US Coal Bed Methane

1. COAL BEDMETHANE
INTRODUCTION
Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is a natural gas formed during the transformation of organic
material to coal in sedimentary horizons (coalification) and is comparatively a clean energy
source.
It is used for production of electricity, residential and commercial heating and as fuel
for automobiles.
In the United States, CBM has been used as an energy source since late 1970’s
when several restrictions on unconventional energy sources were removed.
The earliest commercial production of CBM began in the Black Warrior Basin of
Alabama in 1980 and rules were established for regulating CBM wells in 1983.
https://www.ogaanalytics.com/ Venkataramana Pillarisetty PhD

2. COAL BEDMETHANE
Uses
AUTOMOBILES
CBM used as fuel for automobiles.
HEATING
CBM used in domestic and
industrial heating.
POWER GENERATION
CBM used in power generation.
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3. MAJOR CBMBEARINGBASINSIN US
Shape file data source: https://www.eia.gov/.
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4. CBM RESERVE ESTIMATES
Potential Gas Committee 2006
RESERVES (Tcf) BASIN RESERVES (Tcf)BASIN
Pacific Basin
North Central Montana Basin
Williston
Bighorn Basin
Greater Green River Basin
Uinta + Piceance + Park Basins
1.2
0.5
0.8
2.5
2.6
5.5
Wind River Basin
Hanna-Carbon Basin
Denver Basin
Powder River Basin
Southwestern Utah Basin
6
6
0.3
4.2
18.5
2.7
BUDGET ACTUAL DIFFERENCEEXTERNAL FUNDING/OTHER
Cherokee Basin
Forest City Basin
Illinois Basin
Michigan Basin
Northern Appalachian Basin
Central Appalachian
6.1
7.6
0.01
10.6
2.8
2.4
Arkoma Basin
Southwestern Coal Region
Gulf Coast Basin
Alaska
Black Warrior Basin
Total
1.8
5.8
3.4
57
4.4
157.9
Raton Basin
Tcf : Trillion cubic feet
Data source: https://www.eia.gov/
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5. C B M R E S E R V E S
Potential Gas Committee 2006
BUDGET
GRAND TOTAL – – – –
CBMSedimentary Basins
BASIN NAME %
Alaska
Powder River Basin
Appalachian-Black Warrior-Michigan
San Juan
Hannah-Carbon
Forest City
35
11
11
5
4
4
CBMReserves (%)
Southwestern
Rockies Basin
Uinta-Piceance-Park Basin
Northern Rockies Basin
Cherokee-Arkoma Basins
Raton Basin
Illinois Basin
Gulf Coast Basin
Pacific Basin
4
3
3
3
3
3
5
2
2
Data source: https://www.eia.gov/.
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6. CBM PRODUCTION(1980 –2006)
San Juan Basin
States of New Mexico,
Colorado, Utah and Arizona.
Uinta Basin
States of Montana and
Wyoming
Black Warrior Basin
States of Alabama, Kansas
Mississippi
Raton Basin
States of Kentucky, Virginia
and Tennessee.
Central Appalachian
States of Colorado,
Powder River Basin
States of Colorado and New
Mexico.
Others
66%
12%
9%
4%4%
3%
2%
States of Illinois, Oklahoma
and Virginia, West Virginia.
Data source: https://www.eia.gov/.
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7. Major CBM producing states are Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, others
include West Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Utah, Kansas, Montana and Virginia.
From 2002, the production of CBM has decreased.
MAJOR CBMPRODUCINGSTATES
2002 to 2018
Data source: https://www.eia.gov/.
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8. La Plata and Las Animas are the major CBM producing counties in Colorado and account for
98% of the production. However, there has been a decline in production over the years.
CBM PRODUCTIONIN COLORADO
2002 to 2018
Data source: Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
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9. San Juan and Rio Arribia are the major CBM producing counties in
New Mexico. However, there has been a decline in production over
the years.
CBM PRODUCTIONIN NEWMEXICO
2002 to 2019
Data source: New Mexico Oil Conservation Division
CBM Wells in San Juan Basin, New Mexico
CBM Production Heatmap
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10. CBM production in Wyoming occurs
mostly in the Tertiary-Upper Cretaceous
coal bearing rocks of the Powder River
Basin. Johnson (63.5%), Campbell
(24.5%) and Sheridan (6.5%) counties
accounts for 94.5% of CBM production
in the State.
CBM PRODUCTIONIN WYOMING
2002 to 2018
Data source: Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission
CBM Wells in Wyoming
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11. CBM PRODUCTIONIN WEST VIRGINIA
2002 to 2017
Data source: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
CBM Wells in West Virginia
In West Virginia,
Wyoming (44.4%),
McDowell (28.4%),
Raleigh (9.1%) and
Barbour (8.7%) counties
account for90.7% of
CBM production in the
State.
CBM Production Heatmap
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12. CBM PRODUCTIONIN KANSAS
2002 to 2018
Data source: Kansas Geological Survey
CBM Wells in Kansas
CBM production in Kansas
has been from the
Pennsylvanian Coal beds of
Cherokee Basin. Neosho
(33%), Wilson (30%) .
Montgomery (26%) and
Labette (9%) counties
account for 98% of CBM
production in the state.
CBM Production Heatmap
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13. CBM production in Oklahoma has seen a decline from a high of 82 BCF in 2017.
CBM PRODUCTIONIN OKLAHOMA
2002 to 2018
Data source: Oklahoma Corporation Commission
CBM Wells in Oklahoma
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14. CBM PRODUCTIONIN UTAH
2002 to 2018
Data source: Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy
CBM Wells in Utah
CBM production in Utah
has been from the
Drunkards Wash (74%),
Helper (17.9%) and
Buzzard Bench (7.1%) gas
fields.
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15. CBM PRODUCTIONIN VIRGINIA
2002 to 2017
Data source: Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy
CBM Wells in Virginia
CBM accounts for 80% of gas produced in Virginia. Most of which comes from Oakwood,
Nora and Middle Ridge gas fields.
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16. CBM PRODUCTIONIN ALABAMA
2002 to 2018
Data source: State of Alabama Oil and Gas Board
CBM Wells in Alabama
In Alabama, Blue Creek, Brookwood, Oak Grove, Cedar Cove, White Oak and Deerlick
Creek gas fields account for 83.5% of CBM production.
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17. FUTURE OFCBM
EXPANSION
Depending on demand for CBM may propel the need
for future expansion.
TAX INCENTIVES
US Government provides tax incentives for CBM
exploration.
TECHNOLOGY
Few companies have the technology to exploit CBM.
CHALLENGES
Dewatering CBM wells consume time and money and
is a challenge.
DECLINE INPRODUCTION
CBM production in US saw a peak between 2004 to
2011 and has since steadily declined.
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