The permeability picture: a coalbed methane collage
Low permeability is the Achilles heel for coalbed methane (CBM) ventures, and success will entail finding regions of enhanced permeability, utilizing horizontal wells with the option of fracturing these wells, and possibly in creating permeability by new-paradigm methods such as shear stimulation and branch fracturing. This paper discusses the role of permeability in choosing CBM completions, as well as examples of those completions. If enough permeability measurements are made, well completions can be prioritized, and hybrid well completions evaluated. The benefits of horizontal and multi-lateral wells are made clear. Next we present industry benchmarks for (1) predicting gas production and success from reservoir parameters, and (2) comparing early production with commercial CBM plays, which has implications for completions types. The guidelines, including perm bands and benchmarks, are simple and practical, and should benefit any CBM completions strategy. Lastly, we summarize the striking observations of perm increases with depletion in the San Juan basin. The latest attempts to match these data are reported and reconciled, although there are still differences.
Coalbed methane permeability completions stimulation production depletion
Ian Palmer
Higgs-Palmer Technologies, 10140 Arroyo Crest Drive NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87114, USA
国际会议
徐州
英文
68-81
2009-09-24（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）