In-situ stress and coal bed methane potential in Western Canada

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2006 In-situ stress and coal bed methane potential in Western Canada J.S. Bell J.S. Bell Sigma H Consultants Ltd., P.O. Box 2797, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2006) 54 (3): 197–220. https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.54.3.197 Article history received: 15 Nov 2005 accepted: 19 Jun 2006 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J.S. Bell; In-situ stress and coal bed methane potential in Western Canada. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 2006;; 54 (3): 197–220. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.54.3.197 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyBulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract Laboratory testing has shown that the permeability of clastic rocks is related to confining stress. The same relationships have been demonstrated for coal. Production rates of coal bed methane have been shown to be inversely proportional to stress magnitude in Australia and the United States. Preferred fluid flow axes aligned with SHmax, the larger horizontal principal stress, have been documented. Relevant previous studies are reviewed and discussed. The findings are then applied to central and southern Alberta and specifically to a horizon approximating the MacKay coals of the Upper Cretaceous Belly River Formation. Methods for determining the vertical stress, SV, and the smaller horizontal stress, SHmin are described and a data base is assembled from published data concerning micro-fracture and mini-fracture instantaneous shut in pressures, fracture breakdown pressures and leak-off pressures. This data base is used to generate a series of maps which are interpreted using relationships established outside Western Canada to establish optimum locations for coal bed methane productivity at the selected stratigraphic horizon. The paper ends with a plea to acquire more local primary data relating in-situ stress to the permeability and productivity of subsurface coal seams. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.