Sooietyof PetrohunEngheers

SPE 27993

Coal Gas Openhole Well Performance

M.J. Mavor, Tesseract Corp.
SPEMember

Cop@ght 1994, S4ety of Petroleum Engineers, Inc.

Thie paper was prepsred for presentation et the University of Tulsa Centennial Petroleum Engineering Symposium held in Tulsa, OK, U.S.A., 29-31 August 1994

Thie paper wee selected for preesntatiin by an SPE Program Oommittas following review of information oontsined in an abstract submitted by the author(a). Contents of the fsspar,
~ W*qt@ h- not bean revkswad by the %iity of Petroleum Enginears and are sub@ot to mrreotion by the author(a). The material, es presented, does not rracaesarify reflect
MY-~ of the $WMY Of Petmieum Enginesrs, ifs officers, or members. Papers prsaentsd at SPE meetings are aubjeof to publication reviaw by Ed40tkaf Committees of the Sodaty
,& p~um Er@!,~~, pe~i~i~n @~ ia rSgM@d to an sbetr@ ~ ~t _ tin ~ ~a, ijiu@rstkma mey @ bs ~~. The tirm shoufd oontsin Cwrapicusue acknowledgment
of where and by whom the paper ia presented. Write Ubrarian, SPE, P.O. &rx S33S3S, %@ta:dscn, TX ?5MIM83S , U.S.A. Telex, 163245 SPEUT.

ABSTRACT description of the technique since creation of a cavity is a

by-product of the process and not the primary objective.
Gas production from coal seams has been highly suc- imfiun nf
The Ob,=wt,ww v, a--- d~~~mic open-hole completion iS tO
cessful due to the use of open-hole completion techniques effectively link the wellbore with the undamaged natural
in the nigh pemneability ~-in
1=11,=,, of the San Juan Basin
WI=, fracture system of the resewoir. During the process, dam-
(Colorado and New Mexico) Fruitland Formation. Based aged, near-weiibore coal and other rocks are removed,
upon extensive formation evaluation data collected during multidirectional, self-propped fractures are created that in-
Gas Research Institute funded research efforts, dynamic tersect pre-existing natural fractures, the near-wellbore ap-
open-hole (cavity) completion production out-performed erture of pre-existing natural fractures may be increased
hydraulic fracture completion production regardless of the and retained, and the enlarged wellbore may intersect
magnitude of natural fracture permeability due to lack of natural fractures. The wells produce gas and water at rates
formation damage. This paper will illustrate four examples that are controlled by the normal components of Darcy’s ,
of the use of open-hole completion procedures that re- Law such as the pressure differential into the enlarged
sulted in undamaged completions in reservoirs with abso- wellbore and the absolute permeability of the reservoir.
lute permeability ranging from 0.9 to 95 md. The formation Prerequisites for use of the open-hole techniques are
evaluation data upon which tire conclusions were based that the open-hole interval can be selected so that aquifers
included open-hole logs, production logs, sonar logs, single are not in communication with the weii and that the rock
we!! tests, and interference tests. The latest information that is exposed is stable upon contact with produced fluids.
has not been previously reported upon in the literature. ~fi=l ““w,
Uval =a=m natural
,. .. . gas t)rOdUCtiOfl rates commonly ex-
teed 1,000 MSCF/D (28,000 m3/D) from open-hole weiis
BACKGROUND completed in the fairway regionl of the San Juan Basin
Fruitland Formation (Figure 1). Gas production rates from
The state of the art coal gas well open-hole completion some wells have exceeded 17,000 MSCF/D (480,000
technique allows coal and other rock to collapse into the m3/D). The success has been attributed to lack of forma-
wellbore during a mntrolled blow out resulting in an en- tion damage when dynamic open-hole techniques have
larged wellbore in the coal zones. The common term been used in reservoirs with properties that are mnducive
“open-hole cavi~ completion” is often used as measured to high deliverability.z The open-hole wells typically outper-
diameters of enlarged wellbores have ranged from that of form the gas deliverability of offset cased wells stimulated
the bit diameter to 16 feet (4.8 meters). The name with hydraulic fracturing technology by a factor of four.
“dynamic open-hole completion” is a more accurate The remainder of this paper will summarize the open-
hole completion procedures, hypothetical rock mechanics
References and illustrations at end of paper models, and four examples of the open-hole well produc-

369
2 Coal Gas Open-Hole Well Performance
tivity contrasted to that of hydraulically fractured wells. The
.&e!I !o=fio~~ for the four exam~les are illustrated in Figure
1 and tabulated in Table 1. The” purpose of the examples is
to illustrate that, regardless of the level of natural fracture
permeability development, the open-hole completions
studied during GRI research efforts outperformed hydraulic
fracture completions. The greater gas deliverability was
due to lack of formation damage and not due to enhance-
ment of the pre-existing natural fracture permeability.
DYNAMICOPEN-HOLECOMPLETION
PROCEDURES
Typical San Juan Basin dynamic open-hole procedures
are summarized in this section. Variations on these meth-
ods are applicable in other basins.
A conventional truck mounted drilling rig is used to drill
with natural mud to a depth that is 20 to 50 ft. (6 to 15 m)
above the top of the reservoir. Casing is set and cemented
in place. A 200 to 500 ft. (60 to 150 m) open-hole interval is
drilled with either a conventional drilling rig or, more often,
..- . , ---- [lg.
-:- l-ha
a moclmea compleuon I i IC col,mnl +i n rirl ic e uiope~
,Ple.lol, ..= .- -q---r
with a power swivel for pipe rotation and reciprocation
while circulating and double stack blow-out prevention
e uipment for pressure control. Four 850 SC%lrnim (24
!
m /min.) air compressors and two dual stage air boosters
cap~b!~ of sustained surface injection pressures of UP to
1,500 psig [10,300 kPa(g)] are used for air injection. Tri-
plex pumps normally used for drilling fluid circulation are
used to inject small volumes of water. A 6.25 in. (0.159 m)
hole is commonly drilled below the casing to the total depth
of the well using air, air-mist, or formation water as a drill-
ing fluid. Drilling mud is not used to avoid chemical and
physical damage to the coal.
Open-hole mmpletions in coal gas reservoirs are cate-
gorized depending upon the techniques that have been
used to communicate with the natural fracture system. The
term “dynamic” is used to describe the conditions that re-
sult in a controlled blow out that causes significant wellbore
enlargement. Three different types of procedures have
been used.
During the first procedure referred to as dynamic injec-
t!cn /production, between 2,000 and 3,000 SCF/min. (57 to
86 m3/min.) of air or an air-water mixture are injected into
the wellbore for one to six hours at a surface pressure of
up to 1,500 psig (10,300 kPa). After the injection has
ceased, a sutiace valve is opened and the surface pres-
sure is rapidly and violently reduced as fluids are produced
through two 6 inch (O.15 m) diameter blooie lines to a pit.
The sequence is repeated until the wellbore becomes full
of rock that must be removed during a clean out period.
The rock is removed by redrilling to the total depth of the
well while circulating air and slugs of water. Well testing is
performed at the Goncitisicn of the c!ean cut periods to ob-
serve changes in fluid production rates. The dynamic in-
jection/production sequence aggressively surges the
reservoir creating new fractures and enlarging the aperture
of pre-existing fractures.
During the second procedure referred to as dynamic
SPE 27993
production, the surface valves are shut4n and the surface
pressure is allowed to increase to a predetermined level.
The ..-1 i=
surface pressure !eV=l := ~~ i- Ill Qfl(J
kyplal~ “w @ f ,~~o p~i
(5,500 to 6,900 kPa) less than the reservoir pressure. The
duration of the shut-in periods depends upon the reservoir
pressure and permeability and is typically 15 to 30 min. for
the high permeability reservoirs of the San Juan Basin. The
surface valves are rapidly opened when the desired pres-
sure is reached allowing the well to blow out to a pitas gas,
water, coal, and other rocks are produced. The dynamic
production sequence less aggressively surges the reser-
voir due to the lack of injection.
The third variant is dynamic hydrostatically under-
balanced circulation. Air and occasional water sweeps are
circulated down the drill pipe and up the annulus to main-
tain bottom-hole pressure below the reservoir pressure.
Gas and water are produced along with rock material that
falls into the wellbore. Depending upon the well conditions,
the bit is either retracted into the interior of the casing or is
drilling debris from the well during this operation. All of the
dynamic operations utilize under-hydrostatically balanced
circulation during clean-out periods. The dynamic Undei-
balanced circulation is the least aggressive of the three
techniques as !t depends upon a lower pressure differential
for rock failure.
Further details of the procedures and equipment re-
quired to perform dynamic Cpen-ho!e ccmp!ethns have
been presented in References 3,4, and 5.
REVIEWOFHYPOTHETICAL
MODELS
Investigators have concluded that the long term deliver-
ability of fluids to producing open-hole wells is controlled by
the properties of the pre-existing natural fractures in the
coal gas reservoir. Wells completed with open-hole tech-
niques can be more productive than those completed with
cased, fractured techniques or conventional open-hole
techniques due to greater linkage between the wellbore
and the pre-existing natural fractures.
The greater linkage is hypothesized to be caused by
tensile, extensional, and shear failure of the coal that re-
sults in conductive near-well fractures that intersect pre-
existing naturai fractures. Tiie =petiii~ of the !nducd
fractures may remain significant as the result of partial
propping by rugose surface topography caused by plu-
mose and hackle fracture surface features, material made
mobile by the rapid change in flow directions, local failure
around induced fractures, and erosion from induced frac-
ture faces. These fractures are referred to as being “self-
propped” as artificial propping agents are not injected into
the reservoir.
The tensile failure mechanism is a result of the injection
process where the wellbore pressure is increased to a
pressure greater than the minimum horizontal stress ne=i
and away from the wellbore. The tensile failure zone may
contain numerous connected and unconnected fractures
that may become self-propped. It is hypothesized that the
tensile fractures may extend 100 to 200 feet (30 to 60 m)
SF% 2?993 M.J. Mavor 3
on each side of the wellbore. nated the pressure response of the enlarged opeii-hoi~
Extensional failure occurs during the injection process wells 2 to 24 hours after a rate change. This length of time
when the pore pressures are increased but do not exceed was sufficient to obscure the effects of near-well transmis-
. . . -- :-.-t, .A;nm+
any of the three prmclpal stresses il KAUUII iniml tm
,Y the m,.,..-,. sivity differences upon the pressure behavior. As an ex-
horizontal stress. It is likely that extension failure occurred ample, the radius of investigation during the 5 hoiir
at the GRI COAL Site3 research location as air injection wellbore storage period at the COAL Site was estimated to
was perfonmed at a pressure that exceeded the reservoir be 135 ft. (107 m).
pressure by only 30 psi (210 kPa). Circumferential exten- Interference test data also contained no evidence of
sile failure may also occur as the result of radial flow to- enhanced permeability near production wells. A theoretical
wards the wellbore due to radial stress. study was performed to evaluate the affect of an enhanced
Shear failure is a result of active unloading (inward permeability region upon the interference pressure re-
movement) when the wellbore pressure is reduced during sponse for reservoir properties similar to those at the
production or under-hydrostatically balanced operations. COAL Site.e It was concluded that the interference test re-
Shear failure zones are created that are oriented perpen- sponse was unaffected by the presence of an enhanced
dicular or nearly so to the maximum horizontal stress di- permeability region even when the observation point was
rection and perpendicular or nearly so to the ultimate located 178 ft. (54.3 m) from the active well with a ten fold
tensile failure zone orientation. The fractures in the shear increase in the absolute permeability extended 135 ft. (41.1
zone may also become self-propped. On the basis of labo- m) from the active well. The distance of 178 ft. (54.3 m)
ratory measurements in sandstone rock samples, the was chosen as this was the distance to the nearest COAL
shear zones may extend several wellbore diameters or Site observation well. The radius of investigation during the
upwards of 25 feet on each side of the wellbore.4 wellbore storage period of 135 ft. (41.1 m) was used as a
The intersection of shear failure zones and the enlarged maximum extent of a potential enhanced permeability re-
wellbore with the existing natural fracture system combined gion. This extreme case probably can not occur in nature
with the lack of formation damage is believed to be one of but was an excellent test of the inability to identify the
the reasons for the success of the dynamic open-hole presence of an enhanced permeability region with interfer-
completion techniques. The shear zones must have an im- ence testing.
portant positive effect upon productivity based upon the Theoretically, the pressure behavior of a producing well
successes that operators have had by rel@g upon under- can be used to determine the enhanced permeability
hydrostatically balanced circulation and dynamic produc- magnitude and extent by application of mmposite reservoir
tion to improve productivity while avoiding injection. models if wellbore storage effects are negligible. Unfortu-
In spite of the temporary changes in the near-well natu- nately, wellbore effects have been significant during all GRI
ral fracture system aperture and the possibility of increased sponsored tesk.
frequency of fractures around the cavity, the long term pro- Skin factor estimates obtained by well test analyses
ductivity of wells is controlled by the pre-existing natural during GRI research efforts have always been greater than
fracture permeability. The creation of failure zones with in- the skin factor expected from the enlarged wellbore diame-
duced fractures near the wellbore that intersect the existing ter. The expected skin factor due to the cavity, SC,can be
fractures increases the overall ability of the reservoir to de- estimated from the following relationship.
liver fluids to the wellbore. The connectivity increase would
be expected to result in an overall absolute permeability in- sC=-/ L ...............................................................(l)
crease near the wellbore that may decline as produtilon
continues due to stress effects, movement of rock mate- {1 rw
rial, or other causes. The expected skin factor is -2.7 for an enlarged well-
bore radius of 4 ft. (1.2 m) from an original 6.25 in. (0.159
LACKOFSUPPORTFORENHANCED PERMEABILITY REGIONS m) bit diameter. Estimates obtained from test data for the
wells included in this paper have ranged from -1.2 to 1.9.
Numerous well tests have been performed after crea- Near-well natural fracture permeability reduction may still
tion of an enlarged wellbore during GRI sponsored re- occur even if an enhanced permeability region is present.
search efforts. The effects of an improved near-well The causes of such a reduction may be stress dependent
permeabi~i~y ~~g~o~ ~e~~ ~~t ~~se~ed in the transient permeability, interactions between completion fluids and
pressure data that was evaluated for estimates of reservoir clay or coai, migration of mobiie CO~i material that plugs
properties. In fact, skin factor estimates were always natural fractures, large near-well fluid saturation variation,
greater than expected for the size of the cavities that were or other factors.
created. Nor was it necessary to history match well per- In the situation when a skin effect due to permeability
formance with simulation models that included enhanced reduction is present in combination with an enhanced per-
permeability regions. Jmeabil,,, i n., the
ili~~r,eg,o. . . total skin factor controlling the pres-
Evidence of enhanced permeability regions may have sure behavior can be estimated from the following
been obscured by wellbore storage effects and near-cavity relationship.
permeability reduction. Wellbore effects typically domi-

371
4 Coal Gas Open-Hole Well Petiormance
“=sc+sdJt-413”””(2)
The mobility of each region is computed in the usual
manner as follows.
k=d~+kd
‘L v,
—
vw J
......................................................(3)
In the event that the ratio of gas to water flow rates
through the reservoir and enhanced regions is equal in
both regions and if the average gas viscosity is approxi-
mate~1 = ti=t in
~qwwr ... IWh regions, then the mobility ratio in
Equation 2 reduces to the absolute permeability ratio. The
relative permeability relationships used for the coal natural
fracture system were obtained from Gash et al.7
Enhanced permeability has been estimated to be tvAce
the original permeability and estimates of the extent of the
region are commonly 10 enlarged wellbore diameters
(roughly 40 ft. [12 m]). For this situation, the contribution of
the enhanced permeability region to the total skin factor
estimate is -1.2. The effect of the enlarged wellbore diame-
ter is more significant than the effect of tine erihaiiced ~~i-
meability.
The skin effect at the cavity wall, sd, appears to over-
shadow the skin effect of the enhanced permeability re-
gion. Assuming that the contribution to the total skin factor
by enhanced permeability is -1, the damage skin factor has
ranged between 2.5 and 5.6. A damage skin factor of this
magnitude is greater than can be explained by stress de-
pendent permeability and must include other factors.
A commonly applied relationship between coal natural
fracture permeability and pressure differential is as fol-
IOWS.8
~=exp(.3cf@)
...................................................
0
Values for pore volume compressibility, cf, are high for
low porosity coal natural fracture systems. The estimate of
the pore volume com ressibility at the COAL Site was
.y .,
33O(10*) ps~l [4.8 (10 ) kpa ]. The producing bottom-hole
pressure at the time of the post-completion test was 700
psia [4,830 kPa(a)] compared to the initial reservoir pres-
sure of 1,549.8 psia [10,685 kPa(a)]. Equation 4 predicts
that the permeability was reduced by a factor of 2.3. The
skin factor resulting from the permeability reduction was
approximately 1 (negating any contribution by enhanced
permeability ) if the permeability was reduced in a 5 ft. (1.5
m) wide ring surrounding the enlarged wellbore. The skin
factor estimate obtained from the COAL Site test was -0.7
end that expected from the enlarged wellbore radius (4.3 ft.
[1.3 m] from an original 0.26 ft. [0.079 m]) was -2.8. Pres-
sure losses near the wellbore not explained by stress
caused an additional +2.1 contribution to the total skin
factor.
The affect of the skin factor upon pseudo-steady state
SPE 27993
fluid deliverability can be estimated from the relationship
for the flow efficiency.
0.473re
{1 rw
............................................... (5)
0.473r,
‘E=i-l- rw
+ St
Typical San Juan Basin, Fruitland Formation well
spacing is 320 acres (1.28 km2). Wkh an original wellbore
radius of 0.26 ft. (0.079 m), the logarithmic term in Equa-
tion 5 is equal to 8.3. The enlarged wellbore radius with a
skin effect of -2.7 would cause a flow efficiency of ap-
proximately 1.5. An additional reduction in the skin factor
due to enhanced permeability would increase the flow effii
ciency to 1.8 if not overshadowed by other near-well pres-
sure losses. As pointed out by Palmer et aI,l the effects of
the cavity size and enhanced permeability are insufficient
to explain the differences in productivity between open-hole
and cased, fractured wells. The cased-fractured wells must
be damaged.
The lack of support for the presence of an enhanced
permeability region IS further illustrated by the following
four examples.
NORTHEAST
BLANCOUNIT#103 AND#403R
This first example contrasts the deliverability of an
open-hole well (NEBU #403R) with an offset cased well
(NEBU #403) located roughly 200 ft. (61 m) away that was
perforated and stimulated with cross-linked polymer fluid
systems contilning proppant. The open-hole well gas pro-
ductivity was roughly 7 times that of the cased well.
The evaluation of these wells was performed in coop-
...(4)
eration with Devon Energy Corporatiori in the Northeast
Blanco Unit (Figure 1). Devon was completing wells with
cased, fractured technology and open-hole technology to
determine the optimum completion techniques for the Unit.
After drilling and completing ten cased, fractured wells it
was obvious that the initial produtilon rates of the open-
hole wells greatly exceeded those of the cased wells. The
ten cased wells were replaced with open-hole wells drilled
from the same well pad. The newly drilled open-hole wells
had an average initial gas production rate that exceeded
the average cased, fractured well initial production rate by
a factor of 20.8.g This magnitude of productNity increase
could not be explained by creation of enhanced permeabil-
ity regions nor enlarged wellbore diameters. The fractured
wells must have been damaged.
GRI research efforts included coring and core analyses,
drill stem testing, open-hole logging, and cased-hole well
“ . “1
testing .f +ka
,,,= ,~F~U
- ~~~ well. Table 2 summarizes the
estimates of reservoir properties obtained by analysis of
these data. The drill stem tests that were performed were
water injection, fall-off tests. Analysis of the test data re-
sulted in absolute permeability estimates of 25 md (basal
372
SPE 27993 M.J. Mavor
interval) and 95 md (upper interval ) for the two major coal
gas reservoirs of interest. The thickness weighted average
absolute permeability of both reservoirs was 65 md. The
water injection tests resulted in estimates of the absolute
permeability that were correct indicators of the true gas de-
liverability potential of the reservoirs.
After running and cementing casing, the basal Fruitland
coal interval was perforated and tested. Gas production
rates varied between 5 and 59 MSCF/D (140 and 170
m3/D). Water rates ranged from 2 to 40 STB/D (0.3 to 6
m3/D). Lack of significant produtilon following casing and
cementing operations was typical of all but one GRI re-
search weii. Anaiysis of wel! test dats collected during this
test did not result in correct estimates of the true gas deliv-
erability potential of the reservoir.
The basal interval was hydrauiicaiiy frzmtiired with
74,000 gal. (280 m3) of borate cross-linked HPG polymer
gei (With 30 ibm. r?36, ---- kal
-a of polymer per 1,000 gal. [3.8
m~ of fluid), 19,000 Ibm. (860 kg) of 40/70 mesh sand and
120,000 Ibm. (540 kg) of 12/20 mesh sand. Injection rates
. . . . -. ~k, ~-,- IQ a m3/min ) with an av-
were mamtamea ac ~4 UUISJIIihI. ~u.w . .. . .. ... ...
erage treating pressure of 2,200 psig [15,200 kPa(g)] at
the surface. Sand concentration was increased from O to
10 ppg (120 kg/m3) utilizing a ramped concentration
schedule.
Following isolation of the basal interval, the upper inter-
val was hydraulically fractured with 99,000 gal. (380 m3) of
borate cross-linked HPG gel (with 30 Ibm. [13.6 kg] of
polymer per 1,000 gal. [3.8 m3] of fluid), 24,500 Ibm.
(11, 100 kg) of 4W70 mesh sand and 262,600 Ibm.
(119,000 kg) of 12/20 mesh sand. Injection rates were
maintained at 60 bbl/min. (9.5 m3/min.) with an increase in
surface treating pressures from 2,500 to 3,200 psig
[17,000 to 22,000 kPa(g)].
Following the stimulation, the well was production
tested at average rates of approximately 1,100 MSCF/D
(31 ,000 m3/D) and 400 STB/D (64 m3) of gas and water,
respectively, Following the production test, a shut-in test
was performed.
Analysis of the post-stimulation data did not result in a
correct evaluation of the reservoir properties nor the de-
gree of damage caused by stimulation with cross-linked
polymer fluids. The estimate of the absolute permeability
was 5 md. The estimate of the infinite conductivity induced
fracture half length was 99 ft. (30 m) corresponding to a
skin factor of-5.
The gas production rates of the replacement NEBU
#403R well varied between 2,000 and 7,100 MSCF/D
(56,000 and 200,000 m3/D) with water rates declining from
600 to 80 STB/D (95 to 13 m3/D). The bottom-hole pres-
sure estimates at these rates varied from 950 to 700 psia
[6,550 to 4,800 kPa(ajj.
The #403R production behavior was modeled with a
single well, single layer, radial reservoir simulation model.
The thickness weighted average absolute permeability re-
quired to match the open-hole well performance was 65
md, identical to that determined from the injection testing.
The skin factor, s~,, included in the model was zero. The
373
~
wellbore was modeled with a 4.3 ft. (1.3 m) radius.4
These results supported that the productivity of the
open-hole well was controlled by the pre-existing natural
fracture absolute permeability and other reservoir proper-
ties. It was not necessary to include an enhanced perme-
ability region in the model to match the gas or water
deliverability at the operating pressure conditions.
COAL SITE
The second example illustrates a case where the esti-
mates of the absolute permeability obtained from drill stem
tests run in mud-drilled wells were approximately equal to
the absolute permeability estimates that were required to
history match post-dynamic open-hole completion well
peflormance. AS for the preceding example, the presence
of an enhanced permeability region was not evident in the
data nor required to simulate post-completion well per-
formance. Even timgh the w-,, =11WaC _... . with water in an
..-- drilled
under-balanced condition, dynamic completion operations
still increased the total fluid deliverability by a factor of 7.7.
The dynamic operations appear to be required to effec-
tively connect a well to the natural fracture system in a
higher permeability (19 to 22 md) environment regardless
of the method used to drill the original wellbore.
GRI, in cooperation with Amoco Production Company,
sponsored this major research effort at the Completion
Optimization and Assessment Laboratory (COAL) Site
(Figure 1). The prima~ focus of the research was to collect
and interpret data concerning the performance of an open-
-m tr o----
hoie weii in a describad, ““n.. IItadenvironment.
. ..... . To quan-
tify the reservoir description, the effort included extensive
coring, core analysis, logging, and well testing effotis in two
observation wells. Muitiweii interference tests were per-
formed before and after dynamic open-hole completion
operations.
Three wells near the COAL Site had been completed
with dynamic open-hole methods in the past. Seven nearby
wells had been hydraulically fractured. Initial gas produc-
tion rates for the seven hydraulically fractured wells aver-
aged 200 to 1,400 MSCF/D (28,000 to 40,000 m31D)
whereas the initial gas rates for three cavity wells averaged
i 400 to 3,000 MSCF!!2 (40,000 to 99,000 m3/D).
‘ The productivity differences were due to the mmpletion
practices and all but one of the cased, fractured wells were
reworked by milling windows in the casing and drilling new
holes through the coal seams that were completed with
dynamic open-hole techniques. The side-tracked recom-
pletion gas production rates of three of the nearby wells
(Southern Ute Tribal LL #1, KK #1, and MM #1 ) averaged
7.6, 11.0, and 3.9 times the cased, fractured completion
gas productivity.
The newly drilled open hole cavity weii, Soiutkifi Ute
Tribal I PLA 9 #2 (hereafter referred to as the I #2 well)
was the primafy well of interest at the COAL Site. GRI Ob-
servation Well was drilled 178.1 ft. (54.28 m) north-west of
the I #2 location. GRI Observation Well #2 was drilled
1,069.1 ft. (325.9 m) south-west of the I #2 location. Both
6 Coal Gas Open-Hole Well Performance
observation wells were cored with water-based drilling
mud, cored, drill stem tested, and logged to obtain esti-
mates of the reservoir properties summarized in Table 3.
The I #2 well was drilled with water in an under-
balanced condition. Coal failure was not significant during
drilling or testing. The well was produced for 48 days fol-
lowed by a 55 day shut-in period to perform a predynamic
completion interference test. The well had to be pumped to
maintain gas and water production rates that averaged 107
MSCF/D (3,300 m3/D) and 120 STB/D (19 m3/D), respec-
tively, at a bottom-hole pressure of 700 psia [4,230 kPa(a)].
Following the dynamic completion operations, the I #2
:s-:-1 IJU
flowed gas and water witiiout artl:~lal I;* C4L
~+~ tac t$at a~er-
,a.=- ..-
a ed 1,400 MSCF/D (40,000 m /D) and 400 STB/D (64
%
m /D), respectively, at a bottom-hole pressure of approxi-
mately 700 psia [4,800 kPa(a)]. The dynamic mmpletion
operations increased the gas deliverability by a factor of
13.1 and the water deliverability by a factor of 3.3. The in-
crease in the total free fluid flow rate at reservoir renditions
was 7.7. The factor of 7.7 is the best indicator of the actual
productivity improvement at that time. This improvement in
deliverability was obtained even though the original com-
pletion had been installed by drilling under-balanced with
water that would normally be expected to result in an un-
damaged completion. The cause of the poor petiormance
of the barefoot completion prior to dynamic completion has
not been resolved.
Sonar logging was used to obtain a three dimensional
representation of the enlarged wellbore geometry as a
function of azimuth and depth. Figure 2 illustrates the so-
nar log that was obtained to a maximum depth of 3,195 ft.
(973.9 m) in the I #2 well. Track two of the log illustrates
the average wellbore radius and diameter as a function of
depth. Track three illustrates the gamma ray data. All of
the coal seams illustrated in this log appeared to fail and
slough into the wellbore. Interbedded shale and tonsteins
(volcanic ash layers in coal) did net appear to fai! @ most
cases. The average and maximum diameters that were
observed were 4.3 and 12.8 ft. (1.3 and 3.9 m), respec-
tively. Total cavity volume was 2,700 ft3 (76 m3) due to re-
moval of 100 tons (91,000 kg) of coal.
Analysis of the well test data and the simulation of post-
dynamic completion performance was discussed in Refer-
ence 10. The postdynamic completion skin factor estimate
was -0.7 which was significantly greater than that expected
from the increased wellbore radius (-2.8) and could not be
explained by pressure dependent permeability effects. The
post-completion productivity and pressure data were his-
tory matched without the need to include an enhanced
pe.rrneability region.
SANJUAN30-5 #216
The success of the dynamic open-hole completion
techniques was widely known for reservoirs with well-
developed fracture systems that had absolute permeability
estimates exceeding 7 md. The next phase of the GRI re-
=~=~b . ... .. was to expand the use of the technology into
““----- @ffort
374
SPE 27993
poorly performing open-hole wells. This example illustrates
that the dynamic completion operations were successful in
. . B-b:....I ..,;4
obtammg an undamaged compl~llvl P~J A@ . r~!~~
W,,h p,“w-,- .
that were controlled by the reservoir properties and operat-
ing pressure conditions when the natural fracture perme-
ability averaged 2.1 md. The use of a high rate, high
pressure nitrogen stimulation treatment did not improve the
deliverability supporting the contention that if an enhanced
permeability region was created, it had little affect upon
post-completion production rates.
This research effort was performed in cooperation with
Phillips Petroleum Company to implement and evaluate re-
completion techniques for poorly performing wells originally
completed with dynamic open-hole completion tech
niques.5 The San Juan 30-5 #216 well had been originally
completed using dynamic open-hole completion tech-
niques but gas production was significantly less than that
of offset wells completed in the same manner. The post-
dynamic completion gas and water rates were 154
MSCF/D (4,360 m3/D) and 48 STB/D (7.6 m3/D). These
rates were significantly less than the gas rates of the ofFse
wells that ranged from 663 to 4,429 MSCF/D (18,800 to
125,000 m3/D) with water rates that ranged from mists to
700 STB/D (110 m3/D). The completion practices for al
wells were very similar.
Prior to recompletion, the well was cleaned out and the
wellbore geometry was determined by sonar logging. Fol-
lowing sonar logging, a production log was measured and
a shut-in test was performed. Following the shut-in test a
water injection test was performed while monitoring inter-
vals accepting water with a production log. Figure 3 sum-
marizes the analyses of these data. Table 4 summaries
the estimates of reservoir propetiies.
While it had long been suspected, for the first time dur-
ing GRI western basin research, a combination of produc-
tion logging and well testing confirmed that absolute
permeability varies significantly between vertically isolated
coal seams. Absolute permeability varied from 0.S to 6 md
In addition, the gas-water production rate ratios also varied
significantly. The interval with the least gas-water ratio was
located above the interval with the greatest gas-water ratio
Interseam vertical permeability must have been negligible
for this situation to have occurred. The water injection test
indicated that the majority of the water entered the intervals
that were producing the lower gas-water rate ratio as would
be expected based upon relative permeability mnsidera-
tions.
The intervals that were producing the greatest total fluid
rates were those that had the greatest degree of wellbore
enlargement, The degree of enlargement did not correlate
.. ~b.m-l.,+ .peI~==~Il@
w~h the dUWIULe IIr-- ,.., edima~es,
. . .....–
Following the data collection operations, the well was
recompleted using conventional dynamic open-hole com-
pletion techniques. The standard air compression equip-
ment used throughout the San Juan Basin could no
injection significant volumes of air into the reservoirs due to
the low absolute permeability and moderate reservoir pres
sure. As a result the recompletion failed to improve the
SPE 27993 M.J. Mavor
fluid deliverability.
To overcome the pressure limitations, nitrogen fractur-
ing equipment was used to inject nitrogen at hig~ pressure
and high rate. A total of 1,062 MSCF (30,000 m-) of nitro-
gen was injected during four separate treatments at rates
ranging from 6,700 to 14,200 SCF/min. (190 to 402
m3/min.) and surface pressures ranging from 2,100 to
2,700 psig [14,500 to 18,600 kPa(g)]. After each of the four
injection periods, the well was allowed to violently blow out.
The nitrogen injection did not improve the deliverability
of the well nor cause additional coal failure to occur even
though the pressure differential into the wellbore was the
greatest ever accomplished during GRI research efforts.
Lack of deliverability improvement was verified by well
testing. Lack of coal failure was obvious as mal was not
produced to surface nor retained down-hole in significant
volumes. If an enhanced permeability region was created
by the nitrogen injection, it had little affect upon the either
fluid deliverability or well test analysis results,
Four well tests were performed at various times in this
well as summarized in Table 5. A production and shut in
test was followed by a water injection and shut-in test prior
to recompletion operations. A production and shut-in test
were performed at the conclusion of the conventional re-
completion operations and repeated after the nitrogen in-
jection recompletion. The analysis results are summarized
in Table 6. Except for the water injection test, absolute
permeability estimates ranged from 1.9 to 2.1 md. The
.,. . I;-1+1,,
water mjectlon test results were sllyl ,Lly hinhar
,,1=,.W. at _. md.
-. 27
The skin factor estimate prior to recompletion was -0.4
which, as for all other cases, was greater than the ex-
pected value of -2.7 due to the enlarged wellbore radius.
The conventional recompletion operations increased the
skin factor to 1.9 as indicated by the Test 3 analysis re-
sults. The high rate nitrogen injection removed some of the
causes of the near-well pressure losses as the final skin
factor was -1.2 but was still greater than the skin factor ex-
pected from the wellbore geometty.
As for the preceding examples, the use of dynamic
open-hole completion techniques resulted in an undam-
aged completion that allowed production rates to be con-
trolled by the reservoir properties and operating pressure
conditions. If an enhanced permeability region was pres-
ent, it was not detected nor did it significantly affect the
post-completion deliverability.
Phillips replaced this well with a newly drilled open-hole
well located roughly 1,000 ft. (30 m) to the north of the
original well location. The initial production rate was re-
ported to be in excess of 5,000 MSCF/D (140,000 m3/D).
The only conclusion possible from this comparison was
that the absolute permeability of the coal seams varied by
an order of magnitude within a horizontal distance of 1,000
ft (300 m). The pre-existing natural fracture permeability
had the greatest effect upon the deliverability, not the abil-
ity to stimulate the reservoirs.
375
7
SANJUAN31-8 #234
The final example was also performed in cooperation
with F?M!ipsPetro!eum Company. This example illustrates
that hydraulic fracture stimulation of an open-hoie weii
completed with dynamic techniques reduced the fluid de-
liverability.
As for the preceding case, the productivity of the San
Juan 31-6 #234 well was significantly less than that of sur-
rounding wells. The gas and water rates of the #234 well
averaged 250 MSCF/D (7,080 m3/D) and 100 STB/D (16
m3/D), respectively. The surrounding wells produced gas at
rates up to 6,490 MSCF/D (184,000 m3/D) with 100 STB/D
(16 m3/D) of water.
A similar operation was performed in that the well was
reentered and data collection operations were performed
prior to attempting recompletion procedures Recompletion
with conventional dynamic open-hole methods did not im-
prove fluid deliverability. A final attempt at stimulation was
performed by hydraulic fracturing the open-hole interval in
two stages. The first stage utilized a cross-linked HPG gel
fluid to stimulate the lowest coal interval. The second stage
was a nitrogen foam treatment designed to stimulate two
shallower coal intervals. The treatments damaged the well
as the post-stimulation fluid deliverability was 57% of the
undamaged open-hole productivity.
Figure 4 illustrates the data and interpretations thereof
that were obtained during open-hole, sonar, tracer, pro-
duction, and injection logging. Table 7 summarizes the es-
timates of reservoir properties. Ab@ute p~~m~abiiity was
4.7, 0.6, and 2.4 md for the upper, middle, and lower coal
intervals. The estimates were not as reliable as for the pre-
ceding example as the gradiomanometer failed while pro-
duction logging and it was necessary to assume that the
gas-water rate ratio was the same for all intervals. Only
one enlarged wellbore diameter was observed in the lower
coal interval in a 2 ft. (0.6 m) thick seam.
At the conclusion of the data collection operations, at-
tempts were made to recomplete the well using conven-
tional air compression equipment. Significant volumes of
air could not be injected into the reservoirs due to the low
permeability and moderate rese~oir pressure. Hydraulic
fracturing was selected for stimulation due to the failure of
the #216 nitrogen treatment to stimulate production.
Prior to stimulation, two water injection tests were per-
formed with full-bore spinner survey equipment and a
pressure transducer in the well. The first test was per-
formed by injecting water at 10 barrels per minute. At this
rate, 649(o of the water entered the lowest coal interval with
9% and 27% entering the upper and middle coal intervals,
respectively. The injection rate was increased to 40 barrels
per minute to determine the injection distribution at hydrau-
lic fracturing rates. The greater rate and pressure fractured
the shaly sandstone located below the lower coal interval.
After fracturing, 53% of the water exited the well below the
lower coal interval with 35%, 5%, and 7?40 entering the
lower, middle, and upper coal intewais, respeccveiy.
As a result of the injection log data, the well was frac-
8 Coal Gas Open-Hole Well Performance
tured in two stages in an attempt to stimulate all of the coal
intervals, Downward induced fracture growth was expected
in the shaly sandstone. A total of 33,000 gal. (125 m3) of
borate cross-linked HPG gel (30 Ibm. [14 kg] of polymer
per 1,000 gal. [3.8 m3] of fluid) was injected at 40 bbl./min.
(6.4 m3/min.). A total of 57,000 Ibm. (26,000 kg) of 16/30
mesh Brady sand was included with a ramped schedule
from O to 4 Ibm./gal. (48 kg/m3) Antimony was added as a
radioactive tracer.
The lower interval was isolated with a sand plug and a
67% to 80’Monitrogen foam treatment was pumped. Total
injected fluid volume (nitrogen, polymer, and water) was
51,200 gal. (194 m3) at down-hole conditions. A total of
112,000 Ibm. (50,900 kg) of 16/30 mesh Brady sand was
added with a ramped schedule from O to 4 Ibm./gal. (48
kg/ins). Scandium was added to the fiuid as a tracer,
The post-stimulation tracer log is illustrated in Figure 4.
Interpretation of the log indicates that both stimulation
treatments entered the entire open-hole interval above the
lower coal interval. While the log could not be run below
the top of the lower coal, it is likely that the injected fluids
entered the zones below this depth.
The well was placed on production and two production
logs were measured with and without gas lift. These logs
are illustrated in Figure 4 and indicate that the stimulation
did not change the proportion of fluid originating from the
three intervals as the results were similar to the pre-
.. .
stlmulatlon prouuctlon log. The- SLiI -~--.I Iuladu,,
.ln4’~~ +V s+ an+ rp-
.1 e=,m-.,. .-
duced the fluid deliverability to 57% of the pre-stimulation
deliverability.
The use of the dynamic open-hole completion proce-
dures (although significant volumes of air did not enter the
- --- tiuil
[e=~l -..i ) le=ul
. ~,,ItLeum
d i tha m@
.,,- ,.. _. effec@e cOfIlpMOfl
permeability environment. Hydraulic fracture stimulation
reduced rather than improved the gas and water deliver-
ability.
CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the following conclusions have resulted
from ~~j~ ~Sti~v.
Dynamic hpen-hole completion techniques resulted in
undamaged completions that allowed coal gas reser-
voirs to produce at rates controlled by the reservoir
properties and operating pressure conditions.
In higher natural fracture permeability environments,
(19 md and greater), the dynamic operations are re-
quired to increase productivity abate that KXMs!ble
from a barefoot, in-gauge, open-hole.
In lower natural fracture permeability environments (6
md and less) conventional dynamic open-hoie comple-
tion equipment failed to inject significant volumes of air
into the coal seams.
Wellbore enlargement was less in lower permeability
environments than in higher permeability environ-
ments.
Attempts to increase the degree of near-well perme-
ability enhancement by injection of nitrogen at high
SPE 27993
rates and pressures into a lower permeability environ-
ment (6 md and less) failed to increase wellbore en-
largement and had a minor affect upon fluid
deliverability.
6. Cross-linked polymer hydraulic fracture stimulation
was damaging to the coal natural fracture permeability
in both higher and lower permeability environments
and resulted in less fluid deliverability than possible
with dynamic open-hole methods.
7. The existence of a near-well enhanced permeability
region due to dynamic open-hole completion opera-
tions has not been required to explain improved pro-
ductivity relative to that of cased, fractured wells. The
explanation for the improved productivity is that the
permeability of natural fractures surrounding fractures
induced by polymer based hydraulic fracture fluids is
greatly reduced while that surrounding dynamic open-
hole wells is not.
8. The presence of an enhanced near-well permeability
region has not been identified by analysis of any of the
well test data collected during GRI research efforts.
Skin factor estimates were greater than expected from
the enlarged wellbore radii and were not lower as
would be expected due to the presence of an en-
hanced permeability region.
9. The enhanced permeability region may be present but
the effects upon transient pressure data may be
masked by wellbore storage effects and near-enlarged
wellbore pressure losses.
10. Well tests run in in-gauge, waterdrilled, open-hole
‘Weiis, tirMim~id~dcasedwells, and cased, fractured
wells have failed to result in correct evaluation of the
in a IOW true deliverability potential of coal gas reservoirs.
11. Drill stem tests run in mud dtiiied ‘ttf+iist water injection
tests, and interference tests can result in correct esti-
mates of post-dynamic open-hole completion produc-
tivity since absolute permeability estimates are
accurate.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This paper was possibie as the i~sdt of iarge ~caie
funding and support by the Gas Research Institute during
the Western Cretaceous Coal Seam Project. Without GRI
contributions, little information concerning dynamic open-
hole completion technology would be available in the tech-
nical literature. All of the open-hole research efforts were
co~perative projects anct incluciect significant contributions
by personnel from many companies including Amax Oii &
Gas, Inc., Amoco Production Co., ARCO Oil and Gas Co.,
Conoce, Inc., !3me,=idGas Operating Co., Evergreen Op-
erating Co., Gas Research Institute, P~llips Petroleum
Co., Resource Enterprises, Inc., Stim-Lab, Inc., Terra Tek,
Inc., and the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.
376
SPE 27993 M.J. Mavor 9
NOMENCLATURE REFERENCES

Ct pore volume compressibility, ps~l 1. Palmer, I.D., Mavor, M.J., Spitler, J.L., Seidle, J.P., and
exp exponential function Volz, R.F.: “Openhole Cavity Completions in Coalbed Meth-
ane Wells in the San Juan Basin,” JPT (Nov., 1993) pp.
FE flow efficiency, dimensionless
1,072-i ,080.
k permeability, md 2. Mavor, M.J. and Logan, T.L.: “Recent Advanoes in Coal Gas
ke absolute permeability, md Well Open-Hole Completion Technology,”JF’T (July, 1994).
k. initial absolute permeability, md 3. Mavor, M.J., Close, J.C., and Pratt, T.J.: Summaryof the
kw relative permeability to gas, dimensionless Com~letion O~timization W A~ ment Laboratory
kw relative permeability to water, dimensionless W Me, Gas Research instituteTOpi~l Report No.
Sc skin factor due to wellbore enlargement, dimen- GRI-9V0377, Chicago, Illinois(December 31, 1991).
sionless 4. Mavor, M.J., Logan, T. L., Close, J.C., Pratt, T.J., and Robin-
stj skin factor due to permeability damage, dimension- son, J.R.: Western Cretacaous Coal Seam Proieot Annual
less x I!XL?, Gas Resea~ Institute RePoR No” GRl-
93/0245, Chicago, Illinois(July, 1993).
St total skin factor, dimensionless 5. Mavor, M.J., Logan, T. L., and Robinson, J.R: Coooerative
rC cavity radius, ft. Evaluation of San Juan Basint Phillim Petroleum ComDanv,
rm enhanced permeability zone radius, ft. ODen-Hole ~ ~
R -s, Gas Research insti-
fe drainage region iadius, ft. tute Topical Report No. GRI-9W0466, Chicago, Illinois
rw wellbore radius, ft. (January, 1994).
pressure difference, psi 6. Mavor, M.J. and Logan, T. L.: S Cretaceous Q@
M
Seam Proiect Final ReDort,Gas Research Institute Report
A total mobility, md/cp No. GR1-94/0089,Chicago, Illinois(April, 1994).
km total mobility in the enhanced permeability region, 7. Gash, B.W., Volz, R.F., Potter, G., and Corgan, J.M.: “The
mdlcp Effects of Cleat Orientation and Confining Pressure on Cleat
& total mobility in the reservoir, md/cp Porosity, Permeability, and Relative Permeability,” Paper
Ug gas viscosity, cp 9321, Proceedimls of the M International Coalbed W
~ SvmDosium, The University of Alabama / Tuscaloosa
Pw water viscosity, cp
(May, 1993).
8. McKee, C.R,, Bumb, A.C., and Koenig, R.A.: “Stress-
S1METRICUNITCONVERSION
CONSTANTS Dependent Permeability and Porosity of Coal,” ~ dinas
of the 1987 Coalbed Methane Svmoosium, The Universityof
bbl X 1.589873 E-01 = m’ Alabama /Tuscaloosa (Nov.. 1987) DD. 183-193.
Cp x 1.0’ E-3 = Pas 9. Mavor, M.J.: “Coal Gas Rekervoi; Cavity Completion Well
ft X 3.048” E-01 = m Performance,”~ International~ Research Conference
Vol
- I Gas Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois, (1993) pp.
AI
ft’ x 2:831865 E-02 = m’
87-101.
gal x 3.785412 E-03 = ms 10. Mavor, M.J. and Robinson, J.R.: “Analysis of Coal Gas !?es-
Ibm x 4.535925 E-01 = kg ervoir Interference and Cavity Well Tests,” Paper SPE
mile x 1.609 344* E+O() = km 25860 presented at the 1993 Joint Rocky Mountain Re-
psi x 6.894757 E+03 = pa gional and Low Permeability Reservoirs Symposium, Den-
ver, Colorado, April 26-28, 1993.
● The conversionfactor is exact.

Table 1. GRI Open-Hole Research Well Location Information.

b Sadon TownshiP Range

I BlancoUnit#403& #K)3 R NewMexico RIOArritra 9 30 North 7 West
lPLA9#2 Colorsdo La Plate 17 32 North 10 West
, ~-., .-..-.. Well #l Colorado La Plats 17 32 North 10 west
wxvation Well #Z! Colorado La Plate 17 32 North 10 Weat
Juan 30-5 #216 New Mexico RIOArnba 20 30 North 5 West
Juan 31-6 #234 New Mexico Rio Arriba 29 31 North 6 West

377
10 Coal Gas Open-Hole Well Performance

Table 2. Summary of NEBU #403 R Resewoir Property Estimates.

Property I Units I Value
Geometty
~-bk h..bhab-...+ bh.=-*
~fJL.. .w .----
Productive-.. .T.,-.m.v.. I ,G-, I ““. ”
Coal Matrix Properties
In-situgas content SCFKon 527.3
Average ash oontent % 30.75
Average water content % 1.0
FractureSystem Properties
LangmuirvaliIrnnl~m seh.ti) I Crcrr..
““, #,“.8 I Q?9 n
.“, ”,..” ,“!, , ““. . ---- 1 ““.....

Lq gmuirpressure Psia 303.3

s_____..
immtiontime .. hours 6.5
Average coal seam ... ~ns
_-..sity glcmd 1.529
Temperetu.. Im or liR
, ,“
I r I
--:-
pala 1, ,-r”z
AQCI I
September, 19°4 -**-- OyG p--””’
z= 1, Ov=l w--u=
r--
eCIIrat$qtum
Prea-... -- feat 2,944.6
Average absolute- permeability md 65.0
Porosil Ity % 0.45
aturation
Initialwater st.. % 65.0
Fracture -FJcing
sna inch 0.25
--- .- =t4n%
Pore volume cc.. .V.---.- .....
nmnrasdhilii
I P I [ )
Skin factor
, .Jlu rrvp71u9u

bletrraneconcentrsno~ % 89.0
h.. din~e ~fl@ntfstion % 11.0
t rasetvoirconditions w 0.0139
1===’’’’””-”-””” ionvolume factor ‘
VOIJVOI. “’
0.0125 ‘
,._ . ... at reservoirconditions w 0.55
. . fnrmdimi qlume fa~or vol./vol. 1.01
-

Table 3. Summary of COAL Site Basal Coal Zone Property Estimates.

378
 11
M.J. Mavor
SPE 27993

Table 3. SummarY of COAL Site Basal Coal Zone PropeIIY Estimates(continued).

... ..
well
1#2 I GRl#l I GRl#2
I Units I
Property
Fluid PrOPeties
% 87.927
Methane concentration 11.527
%0
Carbon dioxideconcentration 0.0146
w
Gas viscOS@at resewoir condtions 9.169(10+)
Gasformationvolumefactor Cp 0.55
atreservoir
Waterviscosity conditions 1.01
Waterformationvolume factor

Table 4. San Juan 30-5 #216, Coal Gas Resewoir Propetiies.

f
Interval
I
upper I Miidle 1 Lower
Units
I
Property
Geometry
6,314
feet
Surface Elevation 2988.0 3,020.0 3,109.5
feet
Depth to the top of the coal 2,991.5 3,047.5 3,113.0
feet 2.5
Depthto thebottomofthe coal feet 5.5 13.5
Grosscoalthickness 5.5 13.5 0
feet
Productivecoalthickness
Coal Matrix PrOPeti*s
15.6 I 32.6 I 13.7
I % I
Average ash content 1.-a
.*= 1.58
..-.
1.38
glcm” 1

Average coal seami-iiaaii.Y

I
I mg. F ! 113 I
----
Average pressureat 3,035 feet
Average absolute permeabi~i 94 65-87 nd
I %
Average water saturation
FluidPropertieS
I OL
,“ II 90 %
Methane concentration 10
%
Carbondioxideconcentration 0.0143
w
Gas viscositYat reservoirconditions 0.00975
Gas formationvolume faotor 0.58
Cp
Water viscositYat reservoirconditions 1.008
Water formationvolume factor

nd: not determined duringthis project

379
 SpE 27993
Coal Gas Open-Hole Well Performance
12

.- —-—5. San Juan 30-5 #216, Recompletion Well Test Summav.

Table
Description
Test
Pre-ReComp@tionProdutilon & Shut-InTest
1
Pre-RecompletionInjection& Shut-InTest
2
3 Post-ConventionalRecompletionProdu&lon& Shut-InTest
~ Final Production/ Shut-InTest

. -ma- taIAIITa=* Analvski Summary.

Table 6. San Juan 36-o HZ-10c.=,1 , =-. -..-.,--- ---
Teat
3 4
I 1 I 2
3.39 4.65
2.22 0
13.6 12.6
21.1 51.9
26 30
18.2 0 ?
I % I , a. a

0.11
“., ”

0.72 c...
1.1 2“7
1.9 2.1 1
2.1 2.7
I , .6 lQ -1.2

1,449 ,,T,-
1,416 I 1 (

I Average rressur= at +-- ...

Table 7. San Juan 31-6 #234, Coal Gas Resewoir Propetiies.

Interval
I I Lower
upper I Middle I
-.--- clt
A., I Unit:
s
rru
~ !ometry . ...
feet I
s 1 , ----
,1 I rwa I
DerM Iofl ,1

feet
e coal “--- J
D. !t 1 6.00 I Y.GJ I

s
1 *4 I 30 I 26 +
% I GI 1
Average ash Content 41.LuJ
=Q II l-is
---- I 1.51 [
I gkm’ I
Average coal seam drSnSitY
FractureSystem Propefiks 116 I 117
f)@. F 113 I
Tern rature 1,?-
3t psia
Average reservoir~mum @ 3,370 feeh md 4.7 I 0 .“
95 I L..
Average absolute horizontalPermeatilk 0/0 nd
Average water, -at,
e-.”,,rn*inn
“..-. . 1.5
.4-,
Skin Fa_,w, I
~ikrties
92.9
I YO I 1
Methane COnCentretion 6.F
1 0/0
1 0.01
Carbon dioxideconcentration
—.—.-:- ---xi, .--.,~~ ! CrJ ----
Gas viscosityat reservoirWI wn,ul (J.U1”,””
r
Gas formationvolume factor 0.65
,...ons Cp
Water viscosityat reaewoir COti@@ 1.00 I
Water formationvolume fectc m

nd: not determinedduringthk project.

360
 13
M.J. Mavor
SPE 27993
R5W R3W RIW RIE
RI 3W RIIW R9W R~
RI 5W
I [ I I
1 I 1 I l.’ I DI Fmitland Coal Rank

—u—u “- m Hig~~V~~-o,~~t.
arm UIGUKI
. ... , -.- I-3,.
w HI@ VOI.DUIUDIL.
MonteZUma

-
❑ Sub Bituminous

II COAL Site

NEBU
Q
~ San Juan
I #403& t1403f3 Y _L 31-6 #234

8
m “s \ San Juan
~ s 30-5 #216
“~ : RI I I n
z al T24N
N
c1 Y

GL _ .- -- -- -- -- -
I sac daua . f’n
I u d =? - _
I I T22N
I I

0 Za Mm I
~
T20N

,,, . ,-=, . ,-,~,, ,

rlgu[e A1. oall

s-, -. . . . c-m UUQ,,
II I=n “Racin
----- Fxatnde
-.-—..-r ODW1-HOk
. well Location

Figure 2. Southern Ute Tribal I PIA 9 #2. Sonar and Gamma Ray Logs.

381
—
 SPE 27993
Coal Gas Open-Hole Well Performance
14

. LOO AnalySIS
FIDW
1~
water
hjsetion
Cssln,”m ~

I
El%

6.0 d
Gas 21 MSCF~
Wetar 18 STW0 77%
Gag 10 MSCF~ 1.3rnd
Water 4STsm
~. 46 MSCFrD 15%
1,4 md
water 3 sTam

o%

3,120 —

Injection, and Sonar Log Data Combined with Well Test Analysls
Figure 3. San Juan 30-5 #216, Density, Production,
Results. Post-Frsc
post-Frac
Density pre-Frac productionLogs
Gamma Ray Tracer Lo9
production

Gas
Gas
Oe@ ? MSCF/D
60 MSCFID

‘!l=:zi=
,“
Water
Water
? STBID
30 STWO
~ 29%
15%

T
I . . “.% “.41-.
a 1 ,Lw v-,,”,, -
115,400 Ibm =nd

Fket StS!Y FMC I

aorete-HPG Gel
gallons 6%

1
38,5s0
s9,000 Ibm Sand 11%
I

52%
Unabla to -73% m65%
I Lq BdCW
3,5s4 ft.
Wh Gee Lii
without Gaa M

m
f Bdtom-HOk
~omHole meeaum
i weaaum

.. ‘-”
520 PSia
@ 3,160 ft
370paia@ 3,1s0 fi,

Gamma, Density, Tracer, and Production Logs.

Figure 4. San Juan 31-6 #234,

382