Structural block division for further deep research in coalbed methane development in the Gujiao area, Xishan coalfield, North China

The coalbed methane (CBM) exploration and development in the Gujiao area, Xishan coalfield (XCF), is still at its initial stage, and no detailed research on the division of CBM development blocks and qualitative analysis of the effects of various parameters on CBM production have been conducted. In this work, the Gujiao area was divided into two subareas (A and B) and subdivided into eight blocks (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5) based on structural geometry. Various parameters were extracted from well logging, hydrofracturing, and draining data to reflect the effects of them on gas production. The results show that in the blocks A3, B2, and B4, the regions with high gas content are the favorable regions for CBM development. However, the efficient draining measure, which will effectively drain the formation water, is helpful to producing CBM in the blocks A1 and A2. In the block B5, regions with relative deeper burial depth are conducive to produce CBM. The shallow buried regions are favorable to produce gas in the blocks B1 and B3, in which the reservoir permeability is higher.