APE-UP-VII

Coal Bed Methane

Technology
LECTURE-1(Combined)

28.08.2018 Dr S K NANDA
 Coal bed methane (CBM)

Coal bed methane (CBM)

Coal bed gas,
Coal seam gas (CSG),
Coal-mine methane (CMM)
Is a form of natural gas
extracted from coal beds.
In recent decades it has become
an important source of energy
 Methane CH4:
Major Coal Basins
are significant source energy that
has been converted into an
environmentally
friendly fuel.

4 Bcf/D production of coal bed

Coal Bed Methane (CBM)A vast CBM reserve to the tune of 850 BCM
to 8 TCM is estimated to be locked up in Indian coals. Coal Bed
methane from 15,000 wells
Methane (CBM)A vast CBM reserve to the tune of 850 BCM to 8 TCM
is estimated to be locked up in Indian coals.
 SCENARIO
Worldwide Coal In Place t
Country %
Russia 36.06
4,860
China 30.05
4,000
U.S. 19.30
2,570
Australia 4.50600
Canada 2,42323
Germany 1.85247
United Kingdom 1.40190
Poland 1.04139
India 0.60 81
South Africa 0.54 72
Others 1.72229
(63.63%) (12.63%)
CBM could fulfill national goals, such as
the following:
• Provide a clean-burning fuel.
• Increase substantially the natural gas
reserve base.
• Improve safety of coal mining.
• Decrease methane vent to the
atmosphere from coal mines that
might affect global warming.
• Provide a means to use an abundant
coal resource that is often too deep to
mine.
problems
Adsorption,
Diffusion,
Mechanical properties of coal
Stress-dependent permeabilities;
Geological complexities that the impact
the reservoir in an unexpected manner.
advantages
Long-time association with coal mining,
Familiarity with fracturing
Knowledge of completion techniques
Amalgam of oilfield and coal-mining
practices.
Q-1
What is “coalification”
A-1
Coalification is the process of
the chemical transformation
from vegetation into coal
(i.e. the transformation of the
complex biological and
molecular structures, present
in the cells of plants, into the
chemical fragments /structures
seen in coal).
Q-2
What are the natural variations in the
process of coalification
A-2
With the progress of “coalification,”
increasingly dense coal is formed in
specific order - from low to high
rank:
lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous,
and anthracite.
Biogenic methane (attributed to
bacterial activity) is first to form,
followed by thermo-genic methane.
Q-3
Differentiate between biogenic and
thermo genic gas.
A-3
Natural gas, which is produced by
methanogenic organisms, is called biogenic
gas.
Methanogens are tiny methane producing
mechanisms that chemically break down
organic matter to produce methane.
They are found in marshes, bog, landfills and
shallow sediments.
Formation of methane through biogenic
process takes place closer to the earth’s
surface with majority of it getting lost in the
atmosphere; however, some of them can be
trapped underground.
Metha-no-genic
archaea is responsible
for all biological forms
of methane.
the metha-no-gens live
and grow, methane
accumulates in their
underground habitat.
This biogenic natural
gas is composed
almost purely of
methane and can be
found in sediment
under ground bodies
(depths 10- 300 feet)
Thermogenic natural gas originates from
fine grain rock formation typically 3000
feet (914 meters) underground.
Common sources of thermogenic natural
gas include shale, coalbed, tight limestone,
etc.
It is a result of chemical reactions that
occur without the presence of
microorganisms.
These decomposition reactions are
triggered by the application of extreme
heat and pressure underground.
This gas contains a large percentage of
non-methane hydrocarbons and forms a
significant portion of natural gas
production and reserves worldwide.
Compositionally,
Biogenic gas (± 95% methane), and known
as “dry” gas, which was formed by
bacterial decay at shallow depth.
Thermogenic gas (<95% methane) formed
at high temperatures, and known as “wet”
gas, is considered as a lower quality gas,
as it contains compounds such as ethane
and butane, in addition to methane.
Various impurities present in the thermo-
genic gases are:
Oil and Condensate Removal
Water Removal
Separation of Natural Gas Liquids
Sulfur and Carbon Dioxide Removal
Q-4
How coal contain methane Gas ?
A-4
Coal has more carbon content than
methane.
It results from seepage from eath’s
surface.
The various chemical reactions between
Carbon, Oxygen ,Water at high
temperature results in methane
formation.
Thus coal contain mainly methane and
trace quantities of ethane, nitrogen,
carbon dioxide and few other gases.
Coal contain methane Gas
Q-5
What is meant by fixed carbon?
A-5
Fixed carbon is the solid combustible
residue that remains after a coal particle is
heated and when the volatile matter is
expelled.
The fixed-carbon content of a coal is
determined by subtracting the percentages
of moisture, volatile matter, and ash from a
sample.
Fixed carbon is a calculated value of the
difference between 100 and the sum of the
moisture, ash, and volatile matter where all
values are on the same reference .
Q- 6
What is the difference between fixed carbon measured and
Carbon content values measured using TGA & Elemental
analyzer?
A-5
These are two methods TGA & Elemental analyzer
determine the values of Carbon Contents.
The Fixed carbon is determined by the TGA is purely on the
basis of change in weight with respect to temperature and
in correspondence with the amount of volatile matter, ash
and moisture content as a result of the pyrolysis
of the sample in an inert medium.
However, the elemental analysis is carried out by
combustion method ie- in which the sample is burned in the
presence of pure oxygen to form oxides like CO, CO2 and
SO2 and then elemental composition is determined.
So the carbon content by elemental analysis is totally
dependent the gases formed during
upon
combustion and the content of other
gases.
Q-7
What is meant by Rank of Coal?
A-7
Rank refers to steps in a slow, natural
process called “Coalification,” during
which buried plant matter changes into
an ever denser, drier, more carbon rich,
and harder material.
There are four major types (or “ranks”)
of coal
Anthracite
Bituminous
Subbituminous
Lignite
1.Anthracite:
The highest rank of coal. It is a hard,
brittle, and black lustrous coal, often
referred to as hard coal, containing a
high percentage of fixed carbon and a
low percentage of volatile matter.
2. Bituminous:
Bituminous coal is a middle rank coal
between subbituminous and anthracite.
Bituminous usually has a high heating
(Btu) value and is the most common type
of coal used in electricity generation.
Bituminous coal appears to be shiny and
smooth when you first see it, but look
closer and you may see it has layers.
3. Subbituminous:
Subbituminous coal is black in color and
dull (not shiny), and has a higher heating
value than lignite.
4. Lignite: Lignite coal, a brown coal, is the
lowest grade coal has least
concentration of carbon
RANK OF COAL Open
question
Q-8
What is meant by PEAT?
A-8
PEAT :
In addition. Peat is not actually coal,
but rather the precursor to coal.
Peat is a soft organic material
consisting of partly decayed plant
and, in some cases, deposited
mineral matter.
When peat is placed under high
pressure and heat, it becomes coal.
Q-9
How is the Methane gas is stored in coal
A-9
Methane storage in coal includes the
+ storage of methane as a free gas
within the micro-pores and cleats*
+ as a dissolved gas in water which
is present within coal
+ as adsorbed gas held by molecular
attraction on organic constituents
that comprises the coal mass, micro-
pores, as well as “cleat” in the coal;
+ as absorbed gas within the
molecular structure of the coal
molecules
* Cleats constitute a poorly defined set of natural fractures,
THANKS
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-
and-planetary-sciences/coal-bed-methane

APE-UP-VII

Coal Bed Methane

Technology
LECTURE-2(Combined)

2.09.2018 Dr S K NANDA
1 Gas Composition conventional gases composition

Gas produced from coal beds may be initially

higher in methane(methane rich) than the gas
produced from conventional reservoirs.
This results less adsorption as compared to
conventional gases having ethane and heavier
hydrocarbons.
2 Adsorption
Instead of occupying void spaces as a
free gas between sand grains, the
methane is held to the solid surface of
the coal by adsorption in numerous
micro pores .
The large surface area with in the micro
pores and the close proximity of methane
molecules on the internal solid surfaces
allow the surprisingly large volumes of
gas to be stored in the coal.
Some free gas exists in the natural fractures
of the coal and some methane dissolves in
the waters in the coal, but the bulk of the
methane comes from the micro pores.
The adsorption mechanism results in high
gas storage in a reservoir rock having
extremely less porosity (< 2.5%).
A good coalbed well would hold 2 to 3 times
more gas than a sandstone reservoir of like
depth having 25% porosity and 30% water
saturation.
Butt cleats constitute a poorly defined set of
natural fractures, orthogonal (at right angles)
or nearly orthogonal to facecleats.
Face cleats are continuous throughout
the coal
3 Water Production Scenario
CBM is associated with prolific generation of
formation waters from natural fractures in
the coal.
These waters must be removed before the
methane can be desorbed in the early
production life of a well. An early high water
cut , that reduces with time-Period of ½ Year
(decrease in pressure results in desorption)
Subsequently , water production reduces with
time and gas production from the field has
longer life span. +20 years.
REMARKS

In contrast, conventional gas reservoirs would

have the connate water of the pore spaces held
immobile, and water would not be expected to
be produced in volume with the gas until the
encroachment of aquifer waters is signaled an
impending demise of gas production.
 Issues
Economic Initial costs can be extremely
complicated and highly expensive so as to
dispose of large volumes of water in early life
of the CBM well, but the costs decline rapidly
thereafter.
Environmental water disposals, are important
factors that must be dealt with in the process
Exceptions1: The pattern of coal bed water
production occur when wells are located near
active coal mines that have already dewatered
through years of mining.
Exception2: is also observed in the under
pressured coal bed reservoirs.
4 Gas Flow
The mechanism of gas flow through the
formation to the wellbore in a conventional
reservoir is based on mass transport or pressure
gradients and given by Darcy Law.
Where as for coals, an additional mechanism of
gas diffusion through the micropores of the coal
matrix is also involved.
The mass transport depends upon a methane
concentration gradient across the micropores
as the driving force
Upon encountering a fracture or a cleat, the gas
will flow according to Darcy’s law
5 Rock Physical Properties
Conventional oil and gas formations are
inorganic. Organic formations contain CBM ;
these formations may contain about 10–30%
inorganic ash from 3.3% to 13.8%.
Coals of optimum rank for methane are
brittle and friable
The coal usually has low permeability and
flow depends on natural fractures which act
as gas and liquid conduits.
Without hydraulic fracturing, these low-
permeability coals are usually commercially
nonproductive
REMARKS
Permeability- The permeability is stress -
dependent, thus low values of permeability
are developed rapidly with depth in the
absence of unusual tectonic forces. Deep coals,
or highly stressed coals, may exhibit a
permeability of less than 0.1 md, this low will
not accommodate economical methane flow
rates, even with hydraulic fracturing
Whether the coals exhibit a low permeability or
exhibit an extensive, unstressed network of fractures
with high permeability is a critical parameter in any
decision to invest in a CBM process.
6 Gas Content
Gas amount must be determined by volumetric
calculations based on coring data as the gas
adsorbed on the coal cannot be detected on
geophysical logs as in a conventional reservoir
Gas content of coals may increase with depth as
do conventional gas reservoirs, but the effective
increases is because of the positive influence of
pressure on adsorptive capacity rather than the
compressibility of the gas.
The amount of adsorbed gas also depends on
ash content, rank of coal, burial history,
chemical makeup of the coal, temperature, and
gas lost over geologic time.
7 Coal Rank
Gas content depends on the coal’s rank, a
measure of the quality and thermal maturity of
the organic matter
Coal passes through four classes in its
maturation: lignite, subbituminous, bituminous,
and anthracite.
A high vitrinite composition is ideal for CBM
extraction. A vitrinite reflectance of 0.8-1.5% has
been found to imply higher productivity of the
coalbed.
8 Gas Production
Comparison of the decline curves of gas
production from conventional reservoirs to
methane production from coal beds reveals
differences in their production patterns.
Evaluation of Gas-decline coefficient and
drainage areas have indicated that CBM may
be produced for longer periods20–30 years
from reservoirs
Coal-beds feature production rates of methane
that initially increase and then slowly decline
as gas production continues over a long
period, where as in conventional wells there is
continuous decrease in production rate.
CBM process has many similarities
to the development of gas from
conventional reservoirs. However,
outstanding differences in the two
reservoirs have a great impact on
profitability and operations
 THINGS TO REMEMBER
Coalbed gas, or coal mine methane
(CMM) is a form of natural gas extracted
from coal beds
It refers to methane adsorbed into the
solid matrix of the coal. It is called
'sweet gas' because of its lack of H2S.
Coalbed methane is distinct from a
typical sand stone or other
conventional gas reservoir, as the
methane is stored within the coal
The methane is in a near-liquid state, lining
the inside of pores within the coal (called the
matrix). The open fractures in the coal (called
the cleats) can also contain free gas or can be
saturated with water.
Coalbed methane contains very little heavier
hydrocarbons and no natural gas condensate,
It may have few percent CO2.
The environmental impacts of CBM
development are defined in terms of network
of roads, pipelines, and compressor stations
and excessive water.
 Reservoir properties
Porosity
The porosity of coal bed reservoir is usually
very small , ranging from 0.1 to 10%
Permeabiliy
For most coal seams, the permeability lies in
the range of 0.1 to 50 milli Darcies.
Coal displays a stress-sensitive permeability
and this process plays an important role
during stimulation and production
operations.
Formation Thickness
The thickness of the formation may not be
directly proportional to the volume of gas
produced in some areas as the formation's
thickness may probably be due to other
factors of the “area's geology”.
Reservoir Pressure
The pressure difference between the well
block and the sand face should be as high as
possible for better productivity , similar to
conventional reservoirs
Adsorption capacity*
The capacity to adsorb depends on the rank
and quality of coal. Its range is between100
to 800SCF/ton for most coal seams.
Other vital Properties
coal density, initial gas phase concentration,
critical gas saturation, irreducible water
saturation, relative permeability to water and
gas at conditions of Sw = 1.0 and Sg = 1- Swc.
Adsorption capacity of coal is defined as the volume of gas
adsorbed per unit mass of coal usually expressed in SCF
(standard cubic feet, the volume at standard pressure and
temperature conditions) gas/ton of coal.
Required Data and Their Sources for
Analysis of CBM Reservoirs
THANKS
 APE-UP-VII

Coal Bed Methane

Technology
LECTURE-3

05.09.2018 Dr S K NANDA
 Q-13-Describe the resource
Estimation Techniques of CBM
A-13
CBM Resource Estimation
Techniques
• Field analogy
– Based on parameter similarities
• Volumetric methods
– Area * Thickness * Gas Content *
Coal Density
• Probabilistic methods
– To quantify resource uncertainty
 1 Field analogy
Experience has indicated that
Parameter Prospect A B Area
field analogs are
(sq miles) 2000 useful200for
preliminary
Gas content (scf/t) idea
150-700about200-500
the
(400)
commercial
Coal Thickness (ft) potential
30-70 of (24)a
4-48
prospect,
Ash content (wt %) but……… 5-25 15
Gas saturation (%) 30-100 100
they (md)
Permeability are not substitute
0.5-112 md for
5-20the
md
data collectionHigh
Coal rank and analysisHigh
volatile A volatile B
needed for good estimate of
resources and reserves in the
prospect itself.
 2 Volumetric Method
• Areal extent
– From wire line logs, cores,
seismic data
• Thickness
– From wire line logs, cores, mud
logs
• Gas content
– From cores, cuttings, and/or logs
• Density
– From cores, cuttings, and/or logs
The second, and most commonly
used method, is the volumetric
method.
It consists of using a combination
of log, core, cuttings, and
sometimes seismic data to know/
determine the areal extent,
thickness, gas content, and the
average density of a coal seam.
Multiplying these four parameters
together yields the volumetric gas
in-place.
Variability Analysis
The first parameter, areal extent, is likely to be
the least variable parameter.
There may be significant variations in coal
thickness may vary by a factor of two or more.
The third parameter, gas content, can show
tremendous variability, ranges from about 5 to
80 scf / ton. depending upon
whether a seam is charged with thermogenic
and/or biogenic gas,
whether gas has been stripped-out or added by
ground water movement, and
whether
the coal seam has been buried to a shallow or
deep depth.
The fourth and final parameter, coal density, also
varies greatly, low density pure coals( 1.75 g/cc)
have the highest gas storage capacity.
3 Probabilistic Methods

Chance of geologic Other resource parameters

success (Pg)is100% will have very wide ranges
– Coal containing – Leads to large variability
some gas is in gas-in-place volumes,
everywhere! gas production rates and
costs .
4
Numerical Simulation Models
– Used for many purposes
• Provides a “best estimate” case for
reserves
– Closest reserves classification is
usually the “Proven + Probable” or
Median (P50) case
– Model needs to be history-matched
• Requires modifications for SEC
(proven) reserves
– Values cannot exceed well control–
Limited Area
Closest reserves classification is
usually the “Proven + Probable”
or Median (P50)
Q14:
(a) what are the challenges of Reserve
estimations ?
(b) How best these challenges can be met?
A14(a) :
The estimation of coal bed methane
(CBM) resources and reserves is a
complex process as the reservoir is:
Layered, Fractured, and Heterogeneous
CBM resource estimation begins by
quantifying variations in
areal extent,
thickness,
Gas content , and
Coal density.
 A-14 (a) Problems/challenges of
CBM Resource Estimation
• Failure to capture the range of
possible resource values
• Failure to consider the contribution
of lithologies other than coal
• Failure to realize that resource
estimates are a poor predictor of
production potential
– Anthracite coals
– Under saturated coals
– Coals connected to large water
volumes
 A-14
The challenges of reserve
1
estimation are met by following
three step ?specific methodology
Step-1
CBM reserves depend upon the actual
production which is typically indicated
by a dewatering and ramp-up period
prior to attaining peak gas rates.
(i) Core and log data obtained from
appraisal wells provide the gas
content
(ii) Isotherm data is necessary to make
the first estimates of :
gas-in-place and potential recovery
 Step-2 Numerical Analysis establishing
2
economic rates/production forecast,
The above information is used to initialize
screening - level numerical simulation
models to understand
(i) The critical factors controlling gas
production
(ii) Recommend pilot well types and
spacing.
Once economic rates are established in
above well , production fore cast is made
to know, then in place reserves is
determined using production decline
analysis and ensure that there is
reasonable match between Step-1 &2.
3
Step-3 (actuality)
After the reservoir is actually
dewatered, material balance and
decline curve analyses can be used to
estimate reserves in a manner similar
to conventional reservoirs.

p
R
D
THANKS
 APE-UP-VII

Coal Bed Methane

Reservoir Engineering Concept
LECTURE-4

07.09.2018 Dr S K NANDA
Coal Bed Methane Technology

A D
B
RESESRVOIR ENGINEERING
CONCEPT
 DEVELOPMENT OF CBM FIELD

Coal bed methane (CBM) is an increasingly

important source of the world’s natural gas
production
Coalbed methane development has the full
range of reservoir/production challenges:
Technical, Economic and Resource
Estimation (OGIP) during the entire period
production to abandonment.
It requires pressure monitoring and the well
performance evaluation for preparing CBM
Field Development Plan.
APPROACH
“Conduct asset evaluation for greater
degree of confidence. Or “structured
resource assessment”

It identifies and provide the data that is

necessary to conduct reservoir
simulations and demonstrate production
potential.
This approach essentially requires : SP

a core hole to obtain full cores and

geophysical logs;
a full-size wellbore for open hole or
cased-hole pressure transient
testing;
a five-spot pilot for interference and
production testing.
Core and log data help determine gas-in-
place and the potential for water
production from adjacent intervals.
Single-test wells, used to determine absolute
permeability, can also be used for a fully
stimulated production test.
With data from the core hole and single-test
wells, reservoir simulation, net present
value (NPV) calculations, measured values
and a range of sensitivities provides the
information essentially required to estimate
production potential.
OPTIMIZING THE WELL PATTERN
The best well pattern is one that
maximizes the difference between
production NPV and capital investment.
Reservoir data and performance
prediction together with reservoir
simulation is the only way to determine
an economically optimized well pattern.
This includes field-wide production
rates, ultimate recovery together with
cumulative gas production.
A five-spot program should be carried
out and it should principally include
interference testing – which will yield:
permeability,
Anisotropy & orientation and
production testing.
Data derived from this structured local
assessment program is then used as
simulator input.
 Elements of Reservoir Monitoring
Type of Coal
Two types of coal may be encountered:
1. WET COAL:
which tend to produce water as well as gas
2. DRY COAL:
Which produces gas with virtually no water
Bituminous coal is best source material.
Coal Characteristics
Coal are characterised on geophysical logs
with low gamma, low density and high
resistivity values.
Coal Structure
Coal is generally characterized as a dual-
porosity system because it consists of a matrix
and a network of fractures (Figure)
These natural fractures are called “cleats”.
The cleat structure consists of two parts:
Face cleats and Butt cleats (Figure).
Butt cleats are usually discontinuous, and
perpendicular to the face cleats .
They generally act as a feeder network of gas
into the face cleats described through fracture
orientation, fracture continuity, frequency, and
width.
Coal is a dual porosity system.

Example of coal cleat structure

Flow Behavior
Conventionally permeability and more precisely
effective permeability is regarded as principal
characteristic property to asses flow behavior in a
porous system.
a) Permeability
In a coal reservoir the bulk of the in-place gas is
contained in the matrix. But matrix permeability
is generally too low to flow as such it makes way
to the fracture system to the wellbore.
If the well has been hydraulically frac’d, gas may
also travel from the natural fracture system to
the man-made fracture system to the wellbore.
b) Effective Permeability
The effective porosity, permeability, and
water saturation are all properties of the
coal “cleat” system. It is influenced by the
contrast between face and butt cleat
permeability and represented by the
geometric average of face and butt cleat
permeability. Permeability anisotropy
creates elliptical drainage areas and should
be taken into account when placing wells in
CBM development projects.
c) Relative Permeability and fluid saturationc
changes
Mobility : Coal matrix to the cleat system
Gas mobility is a function of diffusion through
the coal matrix to the cleat system which is
controlled by the gas concentration gradient,
the diffusion coefficient,and the cleat spacing.
(Greater concentration gradients, larger diffusion
coefficients, and tighter cleat spacing all act to reduce the
required travel time)
Mobility : Cleat to the Well bore
Gas travels this distance (up to the wellbore) by
conventional Darcy flow.
As the gas is produced from a CBM reservoir,
two distinct and opposing phenomena occur that
affect the absolute permeability of the cleat
system:
1. As reservoir pressure decreases, it reduces the pressure in
the cleats. Cleat effective stress (which is the difference
between overburden stress and pore pressure) increases and
compresses the cleats, causing cleat permeability to
decrease.(Compaction)
2.As gas desorbs from the coal matrix, the matrix shrinks.
Shrinkage causes the space within the cleats to widen and
the permeability of the cleats increases (Relaxation)
Typical set of relative permeability curves
indicate that relative permeability to gas increases
with decreasing water saturation.
Relative permeability to gas and water
Production Mechanism
CBM reservoirs generally require that
reservoir pressure to be below some
threshold value to initiate gas desorption.
Basically. a gas molecule must first
desorb and then diffuse through the coal
matrix to a cleat. Finally, moves through
the cleated fracture system and/or the
hydraulic frac-stimulation to the wellbore
via conventional Darcy flow.
CBM Gas Storage Capacity(OGIP)
Following factors determine the gas in-
place in a given volume of a coal:
Matrix surface area*,
Reservoir pressure, and
the extent of gas saturation
It must represents the adsorbed gas in
the matrix as well as the free gas in the
cleats
* Note that the smaller the coal particle size, the
larger will be the surface area.
The complete gas-in-place volumetric
equation for a CBM reservoir is:

Adsorbed gas free gas volume

in the matrix in the cleats
Where:
• A is drainage area, • h is net pay,
• ρb is bulk density, • GCi is initial Gas Content,
• øi is porosity,
• Swi is initial water saturation
• Bgi is initial formation volume factor
Since the pore volume in CBM reservoirs is in the order of
1% of the total volume, the free gas contribution to the total
in-place gas volume is negligible.
 CBM Gas Storage Capacity
modified

Where:
G = Gas-in-Place, scf
A= Reservoir Area, acres
h= Thickness, feet
c ρ = Average In-Situ Coal Density, g/cm3
C G = Average In-Situ Gas Content, scf/ton

Gas Content, scf/ton is estimated by the “Direct Method” by

placing a freshly cut conventional core sample in a sealed
container and measuring the amount of gas released as a
function of time.
 CBM GAS ADSORPTION
(Accumulation)
• CBM gas reserves depends on the
interrelation of adsorbed gas and the
free gas.
• It is a function of pressure and is
known as the Langmuir isotherm
• It is determined experimentally and
measures the amount of gas that can be
adsorbed by a coal at various pressures.
 The Langmuir isotherm is stated as

Where:
• VL, the Langmuir Volume, is the gas content of
the coal when reservoir pressure approaches
infinity.
• PL, the Langmuir Pressure, is the pressure
corresponding to a gas content that is half (½) of
the Langmuir volume. The steepness of the
isotherm curve at lower pressures is determined
by the value of PL.
Comparison of desorption volumes with changes in reservoir pressure
Areas of uncertainty for CBM projects

• The gas content of the coal,

• The degree of heterogeneity and
complexity contained in CBM reservoirs,
• The impact of modelling complex
multilayer coal/non-coal geometries
with simple one- or two-multi
dimentional/sequence models.
 CBM GAS DESORPTION(Recovery)
The relationship between pressure decline
and gas production is essentially a straight
line in a conventional reservoir
Known Fact

Conventional gas P/Z plot

The depletion profile in a CBM reservoir is
distinctly non-linear.
For a given pressure drop, a CBM reservoir
will desorb significantly more gas when the
starting reservoir pressure is low compared
to when reservoir pressure is high (Figure ).
 CASE-1
under-saturated coal
If the initial reservoir pressure is significantly
greater than the pressure required to initiate
desorption , it is said to be under-saturated coal
In such system water is initially present in the
cleats , the initial production period may
produce only water without any gas.
Depending on the degree of under-saturation,
dewatering can last from a few months to two or
three years and can significantly affect the
economics of the prospect.
 CASE-2
saturated coal

If initial reservoir pressure is equal to the

critical desorption pressure then the coal is
said to be gas-saturated.
The gas production will start as soon as
reservoir pressure begins to decrease.
This situation most often applies to “dry”
coals but can also apply to saturated “wet”
coals.
 OTHER GASES
CBM gas consists primarily of methane
(CH4) but may also contain lesser amount
of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2).
These gases adsorb/ desorb at different
rates from coal d
Depending up on the relative affinity of coal
on these gases, The storage capacity at
different pressures is indicated in the
figure.
CBM gas storage capacities for N2, CH4, and CO2.
 CBM Well Performance
The production of CBM wells can be divided into
three separate phases
1. Dewatering Phase 2.Gas-Water(Two Phase) Flow
3. Production Decline Phase
• Dewatering phase (for under-saturated reservoirs):
In this phase, no gas is produced
• Negative decline:
Water production continues to decline
while gas production increases.
• Production in this phase is generally dominated by
the relative permeability of gas and water.

• Decline phase:
Declining reservoir pressure is dominating factor
the gas production rate declines as in gas
reservoirs(conventional) but at a slower rate
(shrinking matrix and increasing cleat permeability)
 THINGS TO REMEMBER
Coalbed gas, or coal mine methane
(CMM) is a form of natural gas extracted
from coal beds
It refers to methane adsorbed into the
solid matrix of the coal. It is called
'sweet gas' because of its lack of H2S.
Coalbed methane is distinct from a
typical sand stone or other
conventional gas reservoir, as the
methane is stored within the coal
The methane is in a near-liquid state, lining
the inside of pores within the coal (called the
matrix). The open fractures in the coal (called
the cleats) can also contain free gas or can be
saturated with water.
Coalbed methane contains very little heavier
hydrocarbons and no natural gas condensate,
It may have few percent CO2.
The environmental impacts of CBM
development are defined in terms of network
of roads, pipelines, and compressor stations
and excessive water.
 Reservoir properties
Porosity
The porosity of coal bed reservoir is usually
very small , ranging from 0.1 to 10%
Permeabiliy
For most coal seams, the permeability lies in
the range of 0.1 to 50 milli Darcies.
Coal displays a stress-sensitive permeability
and this process plays an important role
during stimulation and production
operations.
Formation Thickness
The thickness of the formation may not be
directly proportional to the volume of gas
produced in some areas as the formation's
thickness may probably be due to other
factors of the “area's geology”.
Reservoir Pressure
The pressure difference between the well
block and the sand face should be as high as
possible for better productivity , similar to
conventional reservoirs
Adsorption capacity*
The capacity to adsorb depends on the rank
and quality of coal. Its range is between100
to 800SCF/ton for most coal seams.
Other vital Properties
coal density, initial gas phase concentration,
critical gas saturation, irreducible water
saturation, relative permeability to water and
gas at conditions of Sw = 1.0 and Sg = 1- Swc.
Adsorption capacity of coal is defined as the volume of gas
adsorbed per unit mass of coal usually expressed in SCF
(standard cubic feet, the volume at standard pressure and
temperature conditions) gas/ton of coal.
 REFERENCES
References
1. COAL BED METHANE PRIMER
New Source of Natural Gas–Environmental Implications
February 2004Prepared for: U.S. Department of Energy
National Petroleum Technology Office
2. Evaluation of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs By:K. Aminian
Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering Department
West Virginia University
3. Coalbed Methane Development–A Vital Part of the Total Energy Mix
Halliburton Service Center www.Halliburton.com
4. Coalbed Methane Fundamentals
by Kamal Morad, P. Eng.; Ray Mireault, P. Eng.; and Lisa Dean,
RESERVOIR ISSUE 9 • OCTOBER 2008
5. Theory of adsorption
http://amrita.vlab.co.in
6. Analyze CBM decline performance
Kelly Okuszko and Brian Gault, Fekete Associates Inc.,Hart
Energy. July 6, 2007
THANKS