Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluation
The Erlian Basin, characterized by extensive lignite deposits with considerable thickness, presents significant potential for coalbed methane (CBM) extraction. However, CBM exploration in lignite has received limited attention due to its typically low gas content, and the economic evolution of thick...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025028002 |
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| author | Zhiming Fang Shaicheng Shen |
| author_facet | Zhiming Fang Shaicheng Shen |
| author_sort | Zhiming Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Erlian Basin, characterized by extensive lignite deposits with considerable thickness, presents significant potential for coalbed methane (CBM) extraction. However, CBM exploration in lignite has received limited attention due to its typically low gas content, and the economic evolution of thick lignite reservoirs remains understudied. This study employs an integrated approach combining numerical simulation with economic evaluation to systematically assess the technical and economic feasibility of Enhanced Coalbed Methane (ECBM) recovery in thick lignite formations within the Erlian Basin of Inner Mongolia. We evaluate the economic feasibility of ECBM under various gas injection scenarios and optimize key operational parameters through a coupled neural network model and particle swarm optimization algorithm. The key findings are as follows: (1) Even with carbon sequestration benefits incorporated, CO2-ECBM projects in the Erlian Basin’s thick lignite formations remain economically unviable under current market conditions. (2) Reservoir permeability is the dominant geological parameter governing ECBM feasibility in thick lignite reservoirs. (3) The hybrid neural network–optimization algorithm demonstrates high computational efficiency in optimizing ECBM injection schemes. Optimal well spacing exhibits a strong positive correlation with reservoir permeability. The ideal CO₂ injection ratio is primarily determined by the economic balance between carbon credit pricing and CO₂ capture costs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ffa2b3d7474d4f2f87796c3478b35ebd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-ffa2b3d7474d4f2f87796c3478b35ebd2025-08-22T04:57:23ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710673310.1016/j.rineng.2025.106733Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluationZhiming Fang0Shaicheng Shen1State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Corresponding author at: State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaThe Erlian Basin, characterized by extensive lignite deposits with considerable thickness, presents significant potential for coalbed methane (CBM) extraction. However, CBM exploration in lignite has received limited attention due to its typically low gas content, and the economic evolution of thick lignite reservoirs remains understudied. This study employs an integrated approach combining numerical simulation with economic evaluation to systematically assess the technical and economic feasibility of Enhanced Coalbed Methane (ECBM) recovery in thick lignite formations within the Erlian Basin of Inner Mongolia. We evaluate the economic feasibility of ECBM under various gas injection scenarios and optimize key operational parameters through a coupled neural network model and particle swarm optimization algorithm. The key findings are as follows: (1) Even with carbon sequestration benefits incorporated, CO2-ECBM projects in the Erlian Basin’s thick lignite formations remain economically unviable under current market conditions. (2) Reservoir permeability is the dominant geological parameter governing ECBM feasibility in thick lignite reservoirs. (3) The hybrid neural network–optimization algorithm demonstrates high computational efficiency in optimizing ECBM injection schemes. Optimal well spacing exhibits a strong positive correlation with reservoir permeability. The ideal CO₂ injection ratio is primarily determined by the economic balance between carbon credit pricing and CO₂ capture costs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025028002CO2-ECBMN2-ECBMLigniteCH4 recoveryEconomic evolutionOptimization |
| spellingShingle | Zhiming Fang Shaicheng Shen Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluation Results in Engineering CO2-ECBM N2-ECBM Lignite CH4 recovery Economic evolution Optimization |
| title | Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluation |
| title_full | Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluation |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluation |
| title_short | Optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations: An integrated technical and economic evaluation |
| title_sort | optimizing enhanced coalbed methane recovery in thick lignite formations an integrated technical and economic evaluation |
| topic | CO2-ECBM N2-ECBM Lignite CH4 recovery Economic evolution Optimization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025028002 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhimingfang optimizingenhancedcoalbedmethanerecoveryinthickligniteformationsanintegratedtechnicalandeconomicevaluation AT shaichengshen optimizingenhancedcoalbedmethanerecoveryinthickligniteformationsanintegratedtechnicalandeconomicevaluation |