Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of sub-/super-critical CO2 on the fracture-related mechanical characteristics of bituminous coal

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Earth Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Injecting carbon dioxide CO2 into a coal seam is an important way to improve coalbed methane recovery and to store geological carbon. The fracture mechanical characteristics of bituminous coal determine the propagation and evolution of cracks, which directly affect CO2 storage in coal seams and the efficiency of resource recovery. This study applied CO2 adsorption and three-point bending fracture experiments using bituminous coal samples in a gaseous state (4 MPa), subcritical state (6 MPa), and supercritical state (8 and 12 MPa) to investigate the influence of CO2 state and anisotropy on the fracture-related mechanical response of bituminous coal. The results show that the change in mechanical properties caused by CO2 adsorption is CO2 state-dependent. The supercritical CO2 adsorption at 8 MPa causes the largest decrease in the mode-I fracture toughness (KIC), which is 63.6% lower than the toughness before CO2 adsorption. The instability characteristics of bituminous coal show the transformation trend of “sudden-gradual-sudden fracture”. With or without CO2 adsorption, the order of the KIC associated with three types of bituminous coal specimens is crack-divider type > crack-arrester type > crack-short transverse type. Phenomenologically, the fracture toughness of bituminous coal is positively correlated with its specific surface area and total pore volume; the toughness is negatively correlated with its average pore size.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agartan E, Trevisan L, Cihan A, Birkholzer J, Zhou Q L, Illangasekare T H (2015). Experimental study on effects of geologic heterogeneity in enhancing dissolution trapping of supercritical CO2. Water Resour Res, 51(3): 1635–1648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avnir D, Jaroniec M (1989). An isotherm equation for adsorption on fractal surface of heterogeneous porous materials. Langmuir, 5(6): 1431–1433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunauer S, Deming L S, Deming W S, Teller E (1940). On a theory of the van der Waals adsorption of gases. J Am Chem Soc, 62(7): 1723–1732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandler M R, Meredith P G, Brantut N, Crawford B R (2016). Fracture toughness anisotropy in shale. J Geophys Res Solid Earth, 121(3): 1706–1729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chareonsuppanimit P, Mohammad S A, Robinson R L, Gasem K A M (2014). Modeling gas-adsorption induced swelling and permeability changes in coals. Int J Coal Geol, 121: 98–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen K, Liu X F, Nie B S, Zhang C P, Song D Z, Wang L K, Yang T (2022). Mineral dissolution and pore alteration of coal induced by interactions with supercritical CO2. Energy, 248: 123627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen T Y, Feng X T, Zhang X W, Cao W D, Fu C J (2014). Experimental study on mechanical and anisotrpic properties of black shale. Chin J Rock Mech Eng, 33 (9): 1772–1779 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng L, Li D, Wang W, Liu J (2021). Heterogeneous transport of free CH4 and free CO2 in dual-porosity media controlled by anisotropic in situ stress during shale gas production by CO2 flooding: implications for CO2 geological storage and utilization. ACS Omega, 6(40): 26756–26765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Czerw K, Baran P, Szczurowski J, Zarębska K (2021). Sorption and desorption of CO2 and CH4 in vitrinite- and inertinite-rich polish low-rank coal. Nat Resour Res, 30(1): 543–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farmer I W, Pooley F D (1967). A hypothesis to explain the occurrence of outbursts in coal, based on a study of West Wales outburst coal. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr, 4(2): 189–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng G, Kang Y, Chen F, Liu Y W, Wang X C (2018). The influence of temperature on mixed-mode (I+II) and mode-II fracture toughness of sandstone. Eng Fract Mech, 189: 51–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng G, Kang Y, Meng T, Hu Y Q, Li X H (2017). The influence of temperature on mode I fracture toughness and fracture characteristics of sandstone. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 50(8): 2007–2019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng G, Kang Y, Sun Z D, Wang X C, Hu Y Q (2019). Effects of supercritical CO2 adsorption on the mechanical characteristics and failure mechanisms of shale. Energy, 173: 870–882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng G, Kang Y, Wang X C, Hu Y Q, Li X H (2020c). Investigation on the failure characteristics and fracture classification of shale under Brazilian test conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 53(7): 3325–3340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng G, Wang X C, Kang Y, Zhang Z T (2020a). Effect of thermal cycling-dependent cracks on physical and mechanical properties of granite for enhanced geothermal system. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci, 134: 104476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng G, Wang X C, Wang M, Kang Y (2020b). Experimental investigation of thermal cycling effect on fracture characteristics of granite in a geothermal-energy reservoir. Eng Fract Mech, 235: 107180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao M Z, Xie J, Gao Y N, Wang W Y, Li C, Yang B G, Liu J J, Xie H P (2021). Mechanical behavior of coal under different mining rates: a case study from laboratory experiments to field testing. Int J Min Sci Technol, 31(5): 825–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao M Z, Zhang J G, Li S W, Wang M, Wang Y W, Cui P F (2020). Calculating changes in fractal dimension of surface cracks to quantify how the dynamic loading rate affects rock failure in deep mining. J Cent South Univ, 27(10): 3013–3024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo P Y, Gu J, Su Y, Wang J, Ding Z W (2021b). Effect of cyclic wetting–drying on tensile mechanical behavior and microstructure of clay-bearing sandstone. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 8(5): 956–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y X, Zhao Y H, Wang S W, Feng G R, Zhang Y J, Ran H Y (2021a). Stress-strain-acoustic responses in failure process of coal rock with different height to diameter ratios under uniaxial compression. J Cent South Univ, 28(6): 1724–1736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedges S W, Soong Y, Jones J R M, Harrison D K, Irdi G, Frommell E, Dilmore R, White C (2007). Exploratory study of some potential environmental impacts of CO2 sequestration in unmineable coal seams. Int J Environ Pollut, 29(4): 457–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heng S, Yang C H, Guo Y T, Wang C Y, Wang L (2015). Influence of bedding planes on hydraulic fracture propagation in shale formations. Chin J Rock Mech Eng, 34 (2): 228–237 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou L L, Liu X J, Liang L X, Xiong J, Zhang P, Xie B, Li D Q (2020). Investigation of coal and rock geo-mechanical properties evaluation based on the fracture complexity and wave velocity. J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 75: 103133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu J J, Xie H P, Sun Q, Li C B, Liu G K (2021). Changes in the thermodynamic properties of alkaline granite after cyclic quenching following high temperature action. Int J Min Sci Technol, 31(5): 843–852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin J F, Yuan W, Wu Y, Guo Z Q (2020). Effects of axial static stress on stress wave propagation in rock considering porosity compaction and damage evolution. J Cent South Univ, 27(2): 592–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kataoka M, Obara Y, Kuruppu M (2015). Estimation of fracture toughness of anisotropic rocks by semi-circular bend (SCB) tests under water vapor pressure. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 48(4): 1353–1367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keboletse K P, Ntuli F, Oladijo O P (2021). Influence of coal properties on coal conversion processes-coal carbonization, carbon fiber production, gasification and liquefaction technologies: a review. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 8(5): 817–843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kong X G, He D, Liu X F, Wang E Y, Li S G, Liu T, Ji P F, Deng D Y, Yang S R (2022). Strain characteristics and energy dissipation laws of gas-bearing coal during impact fracture process. Energy, 242: 123028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuruppu M D, Obara Y, Ayatollahi M R, Chong K P, Funatsu T (2014). ISRM-suggested method for determining the mode I static fracture toughness using semi-circular bend specimen. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 47(1): 267–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lampert A (2019). Over-exploitation of natural resources is followed by inevitable declines in economic growth and discount rate. Nat Commun, 10(1): 1419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y J, Song L H, Tang Y J, Zuo J P, Xue D J (2022). Evaluating the mechanical properties of anisotropic shale containing bedding and natural fractures with discrete element modeling. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 9(1): 18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao Z W, Liu X F, Song D Z, He X Q, Nie B S, Yang T, Wang L K (2021). Micro-structural damage to coal induced by liquid CO2 phase change fracturing. Nat Resour Res, 30(2): 1613–1627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu B, Zhao Y X, Zhang C, Zhou J L, Li Y T, Sun Z (2021a). Characteristic strength and acoustic emission properties of weakly cemented sandstone at different depths under uniaxial compression. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 8(6): 1288–1301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C R, Tang Y F, Wang H Q, Liu Z Q, Yang S, Li C J, Jin W T (2022a). Comparison of life cycle performance of distributed energy system and conventional energy system for district heating and cooling in China. J Cent South U, 29(7): 2357–2376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Xie L, Elsworth D, Gan Q (2019a). CO2/CH4 competitive adsorption in shale: implications for enhancement in gas production and reduction in carbon emissions. Environ Sci Technol, 53(15): 9328–9336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Yao Y, Liu D, Elsworth D (2017). Experimental evaluation of CO2 enhanced recovery of adsorbed-gas from shale. Int J Coal Geol, 179: 211–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu K D, Liu Q S, Zhu Y G (2013). Experimental study of coal considering directivity effect of bedding plane under Brazilian splitting and uniaxial compression. Chin J Rock Mech Eng, 32: 308–315 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S M, Li X L, Wang D K, Zhang D M (2021b). Experimental study on temperature response of different ranks of coal to liquid nitrogen soaking. Nat Resour Res, 30(2): 1467–1480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X F, Nie B S (2016). Fractal characteristics of coal samples utilizing image analysis and gas adsorption. Fuel, 182: 314–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X F, Song D Z, He X Q, Nie B S, Wang L K (2019c). Insight into the macromolecular structural differences between hard coal and deformed soft coal. Fuel, 245: 188–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X F, Wang L K, Kong X G, Ma Z T, Nie B S, Song D Z, Yang T (2022d). Role of pore irregularity in methane desorption capacity of coking coal. Fuel, 314: 123037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X F, Zhang C L, Nie B S, Zhang C P, Song D Z, Yang T, Ma Z T (2022c). Mechanical response and mineral dissolution of anthracite induced by supercritical CO2 saturation: influence of saturation time. Fuel, 319: 123759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Song D, He X, Wang Z, Zeng M, Deng K (2019b). Nanopore structure of deep-burial coals explored by AFM. Fuel, 246: 9–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z Y, Wang G, Li J Z, Li H X, Zhao H F, Shi H W, Lan J L (2022b). Water-immersion softening mechanism of coal rock mass based on split Hopkinson pressure bar experiment. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 9(1): 61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma Q, Tan Y L, Liu X S, Zhao Z H, Fan D Y, Purev L (2021). Experimental and numerical simulation of loading rate effects on failure and strain energy characteristics of coal-rock composite samples. J Cent South U, 28(10): 3207–3222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mabuza M, Premlall K, Daramola M O (2022). Modelling and thermodynamic properties of pure CO2 and fue gas sorption data on South African coals using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and extended Langmuir isotherm models. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 9(1): 45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandile A J, Hutton A C (1995). Quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis of mineral and organic phases in organic-rich rocks. Int J Coal Geol, 28(1): 51–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masoudian M S, Airey D W, El-Zein A (2013). A chemo-poromechanical model for sequestration of carbon dioxide in coalbeds. Geotechnique, 63(3): 235–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masoudian M S, Airey D W, El-Zein A (2014). Experimental investigations on the effect of CO2 on mechanics of coal. Int J Coal Geol, 128–129: 12–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolenko P V, Epshtein S A, Shkuratnik V L, Anufrenkova P S (2021). Experimental study of coal fracture dynamics under the influence of cyclic freezing–thawing using shear elastic waves. Int J Coal Sci Technol, 8(4): 562–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu Q H, Cao L W, Sang S X, Wang W, Zhou X Z, Yuan W, Ji Z M, Chang J F, Li M Y (2021). Experimental study on the softening effect and mechanism of anthracite with CO2 injection. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci, 138: 104614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu Q, Cao L, Sang S, Zhou X, Wang W, Yuan W, Ji Z M, Wang H C, Nie Y (2020). Study on the anisotropic permeability in different rank coals under influences of supercritical CO2 adsorption and effective stress and its enlightenment for CO2 enhance coalbed methane recovery. Fuel, 262: 116515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omotilewa O J, Panja P, Vega-Ortiz C, McLennan J (2021). Evaluation of enhanced coalbed methane recovery and carbon dioxide sequestration potential in high volatile bituminous coal. J Nat Gas Sci Eng, 91: 103979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Z J, Connell L D (2007). A theoretical model for gas adsorption-induced coal swelling. Int J Coal Geol, 69(4): 243–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patel M J, May E F, Johns M L (2016). High-fidelity reservoir simulations of enhanced gas recovery with supercritical CO2. Energy, 111: 548–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perera M S A, Ranjith P G, Viete D R (2013). Effects of gaseous and super-critical carbon dioxide saturation on the mechanical properties of bituminous coal from the Southern Sydney Basin. Appl Energy, 110: 73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiferper P, Avnir D (1983). Chemistry in noninteger dimensions between two and three. I. Fractal theory of heterogeneous surfaces. J Chem Phys, 79(7): 3558–3565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu L M, Liu Z T, Wang E Y, He X Q, Feng J J, Li B L (2020). Early-warning of rock burst in coal mine by lowfrequency electromagnetic radiation. Eng Geol, 279: 105755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranathunga A S, Perera M S A, Ranjith P G, Bui H (2016). Supercritical CO2 saturation-induced mechanical property alterations in low rank coal: an experimental study. J Supercrit Fluids, 109: 134–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjith P G, Perera M S A (2012). Effects of cleat performance on strength reduction of coal in CO2 sequestration. Energy, 45(1): 1069–1075

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raza A, Gholami R, Rezaee R, Rasouli V, Rabiei M (2019). Significant aspects of carbon capture and storage–a review. Petroleum, 5(4): 335–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Say N P, Yücel M (2006). Energy consumption and CO2 emissions in Turkey: empirical analysis and future projection based on an economic growth. Energy Policy, 34(18): 3870–3876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sing K S W, Everett D H, Haul R A W, Moscou L, Pierotti R A, Rouquerol J, Siemieniewska T (1985). Reporting physisorption data for gas/solid systems with special reference to the determination of surface area and porosity. Pure Appl Chem, 57(4): 603–619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souley Agbodjan Y, Liu Z, Wang J, Yue C, Luo Z (2022). Modeling and optimization of a multi-carrier renewable energy system for zero-energy consumption buildings. J Cent South U, 29(7): 2330–2345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Z D, Feng G, Song X M, Meng T, Zhu D F, Huo Y M, Wang Z L (2022). Effects of CO2 state and anisotropy on the progressive failure characteristics of bituminous coal: an experimental study. Chin J Rock Mech Eng, 41(11): 70–81 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan L H, Ren T, Yang X H, He X Q (2018). A numerical simulation study on mechanical behaviour of coal with bedding planes under coupled static and dynamic load. Int J Min Sci Technol, 28(5): 791–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu P F, Liang W G, Cao M T, Yang J F, Li L (2017). Experimental investigation on model I fracture characteristics of coal in different stratification orientation. Chin J Undergr Sp Eng.,13(Supp.2): 538–545 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin H, Zhou J P, Jiang Y D, Xian X F, Liu Q L (2016). Physical and structural changes in shale associated with supercritical CO2 exposure. Fuel, 184: 289–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zagorščak R, Thomas H R (2018). Effects of subcritical and supercritical CO2 sorption on deformation and failure of high-rank coals. Int J Coal Geol, 199: 113–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang G L, Ranjith P G, Li Z S, Gao M Z, Ma Z Y (2021a). Long-term effects of CO2-water-coal interactions on structural and mechanical changes of bituminous coal. J Petrol Sci Eng, 207: 109093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Hu Z C, Xu Y, Fu X X, Li W, Zhang D F (2021c). Impacts of long-term exposure to supercritical carbon dioxide on physicochemical properties and adsorption and desorption capabilities of moisture-equilibrated coals. Energy Fuels, 35(15): 12270–12287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y B, Yao X L, Liang P, Wang K X, Sun L, Tian B Z, Liu X X, Wang S Y (2021b). Fracture evolution and localization effect of damage in rock based on wave velocity imaging technology. J Cent South U, 28(9): 2752–2769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao P, He B, Zhang B, Liu J (2022). Porosity of gas shale: is the NMR-based measurement reliable? Petrol Sci, 19(2): 509–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y X, Gong S, Hao X J, Peng Y, Jiang Y D (2017). Effects of loading rate and bedding on the dynamic fracture toughness of coal: laboratory experiments. Eng Fract Mech, 178: 375–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study has been partially funded by Youth Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51904195) and the School Fund of Taiyuan University of Technology and Science (No. 20182008). These supports are gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of In-situ Property Improving Mining (Ministry of Education), Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Zedong Sun & Xuanmin Song

  2. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, College of Water Resource & Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Hongqiang Xie & Gan Feng

  3. College of Coal Engineering, Shanxi Datong University, Datong, 037003, China

    Zedong Sun

  4. State Key Laboratory of Water Resource Protection and Utilization in Coal Mining, Beijing, 102200, China

    Mingbo Chi

  5. School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Tao Meng

  6. China Railway Third Bureau Group Co., Ltd., Taiyuan, 030001, China

    Bole Sun

Authors
  1. Zedong Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hongqiang Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gan Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xuanmin Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mingbo Chi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tao Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Bole Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongqiang Xie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sun, Z., Xie, H., Feng, G. et al. Effects of sub-/super-critical CO2 on the fracture-related mechanical characteristics of bituminous coal. Front. Earth Sci. 17, 760–775 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-022-1025-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-022-1025-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation