3D geological modeling and its application for steeply dipping coal seams in the Miquan area, Xinjiang

Authors

• WU Luofei, China United Coalbed Methane Co., Ltd., Beijing 100015, China;College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaFollow
• LI Yong, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaFollow
• ZHANG Weiqi, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
• HAN Yiyang, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
• ZHANG Jie, China United Coalbed Methane Co., Ltd., Beijing 100015, China
• CAO Mingliang, China United Coalbed Methane Co., Ltd., Beijing 100015, China
• LI Qiang, College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China

Abstract

Background Influenced by multi-stage compression from the North Tianshan and Bogda mountains, the southern margin of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang exhibits the widespread development of steeply dipping coal seams. The extreme stratigraphic occurrence, combined with complex structural superimposition styles, poses significant challenges to the fine-scale characterization of these coal seams. Correspondingly, the planar and regional distribution patterns of gas content in these coal seams remain poorly understood, rendering it difficult to effectively determine the sweet spots of coalbed methane (CBM). Methods Focusing on the Miquan area, Xinjiang, this study investigated the methodology for 3D geological modeling of representative steeply dipping coal seams, aiming to achieve the fine-scale characterization of the coal seam distribution, coal macrolithotypes, gas content, coal-body structures, and in situ stress in a complex structural setting. Results and Conclusions Following the topological processing strategy of faults first and then strata, the precise cutting of complex fault networks was achieved using surface-to-surface Boolean operations. Then, the 3D modeling of coal seams with dip angles approaching 90° was achieved. By addressing challenges encountered by conventional modeling, namely stratigraphic interpenetration and automatic grid dispersion and distortion under formation dip angles of greater than 60°, a 3D geological model with a planar grid size of 20 m × 20 m and a vertical resolution of 2 m was successfully constructed. The modeling results indicate that the Badaowan syncline in the study area exhibits a south-dipping axial plane and an axial direction of approximately 60°. The dip angles of its northern limb range from 45° to 65° and above, while those of its southern limb generally measure 55°-75° and above. In contrast, the Northern monocline in the study area exhibits dip angles ranging from 78° to 86°. Across the study area, the Nos. 42 and 43 coal seams are primarily composed of semi-bright and semi-dull coals, while the No. 45 coal seam is dominated by bright and semi-bright coals in the Badaowan syncline and consists primarily of semi-dull and dull coals in the eastern segment of the Northern monocline. The gas content in the coal seams varies between 2 m³/t and 12 m³/t, increasing with burial depth vertically. In terms of coal-body structures, the coal seams in the study area are dominated by fractured to granulated coals. In the Northern monocline, which is governed by faults, fractured to granulated coal belts occur around faults. In contrast, in the Badaowan syncline, the core exhibits relatively intact coal-body structures, while fractured to granulated coal structures predominate near both limbs. The maximum horizontal principal stress in the study area ranges from 5.28 MPa to 38.61 MPa, striking NEE generally, whereas the minimum horizontal principal stress ranges from 4.58 MPa to 25.00 MPa. In the Badaowan syncline, the in situ stress regime transitions from strike-slip to normal faulting stress state with an increase in burial depth. In contrast, the in situ stress in the Northern monocline primarily displays a strike-slip stress state across varying burial depths. The proposed modeling methodology effectively addresses the challenge of the fine-scale characterization of steeply dipping coal seams, holding great theoretical and practical significance for the geological modeling and fine-scale CBM reservoir characterization of structurally complex areas.

Keywords

coalbed methane (CBM), steeply dipping coal seam, reservoir physical property, gas-bearing property, Miquan area, southern margin of the Junggar Basin

DOI

10.12363/issn.1001-1986.25.11.0856

Recommended Citation

WU Luofei, LI Yong, ZHANG Weiqi, et al. (2026) "3D geological modeling and its application for steeply dipping coal seams in the Miquan area, Xinjiang," Coal Geology & Exploration: Vol. 54: Iss. 8, Article 6.
DOI: 10.12363/issn.1001-1986.25.11.0856
Available at: https://cge.researchcommons.org/journal/vol54/iss8/6

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