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Reserves Estimation for Coalbed Methane Reservoirs: a Review

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Reserves Estimation for Coalbed Methane Reservoirs: a Review sustainability Review Reserves Estimation for Coalbed Methane Reservoirs: A Review Ali Altowilib, Ahmed AlSaihati, Hussain Alhamood, Saad Alafnan * and Sulaiman Alarifi College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] (A.A.); [email protected] (A.A.); [email protected] (H.A.); salarifi@kfupm.edu.sa (S.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 11 September 2020; Accepted: 17 December 2020; Published: 18 December 2020 Abstract: A continuous growth in the global economy and population requires a sustainable energy supply. Maximizing recovery factor out of the naturally occurring hydrocarbons resources has been an active area of continuous development to meet the globally increasing demand for energy. Coalbed methane (CBM), which is one of the primary resources of natural gas, associates complex storage mechanisms and requires some advanced recovery techniques, rendering conventional reserve assessment methods insufficient. This work presents a literature review on CBM in different aspects. This includes rock characteristics such as porosity, permeability, adsorption capacity, adsorption isotherm, and coal classification. In addition, CBM reservoirs are compared to conventional reservoirs in terms of reservoir quality, reservoir properties, accumulation, and water/gas saturation and production. Different topics that contribute to the production of CBM reservoirs are also discussed. This includes production mechanisms, well spacing, well completion, and petrophysical interpretations. The main part of this work sheds a light on the available techniques to determine initial-gas-in-place in CBM reservoirs such as volumetric, decline curve, and material balance. It also presents the pros and cons of each technique. Lastly, common development and economic challenges in CBM fields are listed in addition to environmental concerns. Keywords: coalbed methane; natural gas; reserve estimation; organic materials 1. Introduction Continuous growth in the global economy and population requires a sustainable energy supply. Table1 shows the global primary energy consumption, measured in terawatt-hours (TWh) with crude oil, natural gas, and coal being key suppliers [1]. Table 1. The global primary energy consumption by 2018 [1]. Data Item Contribution to Global Energy Consumption (TWh) crude oil 50,000 natural gas 40,000 coal 40,000 traditonal biofuels 24,000 others >10,000 Petroleum engineers are always in a race towards maximizing recovery factor out of conventional and unconventional reservoirs (tight gas and oil, coalbed methane, shale gas and oil, heavy oil, and gas hydrate formations) in order to meet such demand. Extraction of gas generated and stored inside coalbeds, also known as coalbed methane (CBM), is one of the tools to meet global energy demand. This is mainly due to the large number of deposits of CBM scattered around the globe. CBM can be Sustainability 2020, 12, 10621; doi:10.3390/su122410621 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2020, 12, 10621 2 of 26 found in Australia, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and India [2]. The US has produced more than 1000 Bcf in 2017 [3]. It is worth mentioning that CBM is considered a clean-burning fuel since it minimizes greenhouse emissions and lowers air pollution [4]. 2. LiteratureSustainability Review 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 26 Thisenergy section demand. presents This a is literature mainly due review to the onlarge coalbed number methane of deposits from of CBM different scattered aspects. around This the includes reservoirglobe. and flowCBM characteristicscan be found in Australia, along with the methodsUnited Kingdom, of reserves United estimation States, Canada, for coalbedand India reservoirs.[2]. The US has produced more than 1000 Bcf in 2017 [3]. It is worth mentioning that CBM is considered 2.1. Coalbeda clean-burning Methane Formation fuel since it Characteristics minimizes greenhouse emissions and lowers air pollution [4]. Coal2. isLiterature unique Review since it acts as a source rock and a reservoir rock for light gases generated inside. These gases includeThis section methane, presents ethane, a literature carbon review dioxide, on coalbed nitrogen, methane and hydrogenfrom different sulfide. aspects. The This generation of coalbedincludes methane reservoir is doneand flow through characteristics biogenic along (metabolic with methods activities of reserves of estimation microbes) for or coalbed thermogenic processesreservoirs. (due to increasing depth, pressure, and temperature) occurring throughout the diagenetic cycle. Generated2.1. Coalbed Methane methane Formation is usually Characteristics adsorbed on the surface of the coal, mainly in micropores. Adsorption can be defined as a process in which gas molecules adhere to the internal surface of Coal is unique since it acts as a source rock and a reservoir rock for light gases generated inside. a coalbed.These gases include methane, ethane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. The generation In CBMof coalbed reservoirs, methane the is forcedone thatthrough keeps biogenic the methane (metabolic trapped activities inside of microbes) the coalbed or thermogenic is the hydraulic pressure;processes in order (due for to CBM increasing to be depth, produced, pressure, there and should temperature) be natural occurring fractures throughout or cleatsthe diagenetic connecting the pores to thecycle. well. Generated These methane cleats are is usually formed adsorbed as a result on the of regionalsurface of and the structuralcoal, mainly events. in micropores. Cleats can also be destroyedAdsorption by burial can be or defined mineralization as a process [5 ].in Whatwhich isgas also molecules unique adhere about to coal the isinternal that itsurface has the of capabilitya coalbed. of adsorbingIn massive CBM reservoirs, quantities the force of gas that molecules keeps the meth dueane tolarge trapped porosity inside the with coalbed low is permeability. the hydraulic The gas saturationpressure; is affected in order by for pressure, CBM to be temperature, produced, there and should fracturing be natural degree fractures [6– or8]. cleats connecting the Thepores mechanism to the well. of These producing cleats are formed methane as a dependsresult of regional largely and onstructural the hydraulic events. Cleats pressure can also and the concentrationbe destroyed of water by burial and gasor mineralization inside the bed. [5]. What A reduction is also unique in the about water coal contentis that it has results the capability in the release of of adsorbing massive quantities of gas molecules due to large porosity with low permeability. The gas. The dewatering process reduces the partial pressure in the cleat and results in the desorption gas saturation is affected by pressure, temperature, and fracturing degree [6–8]. of gas from theThe coalmechanism matrix of and producing diffusion methane towards depends the cleatlargely/fracture on the hydraulic and then pressure to the well.and the Moreover, the continuousconcentration reduction of water in and water gas inside saturation the bed. A shifts reduction the in relative the water permeability content results curves in the release favoring the transportof of gas. methane The dewatering in the process larger pores.reduces Dewateringthe partial pressure simultaneously in the cleat and enhances results in the desorption desorption/di ffusion from microporesof gas from and the coal advection matrix and in largerdiffusion pores towards and the cracks. cleat/fracture Ultimately, and then methane to the well. production Moreover, sharply the continuous reduction in water saturation shifts the relative permeability curves favoring the increases and water decreases. transport of methane in the larger pores. Dewatering simultaneously enhances desorption/diffusion from micropores and advection in larger pores and cracks. Ultimately, methane production sharply 2.2. Porosity increases and water decreases. CBM reservoirs have been considered as dual or tri-porosity systems in the literature: 2.2. Porosity cleats (macropore) and matrix (micropore). The cleats help in flowing the gas, whereas the matrix enhances gasCBM storage. reservoirs The have majority been considered of the porosity as dual in orCBM tri-porosity comes systems from thein the matrix, literature: ranging cleats from 10 (macropore) and matrix (micropore). The cleats help in flowing the gas, whereas the matrix enhances to 20%. Cleatgas storage. matrices The majority are usually of the filledporosity with in CBM water comes and from have the a matrix, porosity ranging in the from range 10 to of20%. 0.1–1% [9]. Even thoughCleat thematrices value are is usually small, itfilled directly with water contributes and have to a production. porosity in the Figure range1 ofshows 0.1–1% the [9]. CBM Even porosity system withthough the the mechanism value is small, involved it directlyinside contribute it.s Theto production. matrix of Figure CBM 1 hasshows a higherthe CBM storage porosity capacity comparedsystem to conventional with the mechanism reservoirs involved due inside to having it. The pores matrix with of CBM larger has surface a higher areas storage [10 capacity]. compared to conventional reservoirs due to having pores with larger surface areas [10]. Figure 1. Coalbed methane (CBM) Dual-Porosity System. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10621 3 of 26 2.3. Adsorption and Sorption Isotherm Coal
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