geological history, surface water penetrated the aquifer above the main coal seam through two channels: the extensional area above the neutral plane of the adjacent anticline and the shear fracture. A hydrostatic pressure seal is formed in the Qinshui Syncline and the secondary syncline is superimposed upon it, which is the cause of gas enrichment in the syncline of the Qinshui Basin. (iv) Weak deformation in the syncline basin is the focus of global coalbed-methane exploration and development. The mechanism proposed in this paper can provide ideas and references for further understanding of coalbed-methane enrichment in this type of basin.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/11/4521South Anzetectonic deformationcoalbed methane aggregation“ejective fold”gas synclinal accumulation
spellingShingle Bo Wang
Qingtian Zhang
Zhenghui Qu
Yiteng Zhang
South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui Basin
Energies
South Anze
tectonic deformation
coalbed methane aggregation
“ejective fold”
gas synclinal accumulation
title South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui Basin
title_full South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui Basin
title_fullStr South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui Basin
title_full_unstemmed South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui Basin
title_short South Anze Structure and Its Control on Coalbed Methane Aggregation in the Qinshui Basin and the Mechanism of Syncline Gas Enrichment in the Qinshui Basin
title_sort south anze structure and its control on coalbed methane aggregation in the qinshui basin and the mechanism of syncline gas enrichment in the qinshui basin
topic South Anze
tectonic deformation
coalbed methane aggregation
“ejective fold”
gas synclinal accumulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/11/4521
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