A calculation method for coalbed permeability by using drainage data

In order to more accurately calculate the changes in the permeability of coalbed during production process, a calculation method for coalbed permeability based on production data is established by combining with material balance equations and production equations, and it gives the fact that the output data can be a good reflection of the inner permeability of coalbed. The average pressure of coalbed in production process can be calculated through material balance equation. Dimensionless water production index is introduced into the production equation in the stage only with water production. In the next stage with both gas and water, gas and water production ratio is introduced to eliminate the influence of flush-flow radius, skin factor as well as other uncertain factors on the calculation of CBM permeability. The relationship between permeability and surface cumulative liquid production can be described as a single-variable cubic equation by derivation. There is a trend that the permeability declines firstly and then increases after wells in Qinshui CBM field are calculated. The results show that reservoir permeability increase after drainage stage, but the growth rate decrease gradually. The regression result of the permeability ratio and surface cumulative fluid production agrees with the theoretical mathematic relationship.