Novel Simplified Method for Coalbed Methane Feasibility Evaluation
- 1 Department of Mining Engineering, University of León, Leon, Spain
- 2 Department of Mining Engineering, University of León, Leon, Spain
- 3 Department of Mining Engineering, University of León, Leon, Spain
Abstract
Coal during its carbonization process produces a gas. This gas, mainly formed by methane, can be used. This gas, coalbed methane (CBM), is usually mainly formed by methane and can be considered similar to natural gas as energy source. The evaluation of the techno-economic feasibility of the extraction of this gas depends on a large number of complex different factors. The work carried out covers the different aspects to simplify the first approach for CBM feasibility quantification considering a short number of indicators. A theoretical review and a state of the art description have been carried out, taking into account all the factors that can influence in the development of a CBM project. After that, technical feasibility has been used to evaluate total amount of gas that can be recovered. The last step was to evaluate economic feasibility to know how much gas could be economically profitable. Conclusions got have been used to develop a simple method for evaluating CBM economic feasibility considering just four easy known parameters of coal beds. These are: the rank, the thickness, the gas concentration, and the permeability.
- Creedy, D. and Tilley, H. (2003) Coalbed Methane Extraction and Utilization. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 217, 19-25.
- Eddy, G.E. (1982) Relationship of Methane Content of Coal Rank and Depth: Theoretical vs. Observed. Proceedings of the SPE Unconventional Gas Recovery Symposium, 16-18 May 1982, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. https://doi.org/10.2118/10800-MS
- Gray, I. (1987) Reservoir Engineering in Coal Seams, the Physical Process of Gas Storage and Movement in Coal Seams. SPE 12514. Reservoir Engineering, 28-40.
- Laubach, S.E. (1997) Characteristics and Origins of Coal Cleat: A Review. International Journal of Coal Geology, 35, 175-207.
- Cardott, B.J. (2001) Coalbed Methane Activity in Oklahoma 2001. Oklahoma Coalbed-Methane Workshop: Oklahoma Geological Survey, Open-File Report of 2-2001, 93-139.
- Weniger, P.R.S. (2016) Characterizing Coal Cleats from Optical Measurements for CBM Evaluation. International Journal of Coal Geology, 154-155, 176-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2015.12.005
- Gas Research Institute. (1991) Coalbed Methane of Western North America: Guidebook for the Rocky Mountain. Association of Geologists Fall Conference and Field Trip, 17-20 September 1991, Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
- Arenas, G. (2004) Development of Gas Production Type Curves for Coalbed Methane Reservoirs. Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering of West Virginia.
- US DOE. (2006) The Economics of Powder River Basin Coalbed Methane Development.