Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Coalbed Methane and Storage: Is ... 126627-PP_G Koperna_Final.pdfSoutheast Regional Carbon Sequestration Consortium (2) • The Central Appalachian test site

Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Coalbed Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Coalbed Methane and Storage: Methane and Storage: Is there Promise?Is there Promise?2009 SPE International Conference on CO2009 SPE International Conference on CO22 Capture, Capture, Storage, and UtilizationStorage, and Utilization

Prepared by:Prepared by:George J Koperna Jr.George J Koperna Jr.David E RiestenbergDavid E RiestenbergAdvanced Resources InternationalAdvanced Resources International

SPE 126627SPE 126627--PPPP

22 SPE 126627SPE 126627--PP KOPERNA_RIESTENBERGPP KOPERNA_RIESTENBERG

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

1)1) Introduction to COIntroduction to CO22 ––Enhanced Coalbed Enhanced Coalbed Methane (COMethane (CO22--ECBM)ECBM)

2)2) Estimated Resource SizeEstimated Resource Size3)3) Field Demonstrations Field Demonstrations 4)4) Lessons Learned Lessons Learned 5)5) ConclusionsConclusions


About ECBMAbout ECBM

•• Enhanced coalbed methane recovery Enhanced coalbed methane recovery (ECBM) involves gas injection into coal to (ECBM) involves gas injection into coal to improve methane recovery, analogous to improve methane recovery, analogous to EOREOR

•• Typical injection gases include nitrogen and Typical injection gases include nitrogen and carbon dioxidecarbon dioxide

•• COCO22 and Nand N22 injection have substantially injection have substantially

different recovery processesdifferent recovery processes


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Methane Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen

Adsorption Isotherms Tell the Adsorption Isotherms Tell the StoryStory


The Potential for Coal Storage The Potential for Coal Storage ––ARI EstimateARI Estimate

Reeves, S, “Assessment of CO2 Sequestration and ECBM Potential of U.S. Coalbeds”, prepared for U.S. Department of Energy, Project Number: DE-FC26-0NT40924, February, 2003.


The Potential for Coal Storage The Potential for Coal Storage ––2008 Atlas2008 Atlas

AppalachianAppalachian ~1.0 GT~1.0 GT

Black WarriorBlack Warrior 0.9 GT0.9 GT

Green RiverGreen River <0.1 GT<0.1 GT

Gulf Coast*Gulf Coast* 19.7 GT19.7 GT

HannaHanna 0.6 GT0.6 GT

IllinoisIllinois 1.7 GT1.7 GT

MidMid--ContinentContinent <0.1 GT<0.1 GT

PiceancePiceance N/AN/A

Powder RiverPowder River 11.8 GT11.8 GT

RB & SJB (CO)RB & SJB (CO) 0.5 GT0.5 GT

RB & SJB (NM)RB & SJB (NM) <0.1 GT<0.1 GT

UintaUinta <0.1 GT<0.1 GT

Western WAWestern WA 2.8 GT2.8 GT

Wind RiverWind River N/AN/A

To date, there has been about 40 To date, there has been about 40 GigatonnesGigatonnesof assessed COof assessed CO22 storage potential, with storage potential, with several large basins remaining.several large basins remaining.

*2009 re-assessment


Early Demonstrations:Early Demonstrations:Allison and Tiffany PilotsAllison and Tiffany Pilots

Allison Unit Tiffany UnitLocation San Juan Basin, USA San Juan Basin, USAOperator Burlington Resources

(now ConocoPhillips)Amoco

(now BP)Start 1995 1998Duration 6 ½ years continuous

injection4 years intermittent

injectionNo. Injection Wells 4 12Volume Injected 6.4 Bcf 15.0 BcfDepth 3,100 ft 3,000 ftThickness 43 ft 47 ftRank (% VR) Med vol bit (1.33%) Med vol bit (1.33%)Permeability ~100 md ~1 md


InjectivityInjectivity

Well #143

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•• Permeability decreased Permeability decreased from 100 from 100 mDmD to 1 to 1 mDmD(PTA tests)(PTA tests)

•• No CONo CO22 breakthrough breakthrough during the 6during the 6--year testyear test

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•• Permeability increased Permeability increased from 1 from 1 mDmD to 10 to 10 mDmD

•• Rapid NRapid N22 breakthroughbreakthrough

Allison Tiffany


DOE Regional Carbon SequestrationDOE Regional Carbon SequestrationConsortium Program (RCSP)Consortium Program (RCSP)


RCSP Field DemonstrationsRCSP Field Demonstrations

Midwest Geological Sequestration ConsortiumMidwest Geological Sequestration Consortium•• Conducted an injection into a central Illinois Basin Conducted an injection into a central Illinois Basin

coal seam (Carbondale coal seam (Carbondale -- 6/20086/2008--1/2009 )1/2009 )•• 90 90 tonnestonnes of COof CO22

•• Three wells, placed 50 to 100 feet from the injection Three wells, placed 50 to 100 feet from the injection well, were used to monitor the injection, with the well, were used to monitor the injection, with the fastest and largest pressure response in the face fastest and largest pressure response in the face cleat direction and more muted responses in the butt cleat direction and more muted responses in the butt cleats.cleats.



Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership• Began a short duration injection (16 days) into a Fort

Union lignite coal seam (Burke County, North Dakota) in March 2009.

• 66 tonnes of CO2• In addition to pressure monitoring, microseismic with

simultaneous tilt measurements and cross-well seismic surveys were employed to track the CO2plume.

Plains COPlains CO22 Reduction PartnershipReduction Partnership•• Began a short duration injection (16 days) into a Fort Began a short duration injection (16 days) into a Fort

Union lignite coal seam (Burke County, North Dakota) Union lignite coal seam (Burke County, North Dakota) in March 2009.in March 2009.

•• 66 66 tonnestonnes of COof CO22

•• In addition to pressure monitoring, In addition to pressure monitoring, microseismicmicroseismic with with simultaneous tilt measurements and crosssimultaneous tilt measurements and cross--well well seismic surveys were employed to track the COseismic surveys were employed to track the CO22

plume.plume.


Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Consortium (2)Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Consortium (2)•• The Central Appalachian test site was located in The Central Appalachian test site was located in

Buchanan County, Virginia within the Oakwood CBM Buchanan County, Virginia within the Oakwood CBM field. field.

•• In January 2009, 910 tonnes of COIn January 2009, 910 tonnes of CO22 were injected into were injected into the 25 discrete coal seems of the Pocahontas and Lee the 25 discrete coal seems of the Pocahontas and Lee formations, which represented 3 fracture stimulation formations, which represented 3 fracture stimulation zoneszones

•• Warrior Basin Test is planned Fall 2009 where 910 Warrior Basin Test is planned Fall 2009 where 910 tonnes of COtonnes of CO22 will be injected in a series of Pottsville will be injected in a series of Pottsville Coal seamsCoal seams



Southwest PartnershipSouthwest Partnership•• Located in the San Juan Fruitland Coal FairwayLocated in the San Juan Fruitland Coal Fairway

•• Injection began on July 31, 2008 in three coal seams Injection began on July 31, 2008 in three coal seams and continued until July 2009, resulting in the and continued until July 2009, resulting in the injection of 18,400 tonnes of COinjection of 18,400 tonnes of CO22..

•• Monitoring plan included a tilt meter array, Monitoring plan included a tilt meter array, automated COautomated CO22 gas sampling in the offset producing gas sampling in the offset producing wells, the use of COwells, the use of CO22 tracers as well as surface soil tracers as well as surface soil flux sampling. flux sampling.

DOE RCSP Field DemonstrationsDOE RCSP Field Demonstrations


DOE RCSP Field DemonstrationsDOE RCSP Field Demonstrations

So What Have We Learned??So What Have We Learned??


Lesson #1: Injection Rates Can Lesson #1: Injection Rates Can Be HighBe High

Observations:Observations: Initial peak Initial peak injection rates for four injection rates for four projects are variable. Peak projects are variable. Peak injection rates in depleted injection rates in depleted coal seam reservoirs are quite coal seam reservoirs are quite promising.promising.

Project tonnes/daySWP 201.3 SECARB 52.3 PCOR 10.0 MGSC 1.5


Lesson #2: Injection Rates Decline Due Lesson #2: Injection Rates Decline Due to Coal Swelling and Pressurization of to Coal Swelling and Pressurization of the Reservoirthe Reservoir

Observations:Observations: While the interplay of reservoir While the interplay of reservoir pressurization and coal swelling can be difficult to pressurization and coal swelling can be difficult to separate without simulation tools and highseparate without simulation tools and high--resolution resolution reservoir data, the impact of these effects is apparent. reservoir data, the impact of these effects is apparent. Fortunately, longFortunately, long--term injection may be maintained, term injection may be maintained, albeit at a reduced rate, in an ECBM pattern flood albeit at a reduced rate, in an ECBM pattern flood environment as production wells will minimize impact environment as production wells will minimize impact of both reservoir pressurization and coal swelling.of both reservoir pressurization and coal swelling.


RCSP Coal Seam Injection DataRCSP Coal Seam Injection Data

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Lesson #3: Using Hydraulically Fractured Lesson #3: Using Hydraulically Fractured Wells as Injectors will Add Uncertainty to Wells as Injectors will Add Uncertainty to the Flow Profilethe Flow ProfileObservations:Observations: Areas that were previously hydraulicallyAreas that were previously hydraulicallyFractured to stimulate coalbed methane productionFractured to stimulate coalbed methane productionpresent challenges for COpresent challenges for CO22 injection. Experience frominjection. Experience fromthe SECARB Appalachian Coal Seam Test illustratesthe SECARB Appalachian Coal Seam Test illustratesthe issue:the issue:•• The induced fracture is more developed than The induced fracture is more developed than

anticipatedanticipated•• Both monitor wells responded to the COBoth monitor wells responded to the CO22 injection injection

immediately.immediately.•• Both monitor wells reached 99% COBoth monitor wells reached 99% CO22 in their in their

stream, with wellhead pressures corresponding to stream, with wellhead pressures corresponding to injection pressureinjection pressure

•• The injected tracer showed up in the gas streams at The injected tracer showed up in the gas streams at both monitor wells.both monitor wells.


Central Appalachian Coal Seam Central Appalachian Coal Seam TestTest

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Lesson #4: No News is Good Lesson #4: No News is Good News for MVANews for MVA

Observations: Various innovative as well as “tried and true” MVA technologies have been deployed and are being tested, including:

•Tilt meters•InSAR•CO2 production sensors•CO2 tracers (water and gas phases)•Soil flux monitoring•Time-lapse seismic

ObservationsObservations:: Various innovative as well as Various innovative as well as ““tried tried and trueand true”” MVA technologies have been deployed MVA technologies have been deployed and are being tested, including:and are being tested, including:

••Tilt metersTilt meters••InSARInSAR••COCO22 production sensorsproduction sensors••COCO22 tracers (water and gas phases)tracers (water and gas phases)••Soil flux monitoringSoil flux monitoring••TimeTime--lapse seismiclapse seismic


San Juan Basin Coal Seam Test San Juan Basin Coal Seam Test -- TiltTilt

•• No significant deformation in the area, verified by GPSNo significant deformation in the area, verified by GPS

NoteNote: positive : positive changes may be changes may be due to swelling of due to swelling of the coals and the coals and negative changes negative changes (subsidence) due (subsidence) due to hydrocarbon to hydrocarbon extraction extraction


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EPNG COM A 300SFC STATE COMEPNG COM A 300

Gas samplings were performed regularly in surrounding wells. Increase in N2 concentration was noticed in two wells.

San Juan Basin Coal Seam Test San Juan Basin Coal Seam Test --COCO2 2 SensorsSensors


Lesson #5: NLesson #5: N22 May be a Good May be a Good Indicator of COIndicator of CO2 2 BreakthroughBreakthrough

Observations:Observations: The The SWPSWP’’ss Pump Canyon test illustrates Pump Canyon test illustrates this phenomenon and its use in modeling the COthis phenomenon and its use in modeling the CO22

injection. An Ninjection. An N22 increase is observed in two offset increase is observed in two offset production wells, albeit later than predicted by the production wells, albeit later than predicted by the initial reservoir simulation. History matching is initial reservoir simulation. History matching is currently underway to understand this delay. currently underway to understand this delay.

10/24/07 01/04/08 04/30/08 07/28/08 09/11/08 11/13/08 02/25/09 05/20/09

N2% 0.051 0.039 0.147 0.078 0.448 2.020 1.724 1.512 CO2% 19.8 19.4 19.7 20.6 19.4 23.7 21.4 20.0 CH4% 75.9 78.9 76.3 78.0 76.7 72.1 73.7 74.8


ConclusionsConclusions

•• The theoretical potential for ECBM is vast The theoretical potential for ECBM is vast •• In reality, COIn reality, CO22--ECBM may have potential in highECBM may have potential in high--

permeability coals, economics may depend on COpermeability coals, economics may depend on CO22

prices/creditsprices/credits•• Multiple U.S. field demonstrations are generating Multiple U.S. field demonstrations are generating

interesting resultsinteresting results•• In high perm coals, injection rates are highIn high perm coals, injection rates are high•• Injectivity loss is proportional to initial permInjectivity loss is proportional to initial perm•• COCO22--ECBM in ECBM in hydrofrachydrofrac’’dd wells may be wells may be

complicatedcomplicated•• Multiple MVA technologies are being demonstratedMultiple MVA technologies are being demonstrated•• NN22 may act as a good indicator of COmay act as a good indicator of CO22

breakthroughbreakthrough


Are we Ready to Assess Are we Ready to Assess the Promise of ECBM?the Promise of ECBM?

•• COCO22--ECBM results to date indicate that large numbers ECBM results to date indicate that large numbers of injection wells may be required for economic of injection wells may be required for economic recovery recovery

•• However, these tests have been conducted using However, these tests have been conducted using either new or existing vertical wells where either new or existing vertical wells where pressurization appears to adversely impact injectivitypressurization appears to adversely impact injectivity

•• Innovative completions (i.e. Innovative completions (i.e. stimstim) may be required) may be required•• Different well types (Different well types (hzhz, multi, multi--lat, pinnate) to boost lat, pinnate) to boost

injectivity should be investigatedinjectivity should be investigated•• Not enough field data to confirm positive response in Not enough field data to confirm positive response in

gas recovery or validate modelsgas recovery or validate models

Documents

Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Coalbed Methane and Storage: Is ... 126627-PP_G Koperna_Final.pdfSoutheast Regional Carbon Sequestration Consortium (2) • The Central Appalachian test site