Adsorption-induced deformation in porous media and application to CO2-injected coal beds

An injection of carbon dioxide into a coal bed methane reservoir facilitates the recovery of methane, a process known as enhanced coal bed methane recovery (ECBM). Over the injection process carbon dioxide molecules get adsorbed at the surface of the coal pores, making the coal swell. This swelling leads to a closure of the coal fracture system and thus to a decrease of the permeability of the reservoir, hindering further injection and impairing the economic viability of ECBM. Here we provide a framework in which to calculate adsorption-induced strains in a porous medium. Usual poromechanics equations are extended to take into account surface energies. The calculations performed are valid for a general microstructure and the microstructural features are identified which govern the mechanical response of the porous medium to a change of surface stress. The effect of adsorption on surface stress is also discussed. An application to coal beds is presented. We employ molecular simulations to calculate adsorption isotherms of methane and carbon dioxide in coal. A comparison of our results with experimental data on coal swelling shows that adsorption in micropores (below 2nm) plays a primary role in the swelling behavior of coal.