Geological controls on coalbed prospectivity in part of the North Staffordshire Coalfield, UK

Abstract

Abstract Westphalian coal seams in the Kinetica/Taurus exploration licence EXL 282, which covers part of the North Staffordshire Coalfield, are estimated to contain over 5.6 × 10 10 m 3 of initial coalbed gas in place. In the evaluation of coalbed gas prospectivity in the licence area, data from the coal and the oil and gas industries were used to map coal occurrence, coal rank, the gas content of coal seams, gas in-place, structure, face cleat and in situ stress. The North Staffordshire Coalfield is structurally and stratigraphically complex. Westphalian strata occur in a SSW plunging synclinorium that is highly segmented by faults with displacements as great as 500 m. These faults may either be barriers or conduits for fluid migration. The maximum in situ horizontal compressive stress is generally oriented NNW, subparallel to face cleats and some faults, which may favour openness and transmissivity of those fractures. In the southern part of the licence area, intraformational unconformities occur in the Westphalian. Total coal thickness is greatest (more than 40 m) and coal rank is highest (medium-volatile bituminous) in the northern part of the licence area, coincident with the greatest thickness of Westphalian strata. Predictably then, gas content and initial gas in-place per unit area are greatest in the northern part of the licence area, coincident with the occurrence of thick, high rank coals. In this area, initial gas in-place is estimated to exceed 4.0 × 10 8 m 3 per km 2 in some areas. Although gas resource trends have been identified, production rates of coalbed gas can only be established through well testing.