Modification of pore structure of coal under hot steam injection as revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance

Heat injection provides a feasible approach for the extremely efficient extraction of coalbed gas. Injecting hot steam can effectively improve the pore structure of coal and increase the permeability of coal. To observe the changes in the pore structure of coal during hot steam injection, low magnetic field nuclear magnetic resonance technology is used to study the variations in the pore structure of coal under different heat injection durations. The results show that hot steam can promote the formation, growth, and expansion of coal pore fissures, thereby enhancing the gas permeability of the coal seam. At the same time, the analysis of relevant nuclear magnetic parameters indicates that when the heat injection duration is 15 minutes, hot steam has the best effect on coal modification. In the early stage of hot steam injection, hot steam stimulates the development of the porous structure. In the middle stage, some pore structures collapse and get blocked due to local thermal stress. In the late stage of hot steam injection, hot steam accelerates the conversion of micropore and mesopore structures into macropore or fissure structures, and hot steam has a significant modification effect on coal.