SPE 64709
A feasible discussion on exploitation coalbed methane through horizontal network
drilling in China
Weiguo Chi, North China bureau of petroleum, SINOPEC,Luwu Yang,China united coalbed methane corporation,ltd.
Copyright 2000, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE International Oil and Gas Conference and
Exhibition in China held in Beijing, China, 7–10 November 2000.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position
of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at SPE
meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of Petroleum
Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for
commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is
prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300
words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment
of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, Box 833836, Richardson,
TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.
Abstract
Exploration coalbed methane through horizontal network
drilling is a new technique, the principle of the method is to
drill several horizontal wells to form a network or to drill
several main horizontal wells and several branch horizontal
wells to form a horizontal network like twigs, then coalbed
methane is produced through pumping water. It has been
succeeded using the technique in a area, west Virginia, USA,
the average production of a single well is 28000m3/d, and
comes into a commercial exploitation stage. There are low
pressure and low permeability in most of the coal seams in
China,the seepage condition of coalbed gas can be improved
effectively using the horizontal network drilling and it’s suited
to the formation of low pressure, so it’s recognized that it’s
feasible through this method for geology and engineering in
drilling and producing, especially in such a areas which have a
large volume of gas and a good coal texture or a high coal rank,
and it will be contributed to the security of coal production and
the environment protect of atmosphere extremely.
Foreword
Coalbed methane prospection and pilot exploitation with
vertical well pumping water have been made in the north,
northeast and south of China since 1990, up to now, more than
140 wells have been drilled and a significant breakthrough has
been gained in some pilot areas such as Liulin and Jincheng,
Shanxi province, Dacheng, Hebei province, and Tiefa, Liaoning
province, etc., which gas production per well is 4000 m3/d from
3000 m3/d generally, the peak production reaches 16000 m3/d.
the major progress has been obtained for coalbed exploration in
China, but a large scale gas field hasn’t been found with
commercial development, and direct economic benefit hasn’t
been gotten. So some new methods and new techniques to be
suited to geological condition of coalbed methane of China
must be found as well as the method of vertical well
exploration. In this paper we present and summarize the
concept and the mechanism of a horizontal network
exploitation and procedure in engineering based on the
exploration other people did, and briefly introduce a successful
example of development in USA. Considering the fact of
coalbed methane exploration in China, we have discussed the
feasibility of using the method through geology, drilling and
producing in engineering in China.
The technique of coalbed methane horizontal network
exploitation
The concept and mechanism and procedure in Engineering
The horizontal well network exploitation of coalbed methane
means to drill several horizontal wells within a distance in a
area to form a network (fig.1-a) or drill several main horizontal
wells parallelling to each other in a direction in the area,
meanwhile drill several branch horizontal wells on both sides of
each main horizontal well with an angle to form a network like
twig, then coalbed methane is produced through pumping
water. General speaking, the type of fig. 1-a is suited to the coal
formation with stable thickness and slope gently, and twig type
is suited to the coal formation with a certain angle.
The mechanism of horizontal well network exploitation is
similar to vertical well’s which coalbed methane is desorped
from the surface of coal grain through pumping water to drop
the original formation pressure and flows to wellbore by
diffusing and seeping, but the velocity of diffusion and seepage
of coalbed methane in horizontal well network is more quickly
than vertical well’s during gas migration, This is because (1)
coalbed methane diffusion to fissure from the surface of coal
grain and microporosity follows Fics law, that is
MJ = -DP%ðC/ðY
The “negative sign” represents gas diffusion is to low
concentration through high concentration.
This equation above shows the diffusion velocity of coalbed gas
is direct proportion to diffusion coefficient and concentration
gradient, and the diffusion coefficient is fixed for a given coal
2 WEIGUO.C, LUWU.Y
seam, so the diffusion velocity is related to concentration
gradient which it will be added up through increasing
concentration of flowing in (e.g. more coalbed methane
desorped) or reducing concentration of flowing out (e.g.
coalbed methane diffused to fissure flows to wellbore
gradually) and diffusion of coalbed methane will be speed. It is
not doubt to do this for horizontal well network, which can
result in lowering formation pressure in large area with a huge
of channel of seepage, so the diffusion velocity is faster greatly
than vertical well’s. (2) The gas diffused to fissure becomes
free gas, which its flow follows darcy law, that is
V = -Kg/:%Dp/Dl
The “negative sign” represents gas flows into low pressure
through high pressure.
The equation shows seepage velocity of coalbed methane is
direct proportion to pressure gradient and gas permeability, and
inverse proportion to gas viscosity, because of gas viscosity
unchangeable almostly for coalbed methane, the gas seepage
velocity is related to permeability and pressure gradient, and the
permeability is certain to a given coal seam, so more coalbed
gas can be produced through increasing pressure difference. It
is beneficial for horizontal well network to increase pressure
difference, and higher seepage velocity of coalbed methane and
larger capability of producing can be gotten through horizontal
well network than vertical well.
The implement procedure in Engineering generally is the
following, the rig of inclined well is used to drill horizontal
well when coal seam buried shallows to 300m, and with the
coal seam buried more than 300m, the rig of vertical well with
medium radius of curvature is used to drill [2], the extension
direction of horizontal section in main well is on the down dip
of coal seam, which is located in the middle-lower part of coal
seam. Several horizontal wells can form networks or creat a net
like twig with a main horizontal well and several branch wells.
But casing ought to be reached the top of coal seam and
cemented before the coal seam is drilled, then follows as
completion and test or stimulation (e.g. fracturing), at last,
pump is put into downhole to pump water and comes into
exploitation.
Briefly introduction an example of exploitation
The block of coalbed methane exploitation is in a area, West
viginia, USA, and has succeeded with the type of horizontal
network like twig. Coal seams buried shallow to 1000m in the
area, the targeted coal seam 4 and 6 rest in Carboniferous with
medium bituminite, the average thickness of coal seam 4 is
1.22m, the average gas content is 8.5m3/t, and the permeability
ranges to 4%10-3:m2 from 3%10-3:m2. The average thickness of
coal seam 6 is about 2m, the gas content ranges to 15.57 m3/t
from 12.74 m3/t. The original water production per well in coal
seam 4 is between 85-100t/d, and drops to 15-30t/d after one
mouth during the early exploitation, the average gas production
SPE 64709
per well reaches 28000m3/d. One or two wells are drilled in per
110 acre block with investing 500000 dollar to 600000 dollar,
the accumulative gas production in coal seam 4 is 7100000m3
in two years, and 14200000m3 gas is gotten for coal seam 6 in
three years, so the commercial benefit is obvious.
Feasible discusses on the application of horizontal well
network technique in China
The analysis on the background of coalbed methan geology
The coalbed methane resources is distributed mainly in the
carboniferous-permain system, the general feature of coalbed
methane geology is that coal formation has undergone multiple
tectonic uplift, folding, and faulting, the coal seam has a high
degree of metamorphism, a complex texture, a little
permeability, lower original formation pressure and little
water[3], so that the vertical well exploration is restricted in
some areas, comparatively speaking, the horizontal network
exploitation demands lower geological conditions which it
becomes easy for coalbed methane desorption through the large
interface of seepage and the huge channels, that is that
horizontal well network exploitation can be used in those coal
areas with a certain permeability and nomal or lower reservoir
pressure in China . Although the geological condition is
complicate extremely, there are some coal areas or basins
keeping complete texture of coal, well-developed cleat or
fissure system and with the permeability between 1%10-3:m 2 to
10%10-3:m2 or more. So it is feasible no doubt for horizontal
well network exploitation in these areas such as Hedong area in
the east fringe of ordos basin, Qin shui basin, Shanxi province
and Tiefa area, Liaoning province etc.. Especially the reservoir
pressure can be dropped greatly and a large of coalbed methane
can be desorped, diffused and seeped in those areas of
anthracite and high gas content in Qinshui basin through
stimulating in Engineering, so the time of production would be
shorted, the cost would be reduced and the gas production
would be increased.
The tectonic coal with high stress is distributed in China in
large scale and higher resources of coalbed methane such areas
as Huainan and Huaibei, Anhui province, Pingding shan, Henan
province, southwest else of the Henan province, and Hongyang,
Liaoning province, etc. which the common characteristics are
well-developed faults, complicated coal texture extremely, high
gas content, coal mine with high coalbed methane, gas burst
and gas explosion usually in coal mining. Whether or not
exploitation coalbed methane through horizontal network
drilling in these areas depends on mainely the geological
condition of coalbed methane, it is feasible if coal seam keeps a
certain original texture and has some well-developed fissures,
otherwise when coal texture is broken to granulitic coal and
mylonitic coal, the cleat system of coal seam is destroied to end
and has little water in it, the result of explorating coalbed
methane will be failed through horizontal network drilling
SPE 64709 A FEASIBLE DISCUSSION ON EXPLOITATION COALBED METHANE THROUGH HORIZONTAL NETWORK DRILLING IN CHINA
because of the formation pressure not to be dropped effectively,
so we ought to do evaluation and area selection carefully and to
choose the blocks with high gas content and well-developed
fissure of coal during the early trial of exploitation, only so we
shall benefit through extending these blocks.
The analysis on drilling and producing in engineering
It is important for drilling and producing suited to the feature of
coalbed methane geology in China, we haven’t any obstacle
using the technique of drilling horizontal well, the key is during
the horizontal component being drilled (1) keep the
stabilization of sidewall, at same time, keep coalbed methane
not to be desorped absolutely. We can use the advanced
technique of anti-collapsing in drilling oil, e.g. it can be done to
form a little higher pressure of drilling fluid than the gas
pressure of formation and the collapse pressure of sidewell
through improve the density of drilling fluid. (2) Prevent coal
reservoir contamination, this is the quesition of coordination
between mainly drilling fluid, cement fluid, fracture fluid and
coal formation, we can develop these fluids to suite the coal
formations in different areas as vertical well drilling can do, and
we had better drill in balance the pressure of coal reservoir. In
order to keep the coal reservoir from harm through drilling
fluid, we may choose the technique of under balanced drilling,
i.g. air or foam drilling in case of no sidewall collapse in those
areas with a hard coal and a good coal texture.
The type of completion we may use is casing and perforating
like the most of vertical wells do in China, we can add the
density and longth of shooting, also we can adopt slotted liner
with long distance to increase the water discharge. Pump
plugging of coal grain and powder is often occured in pumping
water, and is a difficulty happened usually during the coalbed
methane exploitation, we can choose the long sieve tube
completion to solve the problem. If coal seam with high
permeability or brittle is found in prospecting, we can choose
the open hole or caving carefully so as to add the seepage.
It is necessary of stimulating to coal formation with low
permeability in China, which is the technique of fracturing,
includs two methods (1) fracture the horizontal well section in
coalbed, require well casing, cementing and perforating before
fracturing, but it will harm the coal reservoir for cementing
because of the cement cuting to coalbed, it is confined for this
method to improve the seepage of coalbed. (2) Improve the
seepage condition around the horizontal well through vertical
well fracturing, which demands to drill a vertical well in the
end of horizontal well or in the centre of network, the type and
density of drilling fluid in vertical well is same as the horizontal
well’s, then fracture the coal seam with hydraulic fracture to
form some cracks around the vertical well which connect with
the horizontal well effectively [fig. 2] , also some researchers
present to fracture vertical well with high-energy gas so as to
break the coal seam near the horizontal well and form some
microfissure systems and improve the condition of desorption
and seepage near the horizontal well. At last, close the vertical
well, pump fluid of fracturing from the horizontal well, and
3
come into exploitation stage, obviously it is feasible for this
method in China.
Conclusions
1. Exploitation coalbed methane through horizontal network
drilling is a new technique, the mechanism is to make
coalbed methane desorped, diffused and seeped quickly
through pumping water with the huge channel of seepage and
space of horizontal network.
2. The technique of exploitation coalbed methane through
horizontal network drlling is suited to the formation with low
reservoir pressure and low permeability, and can be used in
the mining district, and it will be contributed to the security
of coal production and the environment protect of
atmosphere extremely.
3. The geological condition of coalbed methane is complex in
China, but we can exploit coalbed methane through
horizontal network drilling in those areas with a good texture
of coal and certain permeability.
4. It is feasible through horizontal network exploitation in
drilling, completion, stimulating and producing in China.
Nomenclature
MJ = diffusion velocity
Dp = diffusion coefficient
ðC/ðY = concentration gradient of diffusion substance
V = seepage velocity
Kg = gas permeability
: = fluid viscosity
Dp/Dl = change rate of pressure
Acknowledgments
We thank Ms Zhuping. W, Mr. mingzhai.L, Yijun. L, wei. C,
Chufeng. W, Guoliang, Z of China united coalbed methane
corporation, Ltd, Mr. Cangsheng. S of oil field of North
China, Mr. Wei. Z of China united Shanxi coalbed methane
corporation, Ltd, Mr. John Eklund and Mr. Perrye Robertson
of CD Exploration, Inc., and Mr.Joe G. Zhou of CSI energy
techniques for their help and valuable discussions on the
geology and Engineering.
References
1. Shu, Z. et al.: “The geological principle and method of coalbed
methane evaluation and area selection,” Sichuan science and
techinque publishing house, chengdu (1998), first edition.
2. Yingfeng, M. et al.: “The technique of coalbed methane
exploitation in low permeability with stress sensitivity,” proc.,
symposium of the intl. Coalbed methane exploitation and
utilization, Beijing, China (1995).
3. Weiguo, C.:“A rediscussion on exploration prospect of coalbed
methane in China,” Experimental petroleum geology, vol. 22
No. 2 jun. 2000 Wuxi Jisu, P131-135.
4. Youming, X. et al.: “Research of completion technique is the key
of exploitation coalbed methane resources,” proc., symposium of
the intl. Coalbed methane exploitation and utilization, Beijing,
China (1995).
4 WEIGUO.C, LUWU.Y SPE 64709

a b

Fig. 1 pattens of horizontal network

a - net b - twig

Fig. 2 stimulation technique of dynamics

Between horizontal well and vertical well
(revised from Yingfeng, M 1995)