Challenges & Opportunities of

Coalbed Methane

By,
Md Athher Qadri,
M. Tech ( G E),
R030307005

Key Contents
Introduction

Important Properties
The driving Force
Potential

Challenges
Opportunities

Conclusion

Introduction
Coalbed methane: CBM is a form of Natural Gas adsorbed into the solid
matrix of the coal.
Presence of CBM in underground mining is a potential safety risk

The methane is in a near-liquid state, lining the inside of pores within the
coal (called the matrix).
An unconventional reservoir : Cleats formed during Coalification process.
Coal stores 6 to 7 times more gas than the equivalent rock volume of a
conventional gas reservoir.
The open fractures in the coal (called the cleats) can also contain free gas or
can be saturated with water.

Properties
Permeability- is low, usually due to cleats-face cleats provide path for
higher permeability than butt cleats

Porosity usually very small ranging from 0.1 to 10 %

Adsorption capacityDefined as the volume of gas adsorbed per unit mass of coal usually
expressed in SCF (standard cubic feet, the volume at standard pressure
and temperature conditions) gas/ton of coal.

The capacity to adsorb depends on the rank and quality of coal.

usually between 100 to 800 SCF/ton
Other affecting parameters are coal density, initial gas phase concentration,
critical gas saturation, irreducible water saturation, relative permeability to
water and gas at conditions of Sw = 1.0 and Sg = 1

Driving Force
To meet future demand and to offset production decline of
conventional reserves.
Coal-bed methane (CBM) is a clean burning fuel for domestic
and industrial uses, and its extraction reduces explosion hazards
in underground coal mines.
India is endowed with huge reserves of bituminous coal of
Paleozoic and Tertiary ages within the CBM window at depths of
nearly 250-1200 meters.
Lack of data on producible reserves of CBM, gas content,
reservoir saturation and permeability has prevented full
exploitation of the resource.

Driving Force
India wants foreign and domestic private companies for the
exploration and commercial exploitation of CBM resources at some
of the underground coal mines.

Contracts that will be awarded will be similar to the "concession"

concept in oil and gas exploration. Coal-bearing areas will be leased
to the successful bidders and they will have to explore and test-drill.

If recovery and commercial exploitation of the CBM gas in these

areas ultimately prove viable, the exploring firms will be free to
construct pipelines and sell the gas to consumers or they may set up
gas-based power plants.

Potential
India is among the top ten countries in coal resources, having an estimated coal
reserve of 160 million metric tons, with an estimated methane resource of 850
BCM.
The Indian coal is mainly confined to the Permian Gondwana basins and the
tertiaries. Tertiary coals are generally found to be lignitic to sub-bituminous in rank
and are generally considered to be unsuitable for coalbed methane target.

Tertiary coals are widespread in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Methane emission studies from working mines of India reported most of the
degree three gassy mines (> 10 cubic m/ton), are confined in the four Damodar
Valley coal fields, viz. Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro and North Karanpura in Bihar and
West Bengal. In these areas, the thickest bituminous coals are extensively
developed in the Barakar measurers and in Raniganj measures of Lower and Upper
Permian age, respectively.

Challenges
Evaluation of coal properties
Construction of adsorption isotherm
Study of geological basins
Technological needs

Environmental Impact

Technological Needs
For assessment of properties of the reservoir
Seismic survey

Remote sensing imagery

Technological needs during production

Drilling

The primary concerns for drilling are overpressure of gas/water kicks,

high permeability which leads to loss of circulation fluid, formation
damage due to the nature of coal and hole sloughing.
The rigs commonly used are portable, self-propelled and hydraulicallydriven, having a top head drive or a Kelly drive. A major problem during
drilling could be the excessive water flow. Drilling with pressure may be
hindered due to escape of large quantities of water through the coal
seams.

HOW IS COALBED METHANE

DEVELOPED?

Methane locked in coal beds is usually not as expensive to

develop as natural gas found in other geologic formations
because modified water well drilling rigs can be used in place of
specialized oil and gas drilling rigs.
Cased wells tend to deter, though not always prevent, gas from
seeping into nearby rock beds and underground water
formations called aquifers

Fractures that run through coal beds are usually filled with
water. The deeper the coal bed, the less water is present, but
the more saline (or salty) it becomes. Water pressure holds
methane in the coal bed.

HOW IS COALBED METHANE

DEVELOPED?

To release the gas, its partial pressure must be reduced by removing water
from the coal beds.

Once the pressure is lowered, the gas and water move through the coal bed
and up the wells.

At first, coalbed methane wells produce mostly water, but over time, the
amount of water declines and gas production rises as the bed is dewatered.
Water removal may continue for several years. The water is usually
discharged on the surface or injected into aquifers.

HOW IS COALBED METHANE

DEVELOPED?

Drill rigs are brought to well sites by trucks,

and access roads must be constructed.
Electric or gas powered motors are used to
power the pumps and compressor stations.
Pipelines are also built to gather the gas
from each well and transport it to customers
in distant markets.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH COALBED METHANE

DEVELOPMENT?
Environmental & health hazard problems
Disposal of water removed from coalbed methane wells

Drinking water levels drop

Contamination of aquifers
Venting and seeping of methane and other chemicals
Underground fires
Air pollution

Destruction of land and harm to wildlife

Impacts on landowners

Opportunities
CBM potential of INDIA is estimated to be 850 BCM

India is endowed with huge reserves of bituminous coal of

Paleozoic and Tertiary ages within the CBM window at
depths of nearly 250-1200 meters.

The yearn for Clean Development mechanism

Proposed Method of Gas Capture

ONGC intend to develop the Parbatpur test area further into a small scale
pilot study

Use of inseam directional drilling to overcome the low permeability of the

coal.

The borehole will be cased for its full depth before cutting a window in the
casing at the various seam horizons allowing directional drilling, inseam,
for up to 1000m depending on geology and continuity of the seam.

Proposed Method of Gas Capture

Each directionally drilled hole will have a
number of boreholes off it containing in seam.
Upon completion of the drilling an electrical
submersible pump will be installed in the base
of the borehole and de-watering undertaken.
However, short-radius drilling technology is
not yet readily available so ONGC will be
advised to examine Medium Radius Drilling
(MRD), an established Australian technology
also used in China.

Proposed Method of Gas Capture

Directional drilling is not available in-house to ONGC and it is
understood that expressions of interest have been sought
from third parties. There will be a significant amount of
drilling required to drill one well with associated in seam
drilling and the cost is likely to be substantial.

Within the study area it is proposed to construct seven

drilling pads from which up to three wells could be drilled. It
is anticipated that the total number of wells will be in the
order of 21.

Conclusion
Coalbed methane exploration may open up a new energy
industry in India.
Evaluation of coal properties, construction of adsorption
isotherm, and study of geological setting of coal basins
should be an integral part of initial research efforts.

It is desirable to work out the techno-economic viability

of a project after R&D efforts are completed and before
exploration and exploitation are taken up.

Thank You