Degree Name
Master of Science
Department or Program
Mining Engineering
Advisor
Harpalani, Satya
Abstract
Coalbed methane is becoming become an important component of the world's natural gas resource. To date, researchers have mostly investigated the permeability changes due to non-linear elastic deformation caused by a matrix shrinkage associated with methane desorption. However, the effect of linear elastic deformation of coal matrix due to stress variation has not been considered. This paper focuses on the importance of understanding the relationship between vertical deviatoric stress-induced internal fracturing (within coal matrix) and the resulting permeability variation. Evaluation of changes in permeability as a result of stress changes that are caused by vertical deviatoric stress (effective vertical deviatoric stress) has been discussed.