Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 743747

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Mining Science and Technology (China)

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Application of micro-seismic facies to coal bed methane exploration

Li Donghui a,, Dong Shouhua a, Zhang Cong b, Deng Shuaiqi a, Li Shujie c
a

School of Resources and Geoscience, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Huabei Oileld CBM Branch Company, Jincheng 048000, China
c
School of Economics and Management, Changchun University of Science & Technology, Changchun 130022, China
b

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 10 February 2011
Received in revised form 12 March 2011
Accepted 15 April 2011
Available online 3 November 2011
Keywords:
Micro-seismic facies
Coal bed methane
Waveform classication
Gas rich area

a b s t r a c t
A neural network is applied to high-quality 3-D seismic data during micro-seismic facies analysis to perform the waveform analysis and training on single reection events. Modeled seismic channels are established and the real seismic channels are classied. Thus, a distribution of micro-seismic facies having a
high precision over a at surface was acquired. This method applied to existing geological data allows
the distribution of areas rich in coal bed methane to be clearly dened. A distribution map of the
micro-seismic facies in the research area is shown. The data accord well with measured methane contents, indicating that the analysis using micro-seismic facies is reliable and effective. This method could
be applied to coal bed methane exploration and is of great importance to future exploration work and to
an increase in the drilling success rate.
2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.

1. Introduction

2. Micro-seismic facies analysis

Conventional methods of interpreting seismic data use mainly

the intensity of the seismic reection. The concept of seismic
facies introduces the use of such information as the amplitude
versus frequency, the geometric shape of consecutive events, or
the interval velocity for analysis of the seismic data. Seismic facies are a comprehensive representation of interfaces at all levels. The lithology and characteristic sets of sedimentary systems
affect seismic proles and seismic facies analysis refers to an
interpretation of the environmental background and lithofacies
according to the seismic data. In conventional seismic facies
analysis a qualitative description is provided from indications
of seismic facies, i.e., the structure and the architecture of the
seismic reection and the shape of a seismic facies unit. Most
attention has been paid to the composite features of multiple
seismic reection events [1]. Therefore, the vertical time was
of considerable interest in conventional seismic facies analysis
but the signicance of single reection events was generally ignored. Although related to sediment the precision and correctness of a single reection could not meet the requirements for
ne coal bed methane reservoir description. Accordingly, the
application of micro-seismic facies analysis for coal bed methane
exploration is discussed herein.

Micro-seismic facies analysis refers to the study of subtle

changes in waveform characteristics from a seismic reection
event that reects the lateral extent of interfaces and stratum continuity. The purpose is the determination of lateral variations in
thinner underground reservoirs from differences in microfacies,
lithology, reservoir characteristics, or the uid components of the
sedimentary reservoir. Such micro-seismic facies acquired through
analysis allow the identication and distribution of favorable reservoirs in complicated shapes such as rivers, sand bars, or fan
bodies.
The analysis differs from conventional seismic facies analysis
done when reservoirs have a larger time thickness. A neural network analysis has been used for micro-seismic facies analysis [2].
The variability of the seismic waveform signals was used for training and estimation within a focused interval of a 3-D seismic data
volume was the output. A set of synthetic seismic channels was
constructed through signal analysis, learning, and iteration. Then,
these were compared to real seismic data. The iteration was repeated after adaptation tests and error treatment and the synthesized channels were changed to optimize correlation between
the model channels and the real ones. Finally, the representative,
discrete synthesized seismic waveform signals (i.e., the seismic
model channels) that reect the variation in all seismic channels
over the 3-D data volume were established. These have the significance of containing information from the various sedimentary facies. The t between real seismic channels and the model ones was
determined and classes of t were plotted in different colors. In

Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 13775982623.

E-mail address: ldhyingxiang@163.com (D. Li).

1674-5264/$ - see front matter 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.
doi:10.1016/j.mstc.2011.04.001

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D. Li et al. / Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 743747

Fig. 1. Demarcation of the geologic horizon of the reection wave group based on synthesized records.

this way a micro-seismic facies distribution with indications of

sedimentary facies over the 3-D data volume was acquired [3].
3. Procedure
A map of the micro-seismic facies can be constructed by selecting subject reservoirs and timing windows, creating the model
channels, and then forming a facies map specically [48]:

(4) The results were plane mapped. The results from seismic
waveform classication were plane-classied. The waveforms of the same class were displayed in the same color,
while those of other similar classes were displayed in other,
similar, colors.
(5) The geological connotations of the classied micro-seismic
facies were given based on the data and analysis presented.
4. An example

(1) A work area was set. Seismic and logging data were loaded
and horizon picking was conducted based on 3-D automatic
tracking.
(2) A time window for an objective interval was established. An
objective interval for the micro-seismic facies analysis was
chosen and a range and size was selected appropriate for
the geological purpose of the study. During seismic exploration of coal elds attention is generally paid only to the lithological information at the roof, the oor, and the inner part
of the coal seam. Hence, it is inadvisable to select a section
having an extremely large scale. The subject reservoir for
the micro-seismic facies analysis in this study was seam
number 3 and an interval 15 ms above and below this seam
was adopted as the research reservoir.
(3) Model channels were created. The classes of model channels
and the iteration times were determined through tests. The
class numbers refers to the number of classes of micro-seismic facies that will be classied over the interval. The number should be chosen according to the specic geological
task at hand. Seismic exploration of coal elds requires
micro-seismic facies analysis to identify abnormal geologic
bodies or wash zones in the seams, areas rich in coal bed
methane, and other potential problems for mining. These
geological tasks are relatively simple so only a few classes
will be enough; for instance the number of classes ranges
between 5 and 10.
The selection of iteration times follows a general rule that
the neural network should converge, that the computing
time should be short, and that the work efciency should
be improved. In practice, 1020 iterations guarantees convergence of the neural network and 2040 iterations is preferred for the nal interpretation. 7 classes were adopted in
this work and 35 iterations were performed.

4.1. Description of the research area

The strata in the research area were the Shanxi group of the
lower Permian system (P1s) and the Taiyuan group of the Upper
Carboniferous system (C3t). The total thickness is 136.02 m and
there are 15 layers to the seams. Seam number 3, in the Shanxi
group, and seams number 9 and 15, in the Taiyuan group, is mineable seams. The demarcation of synthesized seismic records was
used to determine that wave T3 was the reection wave formed
from seam number 3. This wave, T3, was the subject reservoir for
this study. Wave group T3 generally exhibits two strong phases,
good continuity, and waveform stability and was extremely easy
to identify in the time section data. The reection wave from seam
number 15 (T15) shows considerable phase intensity, good waveform stability, and a basic continuity of tracking. The reection
wave (T9) from seam number 9 has less phase intensity and lacks
continuity in waveform variation (see Fig. 1).
4.2. Division of the micro-seismic facies
The process of waveform classication of micro-seismic facies
was used to divide the micro-seismic facies in area E1. Modeled
seismic channels were developed by means of a self-organized
neural network [912]. Templates made of these channels were
used to reect the various morphologies of the seismic signals in
the subject reservoir. Different colors were used to denote the various waveforms. When dividing the micro-seismic facies various
parameters were selected in a way that variation of the sedimentary environment was reected in a regular manner. These parameters included the size of the time window, the control horizon,
and the waveform classes. An interval 15 ms above and below
seam number 3 (the subject of this study) was adopted as the time
window and 7 model channels (see Fig. 2) were used. These

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745

Fig. 2. Seven model channels.

Fig. 3. Distribution of micro-seismic facies: area E1.

channels represent the waveform types of the seismic data and reect variation in the waveform data. Comparing the model channels to the real ones indicates that the optimum result is
achieved after 35 times iteration. A map of the micro-seismic facies
forms eventually during this process (Fig. 3). Demarcation and
analysis of the results from analysis of existing data give a range
of areas rich in coal bed methane. This is the part delimited by
the black line in the distribution map of the micro-seismic facies.
4.3. A geological interpretation of the micro-seismic facies map
The amount of coal bed methane depends on a number of competing geological factors. The rst are those affecting methane generation (the type of coal-bearing strata were the seam developed
and the richness of organic matter, the microscopic components,
and the types and coalication of organic matter). Other factors affect the sequestration of gas, such as the degree of erosion, the burial depth, the effect of underground water on the geologic structure
and the type of wall rock and coal bearing formation existent during the geologic evolution.
The research area is a highly gassy mine and gas discharge was
considerable during mining. The gas content averages 9.03 m3/t
and was observed to be as high as 18 m3/t. The mine gas discharge
came from the number three seam, which accounted for 97% of the
mine gas discharge. Gas from adjacent seams was much less. There

Fig. 4. Bit time of seam number three: producing area E1.

was no spontaneous combustion and the coal dust did not explode.
Seam number 3 is of the Shanxi group (P1s) and the paleogeographic environment for its generation was a coastal alluvial
plain. The seam slope is from 2 to l0. Conditions were favorable
for exploitation and the coal type was a low to mid grey, high
strength blind coal. The coal quality varied little throughout the
seam. The seams were stable with little change in thickness in
the studied area. The seams in the vicinity of the Changdian syncline are relatively thick with a maximum thickness of 7.5 m. The
seams in the southern Zhengcun anticline are thin with the thinnest being 5.7 m thick. Hence this belongs to the class of stable,
mineable seams.
The immediate roof is generally composed of sandy mudstone,
or siltstone, and frequently is accompanied by a pseudo top of thin
carbonaceous mudstone or shale. The pseudo top and the immediate roof were rather frangible and broke into pieces, or layers, during mining, the main roof was relatively stable and did not break
easily and consisted of ne or middle sized sandstone. The oor
was a black mudstone, sandy mudstone, or siltstone, with parts
being ne sandstone.
The seam contained low to mid grey, blind coal with low sulfur,
medium phosphorous, high heat content, high ash melting temperature, and high physical strength. It had good heat stability, was
strongly slagging, and satisfactory for clean-coal recovery with
high xed coal content.

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D. Li et al. / Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 743747

Fig. 5. 3-D geological structure of area E1.

Fig. 6. Coal thickness in area E1.

The structure of this area was relatively simple and included the
Zhengcun anticline, the Changdian syncline, and anticline number
67 moving from west to east. There was little fracture and no magmatism. In addition the hydrological and geological conditions of
the elds were simple.
The analysis of gas richness, the coal reservoirs, the cap rock,
the geologic background of gas control, and other factors implies
that the amount of coal bed methane in the research area was
mainly affected by the burial depth, the strata thickness, and the
geological structure of the seams.
Figs. 46 show the tting of the distribution of micro-seismic
facies. The correctness in the divisions of rich or poor coal bed
methane areas based on micro-seismic facies is veried by prior

research efforts and the measured methane content in eld bores

[1315]. This shows that the micro-seismic facies technique can
be applied to coal bed methane exploration.

5. Conclusions
Identication of features in conventional seismic facies analysis
is based on the correlation of multiple reection events. Microseismic facies analysis with the neural network method allows a
study of the distribution of micro-seismic facies to be conducted
on single reection events. This method is superior to conventional
seismic facies analysis in both the vertical and the horizontal

D. Li et al. / Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 743747

directions: The reliability and rapidness of reservoir depiction is

improved. Contents of measured coal bed methane and prior research results accord well with the micro-seismic facies analysis.
This indicates that the micro-seismic facies analysis has a satisfactory practicality and validity.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported nancially by the National Key Project
(No. 2008ZX05035-005-003), the National Basic Research Program
of China (No. 2009CB219603). The author is grateful to these
organizations.
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