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JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

CBM PRODUCTION, TROUBLESHOOTING,


TRANSPORTATION AND WATER MANAGEMENT
1
JEEDULA MEENU VIKAS, 2Mr.K.MANOJ, 3Mr. K.S. RAMBABU
1
M.Tech Student, 2,3Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
KAKINADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES, Ramachandrapuram

ABSTRACT  Natural cracks, sometimes known as


cleats, in coal. In coals, these
India, along with other nations, is fractures, known as face cleats and
frantically looking for alternative energy butt cleats, are common. Hydraulic
resources such as coal bed methane (CBM), fracturing, on the other hand, is
shale gas, and gas hydrate to satisfy the required to increase output in most
rapidly growing demand for energy and the coal reservoirs.
rapid depletion of traditional energy
 The gas storage mechanism in coal.
supplies. CBM is thought to be the most
While gas is trapped in the pore
feasible of the three. The next sections
spaces of ordinary rocks, it is
address the potential of CBM as a clean
adsorbed or adhered to the interior
energy source, the challenges associated in
surfaces of coal.
CBM manufacturing, and improved recovery
 The presence of significant amounts
methods.
of water in coal seams. To decrease
1. INTRODUCTION
reservoir pressure and liberate the
Coal bed methane is commercially gas, water must be constantly
generated in the United States, and it has pushed from coal seams.
sparked interest across the globe as a  Coal reservoirs have a low pressure.
possible supply of low-cost natural gas. To optimise gas flow, backpressure
Operators have adapted and used petroleum at the wellhead must be maintained
industry technologies to enhance the low. In addition, every gas generated
performance of their fields since the coal bed must be compressed before being
methane business began in the mid-1970s. sent to a sales pipeline.
Conventional oil and gas technology, on the  The low rates of gas flow from coal
other hand, does not necessarily work well reserves. To create a cost-effective
for generating coal bed methane. project, capital expenditures and
operational costs must be kept to a
 Because coal geology differs so minimum.
much from that of conventional gas
deposits, you'll need to adopt a Because of the particular features of
distinct strategy that considers: coalbed reservoirs, inefficiency will be
 The rock's chemical makeup. Coal is minimal. Successfully developing a coalbed
90% organic, while traditional gas methane field requires careful management
deposits are almost entirely of both the technical and financial elements
inorganic. of the project. The Rock Creek Methane
 Coal has a variety of mechanical from Multiple Coal Seams Completion
characteristics. Coal is brittle and Project was developed by Gas Research
prone to collapsing in the wellbore Institute (GRI) and Taurus Exploration, Inc.
because it is brittle and weak. to explore methods for commercially
generating coalbed methane resources. This

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JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

field study location is southwest of recommendations for developing coalbed


Birmingham, Alabama, in the Black Warrior methane resources have been developed as a
Basin. The main goal of this project, which result of the Rock Creek project and the
began in 1983, is to develop technologies for efforts of other operators in the Black
producing methane from shallow, thin Warrior Basin. In the Black Warrior Basin,
numerous coal seams utilising single vertical collaboration and open communication
wellbores at a lower cost. The goal of the Ile between operators and service firms were
project is to figure out the optimum mix of required to improve both fundamental
drilling, completing, stimulating, and knowledge and practical expertise in
operating methods for producing these wells generating methane from coal seams
cheaply. Many practical methods and
1.1 FORMATION OF COAL BED METHANE

1.2 formation of coal bed methane and generated water management are all
variables that affect production potential.
Because temperature rises beyond Natural fracture networks are the most
the most suitable range for bacteria, water is sought-after locations for CBM development
ejected, porosity diminishes, and biogenic in most countries. Natural fracturing occurs
methane production reduces as bituminous in areas where geological features and
types mature. Simultaneously, heat degrades localised faulting have developed, increasing
complex organic molecules, releasing the number of production paths inside the
methane and other heavier hydrocarbons coal seam. The cost of bringing producing
(ethane and higher). The thermal wells online is reduced because to natural
decomposition of coal may also produce fracturing.
inorganic gases.
Although most coals contain
1.2.1 CONTROLING FACTORS OF methane, it cannot be commercially
CBM generated without the presence of open
Fracture permeability, development, fractures that offer pathways for the
gas migration, coal migration, coal desorbed gas to move to the well. Methane
distribution, geologic structure, CBM stays trapped in the coal bed matrix as long
completion choices, hydrostatic pressure, as the pressure exerted by the water table is

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JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

higher than that exerted by the coal. Because For household water heating, tiny steam coal
water is typically saturated in coal cleats and (dry small steam nuts or DSSN) was utilised.
cracks, the hydrostatic pressure in the coal
seam must be reduced before the gas may The hardest, glossiest black coal,
move. anthracite, is mainly utilised for home and
commercial space heating. It's further split
1.2.2 COAL QUALITY into metamorphically altered bituminous
coal and "petrifield oil," which comes from
Under appropriate circumstances, Pennsylvania's reserves.
geological processes exert pressure on dead
biotic material over time, causing it to Graphite, the highest rank, is
metamorphose into: difficult to ignite and is seldom used as a
fuel; it is mainly utilised in pencils and as a
Peat, which is a predecessor to coal, lubricant in powder form.
is used as a fuel in certain parts of the world,
including Ireland and Finland. Peat is a very 1.2.3 COAL MATURATION
efficient absorber for gasoline and oil spills
on land and water in its dehydrated form. It's Coal is a carbon-rich rock formed
also utilised as a soil conditioner to help it from plant debris (peat) that collected in
hold and release water more slowly. wetlands and was then buried by natural
processes. As the plant material is buried
Lignite, often known as brown coal, deeper, it starts to coalize, releasing volatile
is the lowest rank of coal and is almost materials (water, carbon dioxide, light
entirely utilised to generate electricity. Jet is hydrocarbons, including methane) as it
a polished form of lignite that has been used transforms into coal. As coalification
as a decorative stone since the Upper progresses, it becomes more carbon-rich and
Palaeolithic. continues to release volatile materials.
Methane and other hydrocarbons are
Subbituminous coal, whose produced in coals as a result of thermal
characteristics vary from lignite to maturation, which begins around the sub-
bituminous coal, is mainly utilised as a bituminous “A” to high volatile bituminous
source of light aromatic hydrocarbons for “C” rank stage (see coal rank classification
the chemical synthesis sector and is chart), with amounts of methane produced
predominantly used as a fuel for seam increasing significantly throughout the
electric power production. medium to low volatile bituminous coal
Bituminous coal is a thick ranks.
sedimentary rock that is typically black, but The plains' shallow coals (e.g.,
may sometimes be dark brown, and has Ardley, Horsehose Canyon) have a low rank
distinct bands of brilliant and dull stuff. It's and have not produced significant amounts
mainly utilised as a fuel for steam electric of methane. Deeper coals (such as
power production, but it's also used for heat Mannville) have undergone more
and power in industry and to produce coke coalification (high rank) and have generated
in large amounts. and kept more methane than shallower coals.
Steam coal is a mixture of Methanogenic bacterial activity may
bituminous and anthracite coal that was have generated some coal bed methane
formerly extensively utilised as a locomotive (CBM). If the circumstances are right,
fuel. In this particular use, it is sometimes
referred to as "sea coal" in the United States.

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biogenic gas may be generated at any point methane (CBM) deposit. Several important
throughout the coalification process. best practises were integrated into a process
to evaluate the CBM potential of a variety of
Gas is held in coal as an adsorbed possible locations on a regular basis. Based
component on or within the coal matrix, as on accessible structural data, 3D static
well as as a free gas in the micropore models were created for each region. Coal
structure or cleats of a coal bed. Because characteristics like density and ash content
reservoir pressure holds the gas in place, were geo-statistically supplied into the
lowering the reservoir pressure enables gas models. Other characteristics that have been
to escape from the coal. established include gas content,
permeability, and Longmuir volume. To
1.2.4 FIXED CARBON
characterise the uncertainty in each
The fixed carbon content of coal correlation, an analysis of residual
refers to the carbon that remains after distribution between each correlation and its
volatile elements have been removed. data was utilised. Several options for
Because some carbon is lost in hydrocarbons reducing this uncertainty were explored.
with the volatiles, this varies from the final These varied from discrete trends to geo-
carbon of coal. Fixed carbon is a measure of statistical; property population applications.
how much coke can be extracted from a The impact of each on the predicted EUR
given quantity of coal. The volatility test, as was looked at. Production prototype
mentioned above, determines fixed carbon reservoir simulation models were developed
from the initial mass of the coal sample. and history matched. Because of the
complexity of the coal reservoir and the non-
1.2.5 TEMPERATURE GRADIENT uniqueness of the history match, further
work was done to capture the remaining
When a temperature gradient is
uncertainty and evaluate its effect on model
generated along the slag's penetration
output.
direction, the infiltration properties of
industrial coal slag into alumina (Al2O3) 1.4 COAL CLEAT ORIENTATION
refractory material are compared to those
obtained under near-isothermal Porosity is present in coal, although
circumstances. Experiments were carried out matrix permeability is low. Coal seams must
at a hot face temperature of 1450oC with a have a system of secondary permeability,
CO/CO2 ratio of 1.8, corresponding to an such as fractures, in order for fluids to be
oxygen partial pressure of 10-8 atm. The generated from them into a well-bore. Water
refractory that was exposed to a near and natural gas may move from matrix
isothermal temperature profile with higher porosity to the producing well via fractures.
average temperatures had a larger Cleat is a word used to describe the network
penetration depth than its counterpart that of natural cracks that develop in coal seams
was exposed to a steeper temperature when the coal matures. Cleats are formed as
gradient, which pooled and solidified on the a consequence of coal dehydration, local and
sample's surface. regional tensions, and overburden unloading.
Cleats regulate the directional permeability
1.3 MODELING OF COAL BED of coals, making them crucial for CBM
METHANE research via well location and spacing.
A successful development strategy
requires determining the possible range
recoverable quantities for a coal bed

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1.5 METHANE GAS MIGRATION when hydrostatic pressure is reduced by


water production. Gas desorbed and moved
The majority of gas in coal seams is into the cleats system, where it began to flow
absorbed by tiny laminations and micro towards the producing well. Faults may last
holes in coal macerals. Natural gas may also for many miles and are linked to geologic
migrate via more broad distributed fracture movement and structure. They can also be
sets linked to faults and tectonic jointing beneficial.

1.2 Coal maturity

2. LITERATURE SURVEY methane, which also received a federal tax


2.1 ITRODUCTION credit.

The venting of methane from coal CBM was identified as a significant


seams gave rise to coal bed methane. mining danger in the nineteenth century
Boreholes were bored into the seams of because the pressure of gases in coal seams
certain coal beds because they were known produced structural stress on mine beds,
to be "gassy" for a long time. In the late resulting in explosions and outbursts. These
1970s, the US federal government gave coal gases must be vented or controlled in order
bed methane a big push as a natural gas to manage this. However, because the
resource. While the government intended to severity of global warming is 25 times that
promote greater gas production, federal price of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period,
restrictions discouraged natural gas drilling the release of these gases into the
by maintaining natural gas prices below atmosphere added to the greenhouse effect
market levels. Research into a variety of (IFP engineers report 2008). CBM started to
unconventional gas sources, including coal be generated for use as a fuel from
bed methane, was sponsored by the US conventionally drilled wells in the late
Department of Energy. Federal pricing twentieth century, and it quickly established
restrictions were waived for coal bed itself as a major unconventional supply of
natural gas (Flores 1998).

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CBM is mostly made up of methane The major factors that sustain


and is comparable to other natural gas interest in CBM are
sources. To make it acceptable for storage
and transportation, it must be compressed or 1. Increased safety and productivity in coal
liquefied. Natural gas is expected to overtake mining operations
coal as the biggest source of energy 2. Potential for greenhouse gas reduction.
production in the United States by 2035,
according to the US Energy Information 3. Capture and storage of greenhouse gases.
Administration.
Co2 sequestration is referred to as
Gas is generated from both greenhouse gas capture and storage. This
conventional and unconventional sources to method, which involves injecting Co2 into
satisfy this need. Conventional gas deep coal, seems to be doubly appealing
production takes place in geological since it addresses the emission of this major
formations that are moderately porous and anthropogenic greenhouse gas while also
permeable, such as stand stone and improving CBM recovery.
carbonates. It is difficult to produce from
non-conventional deposits (e.g. CBM, shale Overall, CBM is a major energy
gas, tight gas, and gas hydrates). As gas source that is quickly expanding. According
demand grew and conventional gas supplies to the International Energy Agency (IEA),
dwindled, these non-conventional resources CBM accounted for 10% of natural gas
were initially tapped in the United States in output in the United States in 2008, 4% in
the 1970s. Legislative measures, such as the Canada, and 8% in Australia, and there has
elimination of wellhead price limits and been interest in CBM production in other
limitations on the use of gas for power nations with significant coal deposits, such
production, aided this. Incentives for the as India, China, Russia, and Indonesia
development of additional natural gas (Stevens 2010). In its 11th five-year plan,
sources are also available. By the 1990s, a China has designated CBM as one of 16
significant number of CBM wells would priority projects. Figure 1 shows the
have been established. worldwide CBM market volume by
application.

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JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

2.1 Coal bed methane utilization based on end- use application.

2.2 Coal bed methane occur in worldwide

2.2 Coal bed methane occur in worldwide

3 POTENTIAL COAL FIELD OF CBM ONGC early evaluation, are the most
promising coal resources in the Damodar
3.1 CBM potential in India valley. Most Indian coals are below the
248 billion tonnes of total coal resources threshold maturation level of 0.8 VRO,
making it unlikely that enough thermogenic
Nearly all of it comes from the Gondwana methane production would be present to
Basins. The coal deposits in the Damodar saturate the coal under reservoir conditions.
Valley account for half of this resource, Biogenic methane resource through active
making them a prime exploration target. 0.8 hydro-geological play, as shown in a few
to 1.5 TCM is the estimated CBM resource foreign basins with less than threshold
(different resources). Jharia, Bokaro, North maturity. If such conditions exist in any
Karanapur, and Raniganj, according to an Indian coal basin, they might prove promisin
COAL FIELDS OF INDIA AND THEIR CATEGORIZATION

Category I Gondwana coals ranking Jharia, Bokaro, Raniganj and


High volatile bituminous A North Karanapur coal fields.
and above
CategoryII Gondwana coals ranking South Karanapur, Raniganj,
High volatile bituminous A PenchKanhanandSohagpur coal
and below fields.
CategoryIII Low ranking Gondwana coals Talchir, Ib, Pranhita-Godavari
Valleylandwardha valley coal
field.
CategoryIV Tertiary coal/ Lignite Cambay, Biknaneer-Nagaaur,
Barmer, assam-Arakan,
Cauvery and Himalayan foot
Hills Basins.

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Table 3.1 Coal fields categorization in India

Methane from coal beds may be found nearly everywhere where there is coal. Although it
is seen as a hazardous nuisance in the mining business, it has the potential to serve as a plentiful
source of clean energy to assist replace other depleting hydrocarbon sources.

State Coal field Resources Proved reserves


Orissa Talcher 40869.47 12311.10
West Bengal Raniganj 25558.85 12877.90
Orissa Ib-rever 22364.11 5401.83
Jharkhand Jharia 19430.06 15077.57
Chattisgarh Mand-raigarh 19106.04 1953.88
Andhra Pradesh Godavari Valley 17714.46 8791.13
Jharkhand N. karanapur 15860.91 8077.77
Jharkhand Rajmahal 14275.91 2077.97
Madhya Pradesh Singrauil 13478.31 5002.52
Chattisgarh Korba 10115.21 4980.58
Jharkhand E.Bokaro 7067.47 4980.58
Jharkhand S.Karanapur 6036.79 2542.18
Maharashtra Wardha Valley 5669.63 2944.42
Jharkhand W.Bokaro 5004.99 3488.10
Chattisgarh Hasdo-arand 4972.96 1183.36
West Bengal Birbhum 4683.02 7985.40
Madhya Pradesh Sohagpur 4602.63 1688.54

Table 3.2mState wise coal field in India

4. OPERATING WELLS AND operational expertise in a specific coal bed


PRODUCTIONEQUIPMENT methane field. This chapter will guide you
ANDTRANSPORTATION through the process of creating successful
production strategies. It will guide you
4.1 INTRODUCTION through:

Some specific production methods are • Preparing Surface Facilities for Production
required while operating coal bed methane
wells and production equipment. These • Unloading the Well
methods were mainly acquired via trial and • Bringing the Well on Line
error as well as on-the-job observation. For
example, field experience at the project has • Troubleshooting Well and Equipment
shown that the way you return a well after Problems
stimulation may have a big impact on how
quickly it recovers. Similarly, the method 4.2 Preparing Surface Facilities for
you choose to pump a well down may have Production
an impact on its production. Learning to
After the well has been fractured and
identify and solve common production
flowed back, and the pumping unit has been
issues has also been proven to significantly
installed, ensure sure the surface facilities
decrease production downtime.
and collecting system are ready to accept the
You will definitely discover methods that well's output. Preventing hazardous
operate well in your region as you acquire operating conditions, environmental issues,

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and needless downtime to repair facility


problems may all be avoided by doing this
inspection before bringing the well online.  All flow valves between the
wellhead and the separation
 The different pieces of equipment equipment should be opened.
you'll need to inspect may differ  Make that all gas metering
significantly from one field to the equipment is operational and ready
next. This pre-production inspection to measure gas flow. Despite the fact
should cover not just equipment at that gas flow will likely be minimal
the wellhead, but also all at first, you should pressure test the
downstream lines and facilities such metre run or metering assembly to
as separators, metre runs, collecting ensure that no connections are
lines, drips, water treatment leaking.
facilities, and compressors,  Check orifice metres to ensure sure
regardless of the kind of equipment they have the right size orifice plate
utilised. Check the following criteria for the amount of gas being
before bringing wells online: measured.
 Ensure that all relevant federal,  Check to see whether chart recorders
state, and municipal safety and or turbine flow metres are correctly
environmental laws have been calibrated.
followed. You may also be needed  Check the gas compressor before
to inform local regulatory authorities allowing substantial gas flow to
of your intention to start producing commence to verify that it has
from the field. adequate capacity for the gas.
 Notify the gas buyer when you plan
to start delivering gas so they may Because of increased gas production from
make any required preparations or other wells or changes in suction and
changes. You should also double- discharge pressures, loading circumstances
check that the gas composition may have altered since the compressor was
meets the contract requirements with originally built.
the gas buyer.
4.3 Unloading the Well
 Ensure that all flow lines and pipes
are complete and correctly After verifying that the surface facilities are
connected to the relevant equipment. prepared for production, you are ready to
 If you're using separation vessels, unload the well fluid to a pit or holding tank
ensure sure the drain valve is shut and initiate gas production. Operators in
and the liquid dump valve is fitted generally use one of two methods to unload
and functioning correctly. coal bed methane wells:
 Depending on where you're
working, the kind of gas venting • Injecting Compressed Air or Nitrogen
equipment you'll require may vary.
• Pumping the Well Down
You may be required to exhaust gas
via a flare stack by certain state oil Injecting Compressed Air or Nitrogen
and gas regulatory bodies. Find out
about equipment regulations such as To unload wells and place them on
height and minimum distance from production as quickly as possible after
the wellhead by contacting your flowing back the fracture treatment, some
local regulatory authorities. coalbed methane operators inject

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compressed air or nitrogen into the wellbore. 2. Open the valve on the dump line.
By injecting air or nitrogen for a day or
more, operators can lift all the water out of a 3. Flow the produced water and gas into the
well, clean out any solid debris, and initiate separator.
gas flow rapidly. 4. Monitor the liquid level in the separator to
Though this method is quicker than pumping ensure that the size of the dump valve is
a well down, it could possibly damage the sufficient to discharge flow at maximum
coal formation. To prevent damage, you expected water flow rate.
should unload the well slowly. Lifting the
5. Continue to monitor the separator and
fluids with air or nitrogen can subject the well frequently during the early production
formation to a large pressure drawdown. time.
This drawdown could cause migration of
coal fines into the created fractures and 4.5 Troubleshooting Well and Equipment
significantly reduce the permeability of the Problems
fractures.
Because of the tight economic
Pumping the Well Down constraints of coal bed methane production,
your ability to quickly diagnose and correct
After flowing the well back following a operational problems is essential to success.
fracture treatment and cleaning out the well Though some of the problems may
to bottom, you can install the production troubleshoot and Equipment Problems be
tubing and down hole pump and begin
unique to coal bed methane, others are
pumping the well down. As you pump water common to most oilfield operations.
out of the well, the reservoir pressure drops
and methane starts to desorb, or detach itself, 5. TREATING AND DISPOSING
from the surfaces of the coal and flow into PRODUCED WATER
the wellbore.
5.1 Introduction
Unlike most conventional gas wells, when
you shut in coal bed methane well, you may The effective development of a coal bed
lose significant gas producing potential. methane plant hinges on the management of
When the well is shut in, water could generated water. Some companies have
encroach into the reservoir and raise the started projects and spent a lot of time and
reservoir pressure. Before gas production money digging and finishing wells, but they
will resume, this pressure must be reduced haven't been able to sell any gas because of
by once again pumping the well down. issues with producing water disposal.
Because water treatment and disposal may
4.4 Bringing the Well On Line account for a significant part of daily
operating expenses, poor planning of this
After you begin pumping the well operation might result in unanticipated
and fluids reach the surface, you are ready to expenditures, reducing the profitability of a
flow the well into the production facilities. project that would otherwise be lucrative.
The procedures below will help bring the
well on line: The nature of the generated water, the
treatment and disposal choices available, the
1. Adjust the rod linkage between the price of the different options, and the
separator’s float arm and float valve to regulatory requirements that control those
ensure the outlet valve closes at the bottom options are all factors that contribute to
of float travel.

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water disposal issues. Many water-related spacing. Characteristics of Methane-


issues may be avoided by conducting a Produced Water from Coal Beds.
geological and engineering assessment at the
start of the project. This chapter gives you an The pace at which water is removed from a
overview of the key topics to think about coal bed methane well is generally
when creating a strategy to manage determined by geologic characteristics,
generated water. formation permeability, completion
techniques, and pump size. Water output
• Coal Bed Methane Produced Water from a typical degasification well is
Characteristics typically higher at first and progressively
declines as the seam is dewatered. This
• Water Disposal Regulations and situation seems to apply to wells that
Permitting produce both large and low quantities of
• Designing a Water Disposal System water at first.

• Methods for Treating and Disposing Water of various quality and amounts is
Produced Water generated in tandem with methane gas. The
kind and depth of coal seams, however, have
5.2 Characteristics of Coal bed Methane the largest effect on the quality of generated
Produced Water waters. Deeper coal-produced waters seem
to be more mineralized than shallow coal-
Dewatering a well typically takes 1- produced waters, which are more likely to
30 days before gas starts to flow. However, have hydraulic linkages.
some wells may need to be pumped for
many weeks or months before methane The water quality generated by coal bed
begins to flow. Within the first month of a reservoirs varies greatly from one area to the
well's existence, water output typically drops next. The quality of the generated water is
by 70% to 90% of its original rate before similar to that of drinking water in certain
settling to a steady fall. This decrease places. The quantity of total dissolved solids
usually hits a plateau at some time and stays (TDS), which includes the concentration of
there for the remainder of the well's life. The chlorides, is the most important factor
time it takes to achieve a constant water flow affecting the quality of coal bed methane
is determined by the reservoir's size and well fluids. In the waters produced at the project
spacing. The longer the dewatering time, the site, total dissolved solids concentrations
bigger the reservoir and the greater the well vary from 500 to 27,000 mg/l.
Discharge Limitations

Water Characteristics

Water Characteristics Daily minimum Daily maximum Monthly average


Flow N/A monitor N/A
PH 6.0 9.0 N/A
Iron N/A 6.0mg/l 3.0mg/l
Manganese N/A 4.0mg/l 2.0mg/l
Chlorides(effluent) N/A monitor monitor
Dissolved oxygen 5.0mg/l N/A N/A

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BOD-5 N/A 45mg/l 30mg/l


Effluent toxicity testing quarterly
Conductivity N/A Continuous Continuous
monitoring monitoring
Chlorides(in stream) N/A 230mg/l N/A
Table 5.1

5.4 Considerations for Designing a Water 6. CBM PRODUCTION IN INDIA AND


Disposal System CONSUMING PLANT

To design an effective and 6.1 Introduction


economical water disposal system, you first
must consider the environmental regulations Essar's Raniganj (East) Block in
and permitting requirements for water West Bengal has achieved the 1 million
disposal in your area. Once you understand standard cubic metres per day production
these restrictions, you can begin evaluating milestone, making it India's first coal bed
the field criteria that will influence your methane asset. On Tuesday, it made the
selection of a treatment and disposal system. announcement in a statement. Essar is now
To design the system, you will need to know the country's biggest unconventional gas
or estimate these five parameters: company.

• Production start-up schedule The block is expected to produce 3


million standard cubic metres per day. The
• Water flow rates from each well known, probable, and potential gross coal
bed methane reserves in the Raniganj (East)
• Variations in flow rates over the life of the
Block are estimated to be 1.09 trillion cubic
project
feet, according to a 2016 study by
• Water quality Netherland Sewell & Associates Inc. The
Block is estimated to contain 270 billion
• Assimilative capacity of the discharge cubic feet of additional resources in the
stream or river 'contingent' category. Manish Maheshwari,
Essar's CEO of exploration and production,
Production Start-Up Schedule
said: "To turn reserves into production, we
The first step in determining field combined expertise with technology. The
disposal requirements is to prepare a average well productivity has more than
schedule of estimated production start-up doubled in the past year, the gas break-out
dates for each of the planned wells. This time in new wells has been lowered to days
schedule, which is based on drilling and rather than months, and the work-over cycle
completion schedules, will help you in has been cut in half. Win-win solutions have
estimating the total water rate over the life of emerged from our working partnership with
the field. The timing of initial well foreign service suppliers."
production can significantly influence the
amount of water that must be treated and Essar began supplying Matix
disposed at any given time. Fertilisers with 150,000 standard cubic
metres per day for pre-commissioning
operations. In addition to Matix, coal bed
methane is delivered to industrial customers

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JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

in Durgapur's catchment region. Gas prices


are set in accordance with a methodology
announced by the government in October
2014.

6.1 Raniganj CBM Field Development Project

6.2PROJECT DESCRIPTION compressor which shall be gas turbine


driven. The compressed CBM Gas shall then
Essar Oil Limited (EOL) is engaged be distributed to Matix Fertilizer plant /
in Coal bed Methane (CBM) exploration Kolkata – Haldiatrunkline.
work in Raniganj East CBM block awarded
under the first round of CBM policy in DESIGN DATA
Burdhwan District of West Bengal, covering
an area of about 500 Sq. km. The CBM gas data considered for this pipe
line project is furnished below:
EOL has carried out exploration
operations and CBM gas is currently being CBM Gas flow : 3 MMSCMD.
produced from the test wells drilled. Gas
CBM Gas Temperature (Compressor Outlet)
production from about 50 wells shall be : 60 Deg C
gathered at one Gas Gathering Station
(GGS) where the gas shall be metered and CBM Gas Max Operating Pressure
compressed for further transmission to (Compressor Outlet) : 60 bar g
desired destination. Exploration operations is
continuing and it is expected that several CBM Gas Design Pressure : 75 bar g
further wells will be added to the system in
Desired destination (Matix Fertilizer Plant)
fewyears.
pressure : 55 bar g
A 16” CBM trunkline laid from
Approximate pipe length between
GGS1 to Durgapur. From this line one tap-
off is taken for Central compressor station. Main Compression station to Matix
In Central compression station, the 3 Fertilizer Plant : 25 km (approx)
MMSCMD of CBM Gas is compressed from
10bar g to 60 bar g using a centrifugal CBM Gas Composition:

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JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

Comp Min Max Normal


Methane 85 98 94.5
Ethane 2 0 1
Propane 1 0 0.5
Butane 0 0 0
Nitrogen 7 0 2
CO2 5 2 2
Total 100 100 100
Molwt 18.84 16.6 17.12
Table 6.2

The following facilities shall be provided on existing PLC/DCS system for Matix
the pipe line network: Fertilizer Plant.

• The fire detection &fire fighting system of PIPE LINE SIZING


Central compressor station will be extended
to pig launching station. Pipeline sizing will be done
considering Central gas compressor station
• The fire detection &fire fighting system of discharge at 60 bar g pressure. The desired
Matix Fertilizer Plant will be extended to pig destination pressure in the battery limit of
receiving station. Matix fertilizer plant is 55 bar g.

• All instrument signals related to pig The line sizes have been selected
launcher shall connect to existing PLC/DCS such that the pressure in the battery limit of
system for central Matix fertilizer plant should not be below
desired pressure i.e. 55 bar g and the
Compressor station & instrument signals maximum velocity of gas in the pipeline
related to pig receiver shall connect to should be below 20 m/sec.

6.3 Gas liquid separation process in CBM field.

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6.4 Waste water treatment process in CBM field

6.5Gas Gathering Station in CBM field.

6.3 Matix Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. provides other pertinent details. The plant
will be able to achieve the design capacity in
6.3.1 Ammonia plant the whole range of CBM between the lean
This Process Description covers an and rich compositions.
ammonia plant being built for Matix In normal operation, 2,200 MTPD of
Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd, West Bengal, warm ammonia and 2,870 MTPD of CO2
India. The feedstock is coal bed methane products are exported to the urea plant. In
(CBM). The plant is designed with a name case of urea plant stoppage, ammonia
plate capacity of 2,200 MTPD of warm product is exported as cold ammonia liquid
ammonia. The ammonia plant design and at -33°C to offsite storage at atmospheric
performance estimates are based on the pressure.
design Coal Bed Methane composition
shown in the Process Design Basis which

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7. CONCLUSION low gas content. As a result, it is currently


not being considered for CBM extraction.
India’s energy scenario This area, however, may be considered in
1. India's economy is one of the the future for methane extraction utilising
world's fastest expanding. sophisticated technology and in an
emergency situation.
2. GDP growth is now at over 8%
and is expected to reach over 10% in the CO2 sequestration aids in the
near future. prevention of global warming while also
assisting in the recovery of methane gas
3. In order to eliminate poverty and from coal beds that would otherwise be
achieve the country's human development uncovered. For efficient and cost-effective
objective, this GDP growth is needed. coal bed methane generation, however,
extensive and rigorous research are needed.
4. A 34-fold increase in primary India, which has 4.6 TCM of coal-bed
energy demand is expected to maintain such methane reserves, may increase its per
development. capita energy demand by successfully using
CBM.
5. According to the Integrated
Energy Policy Document, the country's REFERENCES
overall energy needs will rise from 500
MTOe to 2000 MTOe by 2031–32.  Various of sources from internet viz.
Wikipedia and scholarly articles and
6. Efforts are being made to use all Google.
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non-renewable, coal-based extra, and so developments of CBM new source of
on—in order to satisfy this massive Tara's. natural gas environmental implications.
M/s Matix Fertilizers and Chemical  A journal on the development of the
Limited is a successful complete CBM- Indian coal bed methane resources.
based urea factory in India.  Essar oil limited exploration &
production division in Raniganj CBM
CBM technology is making Field Development Project.
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Vol 12, Issue4, 2021 www.jrmat.com Page No:343


JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

Fittings, ” API Spec 11AX, Seventh  Drottar, K.R., D.R. Mount, and S.J.
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 Burkett, W.C., R. McDaniel, and W.L.  Lee-Ryan, P.B., J.P. Fillo, J.T.Tallon,
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