CRITICAL GAS CONTENT

TM

Understanding your reservoir

In a coalbed natural gas reservoir, methane is distributed
throughout the coal pore structure and the reservoir fluid.
The amounts of methane in the coal and in the fluid are
directly related, and are indicative of the partial pressure of
methane in the reservoir. The partial pressure of methane in a
reservoir is simply the portion of the reservoir pressure due
to methane gas. For a reservoir at equilibrium (i.e. that is not
being produced), the partial pressure of methane is uniform
throughout the reservoir.
The partial pressure of methane in the reservoir manifests in
both the coal and in the fluid. In the coal, the partial pressure
is equal to the pressure at which the coal will begin to desorb
gas, i.e. the critical desorption pressure.
Partial pressure is directly related to the amount of gas in the
coal, i.e. the gas content, as represented by an adsorption
isotherm. (Adsorption isotherms measure coal gas content as
a function of methane partial pressure. )

Total reservoir
pressure
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Methane Storage Capacity (scf/ton)

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Gas
content

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Critical
desorption
pressure

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0
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In reservoir fluid, partial pressure is

equal to the pressure at which
methane will begin to cavitate, i.e.
the bubble point.
When the hydrostatic pressure on a
coalbed reservoir is reduced to the
partial pressure, further pressure
reduction results in cavitation of
methane in the reservoir fluid and
desorption and production of gas
from the coal.

Pressure (psi)

Using standard fluid management techniques, reservoir fluid can be drawn into a wellbore and analyzed. By
analyzing the bubble point of that solution gas, WellDog accurately determines the partial
pressure of methane in the reservoir. Through that partial pressure, WellDog determines the critical
desorption pressure and, with an appropriate adsorption isotherm, the gas content of the coal.
With this information, WellDog calculates the in situ gas storage capacity, the initial degree of saturation, and
the percent recovery at abandonment.

1482 Commerce Drive, Suite T

Laramie, Wyoming 82070

Phone: (307) 721-8875

Fax: (307) 742-0943

www.welldog.com

2005 WellDog, Inc. WellDog is a registered trademark of WellDog, Inc.

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Laboratory simulations provide clear evidence

WellDog has extensively tested these relationships, and the measurements required to determine
them, in hundreds of simulated coal seams in the laboratory.
For example, WellDog recently prepared a series of simulated coal seams in the laboratory. Three
coals two sub-bituminous coals from the Powder River basin and an anthracite coal from Lykens
Valley, Pennsylvania were placed into high-pressure cells that contained methane and water and that
had been equipped with high-pressure windows to allow accurate Raman spectroscopy of the
samples.
When the coal seams reached
the critical desorption pressure
predicted by the WellDogs

Our researchers varied the gas content of each coal sample by adjusting the amount of methane
introduced into the cell. The simulated coal seams were allowed to reach equilibrium, then analyzed
for methane partial pressure using WellDogs detector. With that partial pressure, WellDog
calculated the critical desorption pressure at which each simulated coal seam would produce gas.

technology, gas production from

the coal was clearly observed.
Total reservoir pressure
Methane partial pressure

Pressure (psi)

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400

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Dewatering time

After analysis, the coal seams were dewatered by

gradual reduction of hydrostatic pressure. During
this dewatering, total reservoir pressure and methane
partial pressure were monitored. The resultant data
for one sub-bituminous coal seam is shown in the
graph above.
When the coal seams reached the critical desorption
pressures predicted by WellDogs technology, gas
production from the coal was clearly observed, and
recorded using photomicrography and video. A
representative photomicrograph is shown at right.

1482 Commerce Drive, Suite T

Laramie, Wyoming 82070

Photomicrograph of production gas devolving from a

sub-bituminous coal sample after depressurization
past the critical desorption pressure predicted by
WellDogs analysis.

Phone: (307) 721-8875

Fax: (307) 742-0943

www.welldog.com

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Field analysis
WellDogs patented, award-winning technology has been used to analyze solution gas levels, critical
desorption pressure, and gas content in about 100 coal seams in the field.
A plot of the critical desorption pressures determined for 56 wells completed in seven coal seams in
the Powder River basin is shown in the figure below. Typically, WellDog observes a high level of
variability in critical desorption pressure between coal seams and between locations in each coal seam
within a field.
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Critical desorption pressure (psi)

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C
C

DD

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Coal seam

Plot of critical desorption pressures measured for 56 single zone wells, completed in
seven different coal seams, in the Powder River basin. No coal seam exhibited
consistently high or low pressures. All coal seams exhibited a high degree of variability.

WellDog uses the methane partial pressure measured in a well to determine gas content of a coal seam.
For WellDogs basic service, the industry standard isotherm, published by the Bureau of Land
Management and reproduced below, is used. While this isotherm is not representative of many Powder
River basin sub-bituminous coals, it is an accepted benchmark.
100

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Gas content (scf/ton)

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WellDog also measures the total reservoir pressure. By comparing total reservoir pressure and critical
desorption pressure, you can learn how far your reservoir water level must be dropped in order to
induce gas production from your coal.

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Methane partial pressure (psi)

Synthesized graph of gas content as a function of methane partial pressure

for 41 Powder River basin sub-bituminous coals. Developed by the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management in 2001.

1482 Commerce Drive, Suite T

Laramie, Wyoming 82070

Phone: (307) 721-8875

Fax: (307) 742-0943

www.welldog.com

2005 WellDog, Inc. WellDog is a registered trademark of WellDog, Inc.

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A plot of gas content for those same 56 wells is shown below. Again, this variability between seams and
within each seam is typical.
50

Gas content (scf/ton)

40

30

20

You can target areas and seams

for development that meet your

10

economic requirements.
0
A

Coal seam

Plot of gas content measured for 56 single zone wells, completed in seven different coal seams, in
the Powder River basin. The results are consistently low due to systematic errors in the BLM
isotherm used. No coal seam exhibited consistently high or low gas content. All coal seams
exhibited a high degree of variability.

Gas content and total reservoir pressure can be plotted on an isotherm diagram in order to rank coal
seams, and areas within each coal seam, as illustrated in the figure below for a portion of the 56 wells.

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Seam B

Seam C

Seam D

Seam G

Gas content (scf/ton)

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Y
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X
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Reservoir pressure (psi)

Plot of gas content vs. total reservoir pressure for single zone wells tested in the Powder River basin. Different coal seam
completions are indicated by plot color. Point X indicates a coal seam that contains moderate levels of gas, but is near
production. Point Y indicates a coal seam that contains attractive levels of gas, but that is farther from production.

Using this information, you can target areas and seams for development that meet your economic
requirements. For example, in order to show gas production quickly, regardless of long-term production, you
would choose to complete and produce wells that are in areas of highly saturated coals, such as that
indicated by X on the diagram. In order to maximize long-term gas production, you would complete and
produce first those wells that are in areas of high gas content, such as those indicated by Y.

1482 Commerce Drive, Suite T

Laramie, Wyoming 82070

Phone: (307) 721-8875

Fax: (307) 742-0943

www.welldog.com

2005 WellDog, Inc. WellDog is a registered trademark of WellDog, Inc.

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You can perform a similar analysis using contour plots, as shown below.
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I am happy to announce that

your product has delivered
the goods when determining
the reservoir analysis on our
coal beds within the Powder
River Basin. Your technology
has been verified and has
corroborated our core
sample findings along with
our well production profiles.
Eric Koval, President Black
Diamond Energy Inc,

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Contour plot of gas content for 56 wells, in seven coal seams, as tested by WellDog in the
Powder River basin. Data is represented over a seven-by-eight section geographic area.
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Contour plot of initial gas saturation for 56 wells, in seven coal seams, as tested by WellDog
in the Powder River basin. Data is represented over a seven-by-eight section geographic
area.

By comparing contour plots for gas content and gas saturation, you can quickly identify geographic
regions that meet the economic goals of your development.

1482 Commerce Drive, Suite T

Laramie, Wyoming 82070

Phone: (307) 721-8875

Fax: (307) 742-0943

www.welldog.com

2005 WellDog, Inc. WellDog is a registered trademark of WellDog, Inc.