An improved gas–liquid–solid coupling model with plastic failure for hydraulic flushing in gassy coal seam and application in borehole arrangement

Hydraulic flushing can increase the efficiency of gas extraction by artificially modifying the coal reservoir. Considering the plastic failure of coal mass, an improved gas–liquid–solid coupling model for hydraulic flushing and gas extraction is constructed. The parameter evolution in the hydraulic flushing process was numerically investigated to determine the optimal borehole arrangement of hydraulic flushing. The results show that the relative permeability of gas gradually increases with the initial dewatering. The gas rates of both regular extraction and hydraulic flushing enhanced extraction show an increasing–decreasing trend. An increased and delayed peak gas rate is observed comparing with the regular extraction, caused by the hydraulic flushing induced new fractures. The area around of borehole is divided into the failure zone, the plastic softening zone, and the elastic zone after hydraulic flushing. The failure zone has the greatest increase in coal permeability, followed by the plastic softening zone, while the elastic zone keeps no significant change. The larger difference between the horizontal stress and vertical stress, the more obvious the elliptical shape of the permeability change area near the borehole, as well as the pressure drop in the elliptical zone. With the increase in the hydraulic flushing radius, the permeability increasing zone and gas pressure decreasing zone gradually increase. Subsequently, the equivalent effective radius and equivalent influencing radius were obtained, as well as the optimal borehole spacing for hydraulic flushing by cross-layer drilling. Finally, the optimal borehole spacing is obtained for different borehole diameters and efficient extraction times. These provide a theoretical guidance for field application of hydraulic flushing in a low-permeable coal seam.