Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 31-46.doi: 10.11743/ogg20250103

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Play fairway mapping and strategies for efficient production of low-rank coalbed methane in the Surat block, Australia

Wenyuan HE1(), Wensong HUANG2(), Zehong CUI2, Lingli LIU2, Lijiang DUAN2, Yibo ZHAO3   

  1. 1.China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd. ,Beijing 100034,China
    2.Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development,PetroChina,Beijing 100083,China
    3.China University of Geosciences (Beijing),Beijing 100083,China
  • Received:2024-11-01 Revised:2025-01-03 Online:2025-02-28 Published:2025-03-03
  • Contact: Wensong HUANG E-mail:hewenyuan@cnpcint.com;hwshws6@petrochina.com.cn

Abstract:

The Surat block in Australia exhibits numerous thin coal seams (average thickness: 0.6 m) that are frequently interbedded with sandstones and mudstones, making it difficult to predict the occurrence locations and enrichment patterns of coalbed methane (CBM) in this block. With the progressive expansion toward deep CBM production, it is necessary to consider both CBM enrichment conditions and ground engineering layouts during deployment. To achieve large-scale commercial CBM production in the Surat block, we examine the essential characteristics of the major CBM reservoirs in the study area, and analyze the dominant factors governing the enrichment of low-rank CBM in these reservoirs, o which basis a comprehensive assessment system for play fairways based on three core parameters: producing interval thickness, gas content, and permeability is built. Using this assessment system, we map the play fairways of CBM. What’s more, a series of strategies for the efficient production of low-rank CBM in the study area are proposed while learning from China's successful experience in CBM production. For the prediction of gas content in coal seams, we introduce an innovative coal facies modeling process based on the probabilistic trend attribute of net-to-gross (NTG) ratios of coal phase, and a prediction process for in situ gas content in coal seams that integrates the trend of dry, ash-free gas content variation with burial depth, log data, and the data of core tests. Regarding well drilling and completion, a hybrid well placement scheme that combines vertical wells with cluster directional wells is proposed, and economic assessment parameters are adopted to optimize vertical-well spacing and the drilling pad spacing of cluster wells for CBM reservoirs at varying depths. In terms of gas production, comprehensively considering the production performance data and field pump inspection results, we propose a failure analysis process for screw pumps in vertical wells and optimize the design of lined oil tubing for deviated wells. Furthermore, the challenge of sand production is effectively addressed using jointly developed water-swellable packers. All these collectively enhance gas production efficiency. In respect of ground engineering, a ground facility arrangement workflow is developed in line with the concept of surface-subsurface integration. Additionally, we eliminate inefficient wells through optimization based on single-well net present value (NPV) and cumulative production. These technical strategies improve the internal rate of return (IRR) of projects, introducing new practices for large-scale CBM production in the Surat block.

Key words: low-rank coalbed methane (CBM), strategy for CBM production, play fairway mapping, gas content of coal seams, Walloon Subgroup, Middle Jurassic, Surat block, Australia

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