Geological and favorable for exploitation of coalbed methane system in the Qinshui basin,Shanxi

Colabed methane system is a natural system that consists of coal seams, coalbed methane in them and surrounding rocks. As an unconventional natural gas, the generation, reservoir and conservation of coalbed methane are different from those of conventional hydrocarbon. The Qinshui basin in southeastern Shanxi Province, has abundant coalbed methane resources in the Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation and Permian Shanxi Formation. In this study, we reported geophysical features, structural deformation and tectonic evolution of coalbed meathane system in the Qinshui basin. Relationships between structural deformation and the formation of coalbed methane reservoir in Qinshui basin were also discussed. The results show that the Yangquan-Shouyang area in the north part of the basin and the Tunliu-Xiangyuan area in the east are favorable for formation coalbed methane system. In contrast, the Jincheng-Qinshui area in the south part of basin and the Qinyuan area in the middle of basin are favorable for both the formation of coalbed methane reservoirs and high yields as well.