Coal Bed Methane Production

Abstract

Abstract Provided that certain conditions are met, Coalbed Methane (CBM) wells have demonstrated the capacity to continue to produce a significant proportion of their peak production rates at very low reservoir pressures. Low reservoir producing pressures require low bottom-hole and surface pressures. Chief among the conditions for high production rates is being able to manage water at low surface pressure. Minimum-net-positive-suction-head considerations limit artificial lift options. The dew point at low pressures allows large volumes of water to move as vapor—rendering mechanical separation equipment ineffective and leaving solids behind at inconvenient places. Temperature changes in buried piping condense water vapor and create both corrosion and pipe-efficiency problems. Low separator pressures preclude easy methods to remove liquid water. This paper addresses the design considerations for these low-pressure operations and related artificial lift systems