Logging and Log Analysis

Coal Seam Analysis

Section 5.2.4
2. Coal Seam Analysis—— Approach
(1) Core to Log Correlation (Mullen, 1989)
• To make the log analysis algorithms site-specific, the results should be compared to
the available core analysis and adjustments made to the algorithms as necessary.

Vash (%)
Vash (%)

• By high-resolution processing of the Spectral Density log, the core analysis is

averaged over an interval and compared with the high-resolution SDL bulk density log
averaged over the same interval.

2
Vash from core Fixed Carbon Content from core
 2. Coal Seam Analysis—— Approach
(2) Gas Content: Core Measurement vs. Log Calculation
Density Log —— Conventional Method (Mullen, 1989)
Density
Volume of Ash VASH = (ρ b − ρ coal ) (ρ ash − ρ coal ) From Density vs. Ash Content Regression Analysis

Fixed Carbon Volume VFC From FC vs. Ash Content Regression Analysis

Moisture Volume (VMOIS) From Moisture vs. Ash Content Regression Analysis

Volatile Matter Volume VVOL = 1 − (VASH + VFC + VMOIS )

Inorganic Content
⎧ ⎛ 1.8d ⎞⎫
VGAS = (1 − a − w) ⎨k o (0.095h ) − b⎜
Vw
Kim’s Equation (Modified) no
+ 11⎟⎬
Vd ⎩ ⎝ 100 ⎠⎭
Mullen Equation VGAS = 32.87 − 16.92 ρ b in cc/gm, where, ρb =bulk density

Langmuir’s Equation VGAS = (1 − a )VL p ( p + pL )

Mavor Equation VGAS = 18.77 − 23.47 (ρ b − ρ coal ) (ρ ash − ρ coal )

Gas Content

Disadvantages:
• Over dependent on a single log like density
• Variation in gas content caused by variation in inorganic component 3
• Poor relationship between density log and gas content in low ranking coals
2. Coal Seam Analysis—— Approach
(2) Gas Content: Core Measurement vs. Log Calculation
New Method (Bhanja, 2008)
Density (ρb) ‫ ן‬1/VGAS
Sonic (dt) ‫ ן‬VGAS
VGAS ∝dt/(ρb ×Pe ×GR)
Gamma Ray (GR) ‫ ן‬1/VGAS
Photoelectric effect (Pe) ‫ ן‬1/VGAS

Good curve-fit on Good curve-fit on 4

Composite No. C vs. Gas Content Composite No. C vs. Gas Content
2. Coal Seam Analysis—— Approach

(3) Productivity Analysis (Mullen, 1989)

• Productivity potential is calculated by measuring the maximum

SP deflection in the coal and multiplying it by the thickness of the
coalbed.
• Higher productivity potential areas should produce better than the
lower areas.

(4) Reserves Estimates

• Coal tonage per acre = Bulk Density (g/cm3) × Coalbed Thickness

×1358.68 coal tonage per acre/g/cm3
• Gas-In-Place = Gas Content ×coal tonage per acre

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2. Coal Seam Analysis—— Approach
(5) Permeability (A.Thomas Rozak, et al., 2002)
• Conventional logging tools cannot determine fracture porosity and permeability in
coals.
• LogFAC fracture detention software is a new geophysical log in interpretation
technology for detention of fractured and permeability coals.
• LogFAC software uses conventional well log data to calculate a volume of movable
fluid present in the coal’s natural fracture, or cleat, system, whereby a larger
moveable fluid volume infers greater permeability.

(6) Cleat Characteristics (Mohammad, et al., 2008)

• In 2008, Mohammad, et al. used full waveform sonic log with monopole and
flexural waveform and high resolution electrical image log data from CBM wells in
Jharkhand, India.
• Firstly, they used compressional and shear slowness variation and Stoneley
waveform transmission coefficient analysis to interpret the variation in cleat
density.
• Then cleat density is further validated from the fracture analysis using micro-
6
resistivity image logs.
Summary

7
(Mavor, et al., 1994)
 2. Coal Seam Analysis—— Field Practice in Jharia Basin
(John, 2003)
An example of proximate analysis and
coal rank determination from logs in
India.
In Track 1, the caliper indicates that the
hole is moderately washed out but still
smooth.
Track 2 shows good agreement
between the log-derived proximate
analysis, using the parameters given in
the table, and core-derived analysis.
Track 3 compares coal rank from logs,
after applying a vertical average, with
coal rank from core. Coal rank is
determined by the proportion of volatile
material in the dry, ash-free coal, using
the cutoffs shown.

High Resolution Photo

electric GR
Density Neutron Effect
Ash 2.75 0.05 12 400
Fixed
1.35 0.45 0.2 20
Carbon
Volatile
0.90 1.00 0.5 0
Matter 8
Moisture 1.00 1.00 0.5 0
Summary
• Most gas in coals is sorbed
• Coal rank and ash volume affect the
amount of gas in place
• Permeability is important.
ƒ If k is too high it is difficult to dewater
ƒ If k is too low, gas flow rates are too low
• It is important to look for fractures
• Coal deposition, such as thickness,
number of seams, location are needed
to design optimum completion 9