PROPOSED WELL HEAD COMPRESSION SYSTEM FOR

PRODUCTION OPTIMIZATION IN LOW PRESSURE CBM

WELLS
Rishiraj Goswami, Sariful Hassan Mehboob
Abstract

With the depletion of conventional energy resources and escalating energy needs, the focus has
greatly shifted towards unconventional energy sources. CBM (Coal Bed Methane) is one such
unconventional source of energy wherein the methane gas is produced to the surface by means of
dewatering achieved with the help of artificial lift systems. The dewatering process aids in the
removal of the hydrostatic head over the coal matrix and with time, the pressure in the coal
reservoir reaches the critical de adsorption pressure (CDP). At CDP, the process of deadsorption
of the methane gas from the coal matrix starts and this gas travels through the coal cleat system
and is ultimately produced at the surface through the casing tubing annulus.
Since the CBM wells are low pressure sub hydrostatic wells, they tend to produce in the
sub-critical flow regime. As such, any change in the downstream pressure tends to greatly affect
their production behavior. Any additional backpressure in the pipeline network due to the
presence of high producing nearby wells, liquid holdup in the connected pipelines or increase in
the Compressor suction pressure in the Gas Gathering stations with cause the pressure to be
directly imposed on the reservoir of these low producing wells and greatly impair production.
Hence, major challenges exist in the optimization of low producing wells connected to a closed
gas network.

In this manuscript, we have proposed the installation of a wellhead compression system in low
gas producing CBM wells. The set up consists of a knock out drum at the inlet (to eliminate the
free water) of a gas blower and an aftercooler after it to cool the temperature of the compressed
gas keeping in mind the structural integrity of the High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline
typically used in a CBM gas network. The setup is modeled in a commercial stimulation
software and validated using a typical CBM gas composition and equipment operating
conditions. Also sensitivity study is performed to extrapolate for various operating scenarios.

India has great potential for CBM with commercial production already underway at Raniganj
and Sohagpur coal blocks. Innovative technologies aimed at enhancing production will go a long
way in quenching the thirst for clean energy besides having a positive social impact with regards
to employment ,better opportunities and development of local industries in the vicinity of these
CBM projects.

Keywords: Coal Bed Methane, Production Enhancement, Social Benefit