Growth characteristics and genetic types of pores and fractures in a high-rank coal reservoir of the southern Qinshui basin

In this paper, field investigations such as underground coal wall observations and core log analyses have been conducted and combined with laboratory experiments such as the mercury intrusion method, the low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption method, photomicrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the growth characteristics and genetic types of pores, micro-fractures and macro-fractures in coal bed #3 of the southern Qinshui basin, and to analyze the connections between pores and fractures. The results show that this coal bed prioritizes micropores and transition pores (i.e., intermolecular pores and residual gas pores), followed by macropores (i.e., plant tissue pores and intergranular pores). Mesopores (metamorphic gas pores) do not develop. Moreover, coal bed #3 contains a considerable number of closed and semi-closed pores. It develops two groups of exogenous fractures and cleats (i.e., endogenous fractures) and the formation is controlled by a paleotectonic stress field. The cleats have a relatively small density and are usually filled by calcite and other minerals, which are harmful to the permeability of the coal bed. Shrinkage micro-fissures, static pressure micro-fissures, structure micro-fissures and ultramicroscopic fissures are all widely developed and are not filled by minerals. Micro-fissures are important channels for the connections between pores and cleats. Ultramicroscopic fissures cut through some gas pores. These two types of fractures improve the permeability and connectivity of the coal bed and are important links between different sizes of pores and fractures. There are three levels of connections between pores and fractures, namely, connections between ultramicrostructures and microstructures, connections between microstructures and cleats and connections between cleats and exogenous fractures.