Browsing by Subject "Coalbed methane"

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Defining Coalbed Methane Exploration Fairways in East-Central Texas
(1999) Tyler, Roger; Scott, Andrew R.
The Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin has developed a basin-scale coal bed methane producibility and exploration model based on a decade of Gas Research Institute-supported research performed in the San Juan, Sand Wash (Greater Green River), and Piceance Basins, as well as reconnaissance studies of several other producing and prospective coal basins in the United States. As part of a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), BEG is to provide a preliminary assessment of the coal bed methane potential of the east-central Texas Gulf Coast coal basins based on previously published literature and data. The objective of this report is to discuss the application of the producibility model in defining coalbed methane exploration fairways in an east-central Texas coal basin. The producibility model indicates that tectonic/structural setting, depositional systems and coal distribution, coal rank, gas content, permeability, and hydrodynamics are critical controls to coalbed methane producibility. However, simply knowing a basin's geologic and hydrologic characteristics will not lead to a conclusion about coalbed methane producibility because it is the interplay among geologic and hydrologic controls on production and their spatial relation that governs producibility. High producibility requires that the geologic and hydrologic controls be synergistically combined. That synergism is evident in a comparison of the prolific producing San Juan Basin and marginally producing Sand Wash and Piceance Basins, where high productivity is governed by (1) thick, laterally continuous coals of high thermal maturity; (2) adequate permeability; (3) basinward flow of groundwater through coals of high rank and gas content orthogonally toward no-flow boundaries (regional structural hinge lines, fault systems, facies changes, permeability contrasts, and/or discharge areas); (4) generation of secondary biogenic gases; and (5) conventional trapping along those boundaries to provide additional gas beyond that generated during coalification. Understanding the dynamic interaction among these key geologic and hydrologic controls will be critical for delineation of exploration fairways in east-central Texas frontier basins and for targeting "sweet spots" along the Gulf Coast.
Energy and water production trends in the Powder River Basin
(2018-12) Pfeil, Audrey; Scanlon, Bridget R.
Energy extraction and water are intrinsically linked. Quantifying this relationship is critical to develop effective management strategies that minimize adverse environmental impacts and potentially reduce production costs. The objective of this study was to assess the spatiotemporal variability in water use and water production through hydrocarbon extraction from conventional and unconventional reservoirs using data from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming as a case study. Field level and detailed well-by-well analyses were conducted to quantify the spatiotemporal variability of oil and gas volumes and the corresponding co-produced water from conventional oil reservoirs and coal bed methane (CBM) reservoirs, and additional water used for hydraulic fracturing in unconventional shale reservoirs. Results show that conventional oil and CBM gas production has markedly declined along with produced water. The water demands of unconventional oil and gas development in the last decade have increased with increasing unconventional oil production, however water use per unit of energy produced has increased. Produced water from unconventional oil wells does not meet hydraulic fracturing water demands. CBM wells in proximity to new unconventional well development may be a source of water needing minimal treatment for growing hydraulic fracturing water demands.
Pennsylvanian bituminous coal, North-Central Texas: potential for coalbed methane resource development
(2003) Kim, Eugene M.
The most recent U.S. Geological Survey National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS) activities completed for the State of Texas by the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) focused on Wilcox Group deep coal (lignite) resources, including defining coalbed methane exploration fairways in East-Central Texas (Tyler and Scott, 1999) and deep-basin coal (lignite) in Wilcox Group, Sabine Uplift, East Texas: potential for unconventional coalbed methane resource development (Kim and Ruppel, 2001). The major objectives of these projects were to provide high-quality, organized digital information and interpretations on the location, quality, and quantity of the coal to be mined in the Wilcox Group, Texas Gulf Coast area, during the next several decades to meet the needs of the region and the nation for reliable, low-cost, environmentally compatible energy. The first commercial coalbed methane field in Texas, the Sacatosa coalbed methane field in Maverick County, was announced in 2001 by The Exploration Company. This field is currently being produced from bituminous coal and carbonaceous shale of the Upper Cretaceous Olmos Formation in the Maverick Basin. Although the Pennsylvanian bituminous coals of North-Central Texas are of a rank higher than that of Texas Gulf Coast lignites and are comparable to Olmos bituminous coals, very little current information exists on their occurrence, distribution, geological setting, or future potential for coalbed methane development. More detailed and updated information on the coal resource in this region is essential for inclusion in the NCRDS, utilizing digital databases of available data as well as digitized maps compiled in a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. The Pennsylvanian bituminous coals of North-Central Texas are of higher rank and thereby have higher Btu values than Texas Gulf Coast lignites. Moreover, they are also closer to the major energy user market of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. However, owing to their high sulfur/ash content and thin beds, commercial mining and potential for coalbed methane in these coals is limited.
Pennsylvanian Bituminous Coal, North-Central Texas: Potential for Coalbed Methane Resource Development
(2002) Kim, Eugene M.
Most recent U.S. Geological Survey National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS) activities completed for the State of Texas by the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) focused on Wilcox Group deep coal (lignite) resources, including "Defining coalbed methane exploration fairways in East-Central Texas" (Tyler and Scott, 1999) and "Deep-basin coal (lignite) in Wilcox Group, Sabine Uplift, East Texas: potential for unconventional coalbed methane resource development" (Kim and Ruppel, 2001). The major objectives of these projects were to provide high-quality, organized digital information and interpretations on the location, quality, and quantity of the coal to be mined in the Wilcox Group, Texas Gulf Coast area, during the next several decades to meet the needs of the region and the nation for reliable, low-cost, environmentally compatible energy. The first commercial coalbed methane field in Texas, the Sacatosa coal bed methane field in Maverick County, was announced in 2001 by The Exploration Company. This field is currently being produced from bituminous coal and carbonaceous shale of the Upper Cretaceous Olmos Formation in the Maverick Basin. Although the Pennsylvanian bituminous coals of North-Central Texas are of higher rank than the Texas Gulf Coast lignites and are comparable to the most bituminous coals, very little current information exists on their occurrence, distribution, geological setting, or future potential for coalbed methane development. More detailed and updated information of the coal resource in this region is essential for inclusion in the NCRDS, utilizing digital databases of available data as well as digitized maps compiled in a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. Providing updated digital data on the Pennsylvanian bituminous coals of North-Central Texas and assessing their potential for future coalbed methane resource development are the major objectives for this current study. Major accomplishments for FY02 included digitally compiling major background regional data for Pennsylvanian depositional systems and major coal resources such as the Strawn (Thurber) coals, as well as a comparison with current coalbed methane production from Olmos bituminous coals in the Maverick Basin. Future FY03 tasks to be completed include analysis of other coal resources such as the Canyon (Bridgeport) and Cisco (Newcastle) coals, as well as an overall future assessment of the coalbed methane potential of the Pennsylvanian bituminous coals of North-Central Texas.