Because of the coal depositional process, and the nature of gas storage and transport mechanisms, a large percentage of CBM exists in low permeability ("tight") coals. Coals are typically laterally-extensive deposits, often covering entire basins. In addition, coals are usually deposited in a cyclic process, producing large gross intervals containing many coal seams. Thermal maturity typically increases with depth within a basin, and since gas adsorptive capacity increases with thermal maturity, large gas accumulations are found in the deeper parts of basins. However, coals are naturally-fractured reservoirs, and permeability of coals is stress-sensitive. Therefore, permeability tends to decrease with depth and strongly affected by structural folding and tectonic forces. Commercial development to-date has been primarily restricted to shallow, high-permeability coals for this reason.
Horizontal drilling and enhanced CBM techniques have been successful in recovering gas from tight coals, but with limited commercial success to-date. Better understanding of coal geology and Geomechanics will lead to identification of sweet spots that can be successfully developed. Advancements in horizontal drilling technology and potentially, ECBM technology, will reduce development costs and facilitate commercial development. R&D is required to advance these technologies.
About the Author
Mike Zuber is a Technical Advisor for Schlumberger Asia Area.
He is a mentor for the emerging unconventional gas, shale and coalbed methane business in Asia.
From 2003 to 2007, Mike was VP-Reservoir Engineering for CDX Gas, LLC. Prior to joining CDX, Mike was a consultant for 20+ years, working primarily on critical evaluations for unconventional gas reservoirs.
He has authored numerous publications relating to evaluation of coalbed methane reservoirs. He taught the SPE short course “Coalbed Methane Engineering Methods” for many years.
Mike holds a BSPE from Marietta College, MSPE from Texas A&M University, and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
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