| Abstract: | Permeability of coal reservoirs in China is in general low. Injection of CO2 into coal seams is one of the potential ap-proaches for enhancing coalbed methane (CBM) production. The feasibility of this technology has been investigated in China since the 1990s. Advances in mechanism of CO2 enhanced CBM recovery (CO2-ECBM) in China are reviewed in light of certain aspects,such as the competitive multi-component gas adsorption, sorption-induced coal swelling/shrinkage and its potential effect on CBM production and numerical simulation for CO2-ECBM recovery. Newer investigations for improving the technology are discussed. It is suggested that a comprehensive feasibility demonstration in terms of geology, technology, economics and environment-carrying capacity is necessary for a successful application of the technology for CBM recovery in China. The demonstration should be car-ried out after more investigations into such facets as the control of coal components and structure to a competitive multi-component-gas adsorption, the behavior and essence of super-critical adsorption by coal of gas, environmental and safe feasi-bility of coal mining after CO2 injection and more extensive pilot tests for CO2-ECBM recovery. |
