Rotary-drilling techniques used in the Beckley Coalbed. Report of Investigations/1989

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5499910

Goodman, T W

The U.S. Bureau of Mines used a contract drilling strategy with short-collared assemblies in order to rotary-drill long horizontal methane drainage holes in the Beckley Coalbed near Glen Daniel, WV. By decreasing the thrust and increasing the rotation of the drill bit when in contact with the roof and floor rock, assemblies with 1-ft (0.3-m), 10-ft (3-m), and 14-ft (4.3m) long collars were made to deflect and stay in the coalbed. Successful application of the procedure resulted in holes drilled full length in coal with the original assembly including bit. The test assemblies deflected away from the original bearings of the holes during drilling and arced. Four holes were drilled to depths ranging from 478 ft (145.7 m) before the strategy was developed, to 4,034 ft (1,230 m) when the strategy was applied. Total length of the holes in coal was 8,590 ft (2,618 m). After 577 days the total methane captured by the holes was 221,600,000 cu ft (6,276,000 cu m). The methane flow rate peaked at 805,000 cu ft/d(18,974 cu m/d) after 6 months.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Research Center
• OSTI ID: 5499910
• Report Number(s): PB-89-201347/XAB; BUMINES-RI--9238
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012033* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Mine Environment-- (1987-)
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
ALKANES
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINING
DRILL BITS
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
MINING ENGINEERING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REMOVAL
RESOURCES
ROTARY DRILLING
SAFETY
UNDERGROUND MINING