Review of Mannville Coal Geomechanical Properties: Application to Coalbed Methane Drilling in the Central Alberta Plains, Canada

Abstract

The objective of this study was to review and analyze geomechanical data, primarily for the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group coals in the Pembina-Warburg area of west-central Alberta, Canada. These coals have been the target for coalbed methane exploration and development via vertical and horizontal drilling. The data focused on the mechanical and acoustic laboratory-derived properties available in the public domain as well as on the compressional and shear velocity data and calculated dynamic and static elastic properties. The review showed that rock mechanical data could be used for a range of drilling and reservoir engineering applications, such as borehole stability and fracture stimulation design. The velocity and dynamic elastic property data could also be used for petrophysical and geophysical applications.