DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

TOPIC- COAL POROSITY

PRESENTED BY-
ABHIJIT KALITA (PE-181/19)
JITU MOHAN (PE-198/19)
RABISHEK KR DAS (PE-217/19)
SAURAV KR SAHA (PE-222/19)
ZAKIUL HASSAN (PE-233/19)
CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 WHAT IS COAL POROSITY?
 TYPES OF COAL POROSITY
 SIGNIFICANCE OF COAL POROSITY
 IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY POROSITY
 IMPORTANCE OF SECONDARY POROSITY
 FACTORS AFFECTING COAL POROSITY
 MEASURING COAL POROSITY
 MERCURY INTRUSION POROSIMETRY
 GAS ADSORPTION
 X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
 APPLICATIONS OF COAL POROSITY
 CHALLENGES IN MEASURING COAL POROSITY
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION

 Coal is an important fossil fuel used for energy production and its porosity
plays a crucial role in its extraction and utilization.
 In this presentation, we will cover what called porosity is, how it is measured
and its significance in coal mining and utilization.
WHAT IS COAL POROSITY?

 Coal porosity refers to the open space within a coal seam that can be filled
with fluids or gases.
 This open space is created by the gaps between coal particles which can vary in size
and shape.
 Porosity is a key factor in determining the permeability of coal, or its ability to allow
fluids or gases to flow through it.
 Coal porosity is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the coal.
TYPES OF COAL POROSITY

There are 2 types of coal porosity: Primary and secondary.

 Primary porosity:- Primary porosity is the porosity that was present in the coal at the
time of its formation. Primary porosity is mainly caused by the presence of plant
material in the coal. It includes intercellular spaces within plant cells, intergranular
spaces between plant cells, and other voids that existed before coal formation.
 Secondary porosity:- Secondary porosity is the porosity that develops after coal
formation due to geological or mining processes. Secondary porosity is caused by
geological processes such as fracturing, faulting, and folding of the coal seam. It can
also be caused by mining processes such as blasting, which can create new voids in the
coal.
SIGNIFICANCE OF COAL POROSITY

 Coal porosity is a crucial factor in coal mining and utilization.

 Permeability, which is determined by porosity, is an important factor in the
ability to extract gas and fluids from coal seams.
 The presence of secondary porosity can affect the stability of underground
coal mines and the potential for gas explosions.
IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY POROSITY

 Primary porosity is the open space that existed in the coal seams at the time
of its formation.
 It is influenced by the depositional environment and the type of plant
material that formed the coal.
 Understanding primary porosity is important for predicting the permeability
and extractability of coal seams.
IMPORTANCE OF SECONDARY POROSITY

 Secondary porosity is created after the coal has formed, usually as a result of
deformation or fracturing.
 It can significantly increase the permeability of the coal seams, making them
more productive.
 However, it can also make coal seams less stable and increase the risk of gas
explosions in underground mines.
FACTORS AFFECTING COAL POROSITY

The porosity of coal can be affected by several factors, including :

 Coal rank: Higher-rank coals generally have lower porosity.
 Coal type: Different coal types have different porosity characteristics.
 Burial depth and pressure: Higher burial depth and pressure can decrease
porosity.
 Tectonic activity: It can create secondary porosity through fracturing and
deformation.
MEASURING COAL POROSITY

There are several methods for measuring coal porosity, including :

 Mercury intrusion porosimetry
 Gas adsorption
 X-ray computed tomography

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages and the choice of method will
depend on the specific research question and sample characteristics.
MERCURY INTRUSION POROSIMETRY

 Mercury intrusion porosimetry involves injecting mercury into a coal sample

and measuring the pressure required to force it into the pores.
 This method provides information on pore size and distribution.
 It is a commonly used method for measuring coal porosity.

Advantages of this method include:-

 It can measure a broad range of pore sizes.
 It is relatively fast and accurate.
 It can provide information on pore size distribution.
GAS ADSORPTION

 Gas adsorption measures the amount of gas that can be absorbed by a coal
sample which is related to its pore size and distribution.
 This method is particularly useful for measuring microporosity or small pores
that are difficult to measure using other methods.

Advantages of this method include:-

 It can measure the specific surface area of coal-related to its porosity.
 It can provide information on the chemical nature of the coal surface.
 It is non-destructive.
X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

 X-ray computed tomography uses X-rays to create a 3D image of the coal

sample, which can be used to measure its porosity.
 This method provides detailed information on the shape and distribution of
pores.
 It is particularly useful for studying coal samples that are too large or
complex for other methods.
APPLICATIONS OF COAL POROSITY

Coal porosity has many applications in the energy industry, including coal bed methane
extraction, enhanced oil recovery, and carbon capture and storage.
 Coal porosity is important in coal bed methane (CBM) extraction, as it affects the
permeability of coal and the ability of gas to flow through the coal seam.
 Porosity is also important in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), as it affects the ability of
fluids to flow through the reservoir rock and reach the producing wells.
 Coal porosity is used as an indicator of coal quality, which is important in coal
exploration, resource assessment, and mine planning.
 Porosity is a key parameter in coal reservoir modeling and simulation, which helps to
predict and optimize coal production.
 Understanding coal porosity can help in the development of new mining technologies
and improve the safety of underground coal mines.
CHALLENGES IN MEASURING COAL
POROSITY
There are several challenges associated with measuring coal porosity. Some of these
challenges include:
 Sample preparation: Coal is a heterogeneous material with complex internal structures.
Sample preparation can be challenging due to its heterogeneous nature.
 Instrument limitations: Different measurement techniques have different limitations,
and some techniques may not be suitable for measuring certain types of porosity.
 Coal heterogeneity: Coal heterogeneity can make it difficult to generalize porosity
measurements.
 Environmental conditions: Porosity measurements can be affected by environmental
conditions such as temperature, pressure, and humidity.
 Interpretation of results: Interpreting porosity measurements can be challenging,
particularly for complex coal structures.
CONCLUSION

 Coal porosity is a critical parameter that plays a significant role in coal bed methane
production, coal seam gas storage, and CO2 sequestration.
 The porosity of coal is influenced by various factors, including coal rank, maceral
composition, depositional environment, and tectonic history.
 Coal porosity can be categorized into two types: primary and secondary porosity, which
are formed due to different geological processes.
REFERENCES

 "Coal porosity" - Encyclopedia of Earth Science:

https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-77338-1_39-1
 "Measurement of coal porosity and pore size distribution by nuclear magnetic
resonance" - Journal of Applied Geophysics:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926985105001148
 "Coal Porosity, Pore Size Distribution and Permeability" - Coal Geology:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080449493500183
 "Coal Porosity and Coalbed Methane Reservoirs" - Springer Link:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-2568-9_3
THANK YOU