The coupling evolution mechanism of gas-water migration and the temperature field during hot nitrogen injection into coal rock after volume fracturing

The coupling evolution mechanism of gas-water migration and the temperature field during hot nitrogen injection into coal rock after volume fracturing | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The coupling evolution mechanism of gas-water migration and the temperature field during hot nitrogen injection into coal rock after volume fracturing Weiqin Zuo, Wenyan Xu, Yanwei Liu, Tao Wu, Hongkai Han, Fengjie Zhang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7503849/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 29 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 15 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Volume fracturing is a pivotal technology for exploiting coalbed methane in “three-low, one-high” reservoirs, though water retention often limits effectiveness. This research establishes a multi-phase flow–thermal coupling model integrating fluid dynamics, mass transfer, and heat transport to simulate thermal nitrogen injection into a three-level fracture network. The study examines multi-phase flow evolution and thermal response under varying injection conditions. Results reveal a three-stage displacement process: initial breakthrough through dominant channels, followed by mixed network flow, and finally stabilized gas propagation. Higher injection pressure significantly expands gas coverage and reduces residual water, while low pressure promotes water trapping. The temperature field evolution, mainly controlled by pressure, shows the most pronounced change in the main fractures. Flow behavior is hierarchically structured: primary fractures exhibit stepwise decline, secondary fractures display strong fluctuations, and tertiary fractures face initiation constraints. Increasing injection pressure enhances driving force, moderates flow decay in primary fractures, reduces instability in secondary ones, and facilitates activation of tertiary fractures. This process activates complex fracture networks and delays productivity decline, providing a theoretical foundation for post-fracturing water removal and enhanced permeability strategies. Physical sciences/Energy science and technology Physical sciences/Engineering Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences Volume fracturing Complex fracture network Hot nitrogen injection Gas-water migration Temperature field Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 29 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 16 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 14 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 13 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 13 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Sep, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Sep, 2025 Editor invited by journal 03 Sep, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 02 Sep, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 01 Sep, 2025 First submitted to journal 31 Aug, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7503849","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":512241622,"identity":"8624ff2c-4b65-40db-a30a-984034c0f0f7","order_by":0,"name":"Weiqin Zuo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Henan Polytechnic University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Weiqin","middleName":"","lastName":"Zuo","suffix":""},{"id":512241623,"identity":"0b8271ab-9f5f-40d1-98d7-869f9ceccd6f","order_by":1,"name":"Wenyan Xu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Henan Polytechnic 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