3-D Geomechanical Modeling of Reservoir Properties Changes when Applying Plasma Pulse Treatment

The amount of methane produced by a well from a coal seam depends on the quality of the coal, the thickness of the formation, the lithostatic pressure and the size of the desorption funnel that forms around the well. In turn, the size of the funnel depends on the filtration properties of coal and the geological structure of the coal seam. Well-developed systems of macro, meso and micro fractures playa major role in the complex permeability of coal seams, including by reducing the diffusion time of gases through the carbon matrix. The nature of fracturing of the coal seam depends on endogenous, exogenous and technogenous factors. The latter usually playa decisive role in creating a secondary permeability. Russian technology of Plasma Pulse Treatment (PPT) creates a secondary permeability in the coal seam and connects the system of natural fracks (cleavage), thereby increasing the permeability of the coal seam over a large area. The estimation of the effect of the Plasma Pulse Treatment (PPT) on the permeability of coal seams is provided in the paper due to the creation of a secondary (technogenic) permeability.