Abstract:
After nearly 10 years of rapid development, great breakthroughs have been made in the exploration and development of coalbed methane(CBM) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The theory and drilling pressure drainage technology system of CBM exploration and development applicable to the geological characteristics of Xinjiang have been further clarified and improved, and a number of pilot test projects for ground CBM development have been built, realizing small-scale commercial development and utilization. On the basis of the analysis of resource potential, gas production effect and market demand, the development and utilization of CBM in Xinjiang has the following advantages. First, it is rich in CBM resources, accounting for about 25.0% of the total resources in China. Second, a number of high-yield wells have emerged in CBM exploration and development, which has confirmed the value of CBM exploitation in Xinjiang. Third, Xinjiang serves as an important energy base and overland energy channel in China, where CBM development and utilization can not only supplement the increasing gap between supply and demand of natural gas inside and outside the region, help achieve the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, but also fundamentally ensure the safe production of coal mines. In order to promote the development of the CBM industry in Xinjiang, the authors mainly analyze the constraints on CBM in terms of policy demand, mining right setting, benefit development, exploration and development investment, and capital sources, and put forward innovative policy support mechanisms and methods. Such suggestions as solving the overlapping of mining rights with the lowest mining elevation of coal, overcoming technical difficulties for high-efficiency large-scale development, setting up a special fund for CBM, and encouraging diversified capital to enter the field of CBM exploration and development are proposed. Finally, some suggestions on the CBM development in Xinjiang during the 14th Five Year Plan period are put forward as follows. The shallow area of 1 500 m is the key area for exploration and productivity construction, and the deeper than 1 500 m area for research, exploration and pilot test. It is pointed out that the southern edge of the Junggar Basin and the northern edge of the Tarim Basin are the key areas for CBM exploration and development in Xinjiang. From the aspects of geological theory system, high-efficiency development process and technology system and co-mining of three coal measures, this paper puts forward the key technical direction to realize the large-scale CBM development in Xinjiang.