Research on Hydraulic Fracturing Technology of Long Boreholes along Strata of High Vast Thick Coal Seam

Abstract

Gas extraction is a major technique for regional gas regulation and coal and gas comining in China. Assuring effective gas extraction operations is a crucial step in ensuring the supply of energy. The effect range of extraction drilling, pressure relief degree, and standard period of gas extraction are all constrained because of the geological constraints affecting coal gas permeability and occurrence. Combined with the advantages of directional drilling and high-efficiency pumping technology and antireflection enhanced pumping technology of hydraulic fracturing, directional long-drilling hydraulic fracturing can effectively improve the efficiency of gas control and expand the scale of gas control. The present study focuses on the exploration of directional long-hole hydraulic fracturing technique in thick coal seams with high gas content using Dafosi Mine as a case study. The research findings demonstrate that hydraulic fracturing contributes to the enlargement of pore size, pore density, and pore connectivity in coal seams. In-depth research was conducted on the expansion of coal seam fractures during the hydraulic fracturing process using the RFPA3D-flow numerical simulation program. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis of stress distribution around the fractures under the flow-solid coupling condition was performed. To further improve the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing technique, the research team optimized the fracturing tools and construction processes in the four coal seams of Dafosi Mine. The impact of segmented hydraulic fracturing in coal seam bare hole drilling was also studied. Furthermore, an investigation method specific to the coal seam bare hole segmented hydraulic fracturing effects applicable to Dafosi Mine was developed. The maximum fracture extension pressure, minimum fracture closure pressure, and fracture morphology change characteristics during drilling and fracturing were measured, and the fracturing influence radius of coal seam was determined to be 46−58 m, the gas extraction concentration after fracturing increased by 2.20–4.22 times, and the 100-m extraction flow increased by 4.93–11.03 times. It gives other mines technical assistance so they can keep advocating and utilizing the horizontal directional long-drilling stage hydraulic fracturing technique.