Abstract
Coal during its carbonization process produces a gas. This gas, mainly formed by methane, can be used. This gas, coalbed methane (CBM), is usually mainly formed by methane and can be considered similar to natural gas as energy source. The evaluation of the techno-economic feasibility of the extraction of this gas depends on a large number of complex different factors. The work carried out covers the different aspects to simplify the first approach for CBM feasibility quantification considering a short number of indicators. A theoretical review and a state of the art description have been carried out, taking into account all the factors that can influence in the development of a CBM project. After that, technical feasibility has been used to evaluate total amount of gas that can be recovered. The last step was to evaluate economic feasibility to know how much gas could be economically profitable. Conclusions got have been used to develop a simple method for evaluating CBM economic feasibility considering just four easy known parameters of coal beds. These are: the rank, the thickness, the gas concentration, and the permeability.
Highlights
The gas contained in coal layers is an important energy resource capable of supporting the growing increase in energy demand
The conventional exploitation of the VCBM is carried out by vertical drilling and hydraulic fracturing that helps to desorb the methane contained in the coal, methods based on horizontal drilling are currently being successfully tested, recovering the VCBM more profitably
For the methane in the coal layers to be an economically exploitable resource, the coal must present a series of characteristics that have been demonstrated after the experience acquired in the wells that are already in operation
Summary
The gas contained in coal layers is an important energy resource capable of supporting the growing increase in energy demand. The gas contained in the coal is a byproduct of the process of maturing it, as will be detailed later, which can be increased later due to different mechanisms. This gas was considered dangerous, so it was to reduce its concentration to increase safety in the mines. At present, this vision has changed and, far from diluting it, the maximum use of its energy potential is pursued. The final use of these tables and factors will facilitate the first approach form of the economic feasibility of CBM extraction to carry out future detailed analysis of a coal basin
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