Division of coalbed methane-enriched units in the Qinshui Basin

Division of CBM (coalbed methane)-enriched units is an important precondition and basic work for formulation of scientific CBM exploration procedure and improvement of CBM exploration success rate. In consideration of the CBM particularity and complexity as well as its distribution in China, the CBM-enriched units are divided into 5 levels, i.e. CBM-bearing region, CBM-bearing basin, CBM-enriched area, CBM-enriched zone, and CBM reservoir (field). The Qinshui Basin is one of the China's richest CBM basins with higher exploration degree. However, division and study of CBM-enriched units are relatively weak for the basin. Based on geological conditions of CBM reservoirs formation and current distribution of CBM reservoirs in the Qinshui Basin, this paper divides the basin into 5 CBM-enriched areas, that is, the South Qinshui, Eastern Slope, Western Slope, Xishan, and Gaoping-Jincheng CBM-enriched areas. Of those 5 areas, the South Qinshui is most favorable for CBM exploration.