Coal Bed Methane: Theory and Applications

Coal Bed Methane: Theories and Applications, Second Edition, captures the full lifecycle of a coal bed methane well and offers petroleum geologists and engineers a single source for a broad range of coal bed methane (CBM) applications. The vast coal resources in the United States continue to produce tremendous amounts of natural gas, contributing to a diverse range of energy assets. This book addresses crucial technical topics, including exploration and evaluation of coal bed reservoirs, hydraulic fracturing of CBM wells, coal seam degasification, and production engineering and processing, among others.

The book also covers legal issues and permitting, along with an economic analysis of CBM projects. This new edition includes information on new and established research and applications, making it relevant for field geologists and engineers, as well as students.

Edited by a team of coal bed methane experts from industry, academia and government with more than 100 years of combined experience in the fieldContains more than 150 figures, photographs and illustrations to aid in the understanding of fundamental conceptsPresents the full scope of improvements in U.S. energy independence, coal mine safety and greenhouse gas emissions

Section 1: The origin, Geology and Global reserve of CBM 1.1: The origin of Coal bed Methane 1.2: Geology of Coal bed Methane Reservoirs; Sub chapters same as before. 1.3: Global CBM Reservoirs and their Characteristics.

Section 2: Reservoir Engineering for CBM 2.1 Gas content of coal 2.2 Permeability of coal 2.3 Diffusivity of coal 2.4 Reservoir pressures 2.5 Reserve estimates and Evaluation of the reservoir

Section 3: Vertical Well completions and Hydrofracturing 3.1 Wireline log for Coal seam evaluation 3.2 A typical vertical well completion 3.3 Design of Hydraulic Fracturing with the latest developments 3.4 A summary of production data from various US basins with completion techniques 3.5 Mathematical Estimation of Gas production 3.6 Production decline

Section 4: Horizontal Drilling for Mine Degasification and CBM Production 4.1 In-mine horizontal drilling equipment 4.2 Various drilling patterns for mine degasification 4.3 Gas Production and rate of decline 4.4 Horizontal well completion from surface 4.5 Hydraulic Fracturing of horizontal laterals 4.6 Estimation of gas production from major US coal basins 4.7 Production decline for Horizontal wells

Section 5: Production Engineering with gas and water management 5.1 Wellhead dewatering operation and well head equipment 5.2 Water treatment and disposal 5.3 Gas gathering system 5.4 Gas Compression 5.5 Plugging and abandonment of wells 5.6 Economic analysis of CBM Projects

Section 6: Gas Processing and Utilization 6.1 Introduction to Gas Processing for market 6.2 Oxygen rejection 6.3 Water rejection 6.4 CO2 rejection 6.5 N2 rejection 6.6 Processing gas for derivatives such as LNG, Diesel aviation fuels 6.7 Use of raw gas for chemical plants