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Title: Coalbed-methane pilots - timing, design, and analysis

Journal Article · · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reservoir Evaluation and Engineering
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/114169-PA· OSTI ID:21261655

Four distinct sequential phases form a recommended process for coalbed-methane (CBM)-prospect assessment: initial screening reconnaissance, pilot testing, and final appraisal. Stepping through these four phases provides a program of progressively ramping work and cost, while creating a series of discrete decision points at which analysis of results and risks can be assessed. While discussing each of these phases in some degree, this paper focuses on the third, the critically important pilot-testing phase. This paper contains roughly 30 specific recommendations and the fundamental rationale behind each recommendation to help ensure that a CBM pilot will fulfill its primary objectives of (1) demonstrating whether the subject coal reservoir will desorb and produce consequential gas and (2) gathering the data critical to evaluate and risk the prospect at the next-often most critical-decision point.

OSTI ID:
21261655
Journal Information:
SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reservoir Evaluation and Engineering, Vol. 12, Issue 5; ISSN 1094-6470
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English