Browsing by Author "Pashin, J. C."

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Geologic Evaluation of Critical Production Parameters for Coalbed Methane Resources, Black Warrior Basin - Final Report
(1989) Pashin, J. C.; Ward, W. E.; Winston, R. B.; Chandler, R. V.; Bolin, D. E.; Hamilton, R. P.; Mink, R. M.
Characterization of coalbed methane occurrence and producibility in the Black Warrior basin of Alabama indicates that geologic factors are the principal controls on the occurrence and producibility of coalbed methane. Results of engineering analysis indicate that application of completion and stimulation techniques may be used to increase recovery once favorable well sites are chosen. Sedimentologic and coal-quality parameters may be used to locate regions for coalbed methane development by characterizing the occurrence, rank, and grade of coal resources. However, high-productivity trends within those regions are localized, and geologic data suggest that productivity trends may be predictable on the basis of structural and hydrologic parameters. Several highly productive trends occur along northeast-oriented lineaments. These trends evidently are the surface expression of zones of enhanced permeability which apparently are related to fractures. Productive trends also are associated with areas of low reservoir pressure, and salinity maps indicate that fresh water has migrated toward these areas from the southeast margin of the basin. The available data indicate that structure and hydrology are critical production parameters that may be used to identify favorable well sites within regions containing significant, high-quality coal resources.
Geologic Evaluation of Critical Production Parameters for Coalbed Methane Resources, Part II, Black Warrior Basin
(1990) Pashin, J. C.; Ward, W. E.; Winston, R. B.; Chandler, R. V.; Bolin, D. E.; Hamilton, R. P.; Mink, R. M.
Geologic evaluation of critical production parameters for coalbed-methane resources in the Black Warrior basin of Alabama employed an interdisciplinary approach that utilized structural, coal-quality, sedimentologic, hydrologic, and engineering data. Results indicate that geologic factors are a major control on the producibility of coalbed methane and that completion techniques may be used to increase recovery if tailored to specific geologic settings. Sedimentologic and coal-quality parameters may be used to locate regions for coalbed methane development by characterizing the occurrence, rank, and grade of coal resources. However, high-productivity trends within those regions are localized, and geologic data suggest that productivity trends may be predictable. Several highly productive trends occur along northeast-oriented lineaments. These lineaments are the inferred surface expression of zones of enhanced permeability which are related to fractures. Productive trends also are associated with areas of low reservoir pressure, and salinity maps indicate that fresh water has migrated toward areas with low reservoir pressure. The available data indicate that structure and hydrology are critical production parameters that may be used to identify favorable well sites within regions containing significant coalbed-methane resources.
Structure, Sedimentology, Coal Quality and Hydrology of the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama: Controls on the Occurrence and Produciliblity of Coalbed Methane
(1991) Pashin, J. C.
Geologic evaluation of critical production parameters in the Black Warrior basin employed an interdisciplinary approach that utilized structural, sedimentologic, coal-quality, hydrologic, completion, and production data. Results indicate that geologic structure affected sedimentation, coalification, hydrogeology, and the ultimate occurrence and producibility of coalbed methane. Geologic trend analysis was used to characterize regional coalbed-methane potential, and results indicate that many parts of the basin have untapped resources. Some highly productive trends coincide with northeast-trending structures that apparently are zones of enhanced fracture permeability. Water-production data indicate that many high-permeability trends exist that are not associated with exceptional coalbed-methane production and that the coal beds are structurally compartmentalized reservoirs. Water-level data indicate that all highly productive coalbed-methane wells occur where reservoir pressure has been lowered significantly. Therefore, highly productive areas apparently represent structural compartments where formation pressure has been lowered enough to facilitate desorption of a large quantity of methane. Results of this research suggest that completion technology and field design can be tailored to specific geologic settings to produce from reservoir compartments that are readily depressurized, thereby optimizing reservoir drainage.