ASSIGNMENT- 1

CBM Production- Influence of Geology and Hydrogeology

Jayant kr., R080113014
B. Tech Petroleum 7th Sem

The geology and hydrogeology of an area influences the coal bed methane in its coal distribution
and rank, gas content, permeability, groundwater flow and depositional and structural settings.
Water coproduced with CBM have common chemical characteristics that can be an important
exploration tool because they relate to coal depositional environment and hydrodynamic
maturation of groundwater.
Unlike other reservoirs the coal seams are source, trap and reservoir for CBM. Coal originates as
an accumulation of organic matter in swaps and marshes. It is critical to submerge the
accumulating organic matter quickly beneath the water table to prevent oxidation. This requires a
combination of basin subsidence that is appropriate geology and a rising water table.
When the organic matter is buried first it is first transformed into peat. Continued compaction
and dehydration transforms peat into lignite which is low quality coal. With deep burial and
rising temperature the coal transforms into higher grades and dense coal with very high carbon
content. The higher the coal rank, usually greater its methane content. The depth and location of
coal will influence the economics of its production.
Areas where geological structures are localized faulting have occurred tend to induce natural
fracturing, which increase the pathway for gas migration within the coal seam. Without fracture
networks, the gas is trapped or adsorbed, with the gas unable to flow. Additional fractures may
be artificially created by forcing fluid at high pressure into the coal seam. This process is often
referred to as fracing.

The permeability of the coal is controlled by:

Coal rank
Structural factors eg. Anticlines can put system in tension and open cleat. Structural
compression can close the cleats

Gas generation is also a function of thermal maturity (rank)

Hydrogeology affects reservoir pressure and gas content of a CBM reservoir. It has been found
that in region of significantly high pressure coals retain more gas. This implies that these region
will require more dewatering, the chances are that of very high gas rates provided the coal seams
are saturated with gas. On the other hand the regions of under pressure indicates very low
permeability and poorly connected to recharge areas and hence low gas content.
Studies of hydrogeology of an area can dictate the areas of different pressure regimes and
behavior of different reservoir and can be an excellent tool in identifying the potential for
reservoir.
Multiple wells are needed to develop a CBM reservoir. Well interference helps dewater the
reservoir more quickly and closely spaced wells achieve peak rates more quickly than widely
spaced wells. Initial water rates in a CBM well are a function of average coal permeability and
aquifer strength.
Hence to conclude, the geology as well as the hydrogeology is a critical factor in determining the
quality of coal and amount of gas that can be taken out from a CBM well.