History of coal-bed methane production in Warrior basin of Alabama

Conference · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:5695643

Lottman, L K; Malone, P G; Camp, B S ^[1]

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1. GeoMet, Inc., Fairfield, AL (USA)

Coal-bed methane has been produced in the Warrior basin of Alabama since the late 1970s. Through December 1988, more than 1,000 wells have been permitted and total gas production has exceeded 70 bcf. Production is restricted to the coal groups that occur in the Pottsville Formation of Pennsylvanian age. Producing horizons currently range in depth from 450 to 3,200 ft. Recovery methods include vertical holes, gob wells, and horizontal boreholes (in underground mines). Most of the wells currently producing in the Warrior basin are vertical, which are hydraulically fractured to induce gas flow. In contrast to basins where coal seam gas has developed in conjunction with conventional gas, the coal-bed methane industry in the Warrior basin has evolved relative to the underground mining of coal. The first two large-scale degasification fields in Alabama, Oak Grove and Brookwood, successfully utilized degasification in advance of mining. Historically, vertical wells have been drilled into active underground coal mines to reduce gas emissions and ventilation costs, thus improving safety and expediting mine advance. Based on increased natural gas prices, coal seam gas originally vented was eventually collected and sold. Since the early development, degasification of coal beds has proven economic as a venture independent of mine activities. Most of the recently developed fields are in areas devoid of underground mining and are producing pipeline-quality gas (average 96% methane content).

• OSTI ID: 5695643
• Report Number(s): CONF-8910195--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Journal Volume: 73:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ALABAMA
COAL DEPOSITS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
PENNSYLVANIAN PERIOD
PRODUCTION
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
USA