A New Parameter as an Indicator of the Degree of Deformation of Coals

The deformation of coal is effected by thermal effect, pressures and tectonic stress, and the tectonic stress is the principal influence factor. However, the proposition of a useful quantitative index that responds to the degree of deformation of coals quantitatively or semi-quantitatively has been a long-debated issue. The vitrinite reflectance ellipsoid, that is, the reflectance indication surface (RIS) ellipsoid is considered to be a strain ellipsoid that reflects the sum of the strain increment caused by stress in the process of coalification. It has been used to describe the degree of deformation of the coal, but the effect of the anisotropy on the RIS ellipsoid has not yet been considered with regards to non-structural factors. In this paper, Wei's parameter (ε) is proposed to express the deformation degree of the strain ellipsoid based on considering the combined influence of thermal effect, pressure and tectonic stress. The equation is as follows: $\varepsilon = \sqrt {\left[ {{{\left({{\varepsilon _1} - {\varepsilon _0}} \right)}^2} + {{\left({{\varepsilon _2} - {\varepsilon _0}} \right)}^2} + {{\left({{\varepsilon _3} - {\varepsilon _0}} \right)}^2}} \right]/3} $, where ε₁=ln R_max, ε₂=ln R_int, ε₃=ln R_min, and ε₀=(ε₁+ ε₂+ ε₃)/3. Wei's parameter represents the distance from the surface to the spindle of the RIS logarithm ellipsoid; thus, the degree of deformation of the strain ellipsoid is indicated quantitatively. The formula itself, meanwhile, represents the absolute value of the degree of relative deformation and is consequently suitable for any type of deformation of the strain ellipsoid. Wei's parameter makes it possible to compare degrees of deformation among different deformation types of the strain ellipso id. This equation has been tested in four types of coal: highly metamorphic but weakly deformed coal of the southern Qinshui Basin, highly metamorphic and strongly deformed coal from the Tianhushan coal mining area of Fujian, and medium metamorphic and weakly or strongly deformed coal from the Huaibei Coalfield. The results of Wei's parameters are consistent with the actual deformation degrees of the coal reservoirs determined by other methods, which supports the effectiveness of this method. In addition, Wei's parameter is an important complement to the indicatorsof the degrees of deformation of coals, which possess certain theoretical significance and practical values.