Coal Bed Methane : 3 Days

The exploration and exploitation of coal bed methane is dependent on a wide range of factors, including the nature and distribution of the coal, its subsequent maturation, migration and trapping of methane, and the petrophysical / engineering characteristics of the reservoir from which the methane is to be produced. The exploration and production of coal bed methane is therefore necessarily a multidisciplinary process, reliant upon a clear understanding of these underlying factors.

This course has been therefore been developed in two parts, the fist part to establish the fundamental characteristics of the coal bed methane system, and the second part to consider the exploration and production implications of this understanding.

Part I

Depositional Systems

This section is concerned with defining the nature and distribution of the coal, which will ultimately provide both the source and the reservoir for coal bed methane. This understanding is critical to exploration and mapping of coal deposits, and will form the basis of the evaluation of maturation and migration of methane and the geological controls on reservoir quality.

• Depositional Environments and Processes
• Sedimentary Architecture
• Biostratigraphic methods
• Sequence Stratigraphy

Maturation, Migration and Accumulation

This section will cover the maturation process and look at the controls on the quality, quantity and timing of methane generation.

• Coal composition and maturation
• Controls on methane adsorption
• Hydrocarbon generation mechanisms
• Source and timing of maturation
• The impact of basin aquifers / hydrology / hydrogeology
• Degasification during uplift

Geological Controls on Reservoir Quality

This section will consider the pore-scale character of coal and the mechanisms of migration and accumulation.

• Coal pore systems
• Mechanical and thermal controls on cleating and shearing in coal
• The importance of fracturing / in situ stress

Part II

Exploration

Having considered the deposition, maturation and reservoir quality controls in coals, this section will consider the play fairway analysis and prospect evaluation issues related to the exploration and evaluation of coal bed methane.

• Review of world coal / coal bed methane reserves
• Play Fairway Analysis - Play Definitions
• Prospect Evaluation

Production

The nature of coal bed methane accumulations has required development of specialised types of completions and methods for enhanced recovery. This section will review some of the latest developments currently employed in coalbed methane accumulations.

• Development well monitoring while drilling
• Completions
• Enhanced Recovery mechanisms
  • CO2 injection
  • Microbially enhanced coalbed methane