A Review of Horizontal Drilling and Completion Techniques for Recovery of
Coalbed Methane Samuel O. Osisanya, The University of Oklahoma, SPE and Robert F. Schaffitzel, Texaco Exploration and Production Inc., SPE XW1- *- c #Polrdwm EngkOm,lnc. Thb~ua pmpuulfwpmnntdim atlhclSSS SPElnWmdlmulConbmnwM HwizoIIWWtilTuhndogy holdInCalguy,CMSOQ1S-20NOWMOW 1SSS. lhb~umuhcbdfwpm un tdion by MSPE~ CUmdm08fdlowlng mvicWOfinlOrnum onwntaln.dinanabdmct 8ubl?M0dbym0wm01@). COfl-of lhopapw,n~ hawnoab.m !8vknd bytheSUCMYof Mourn Englncum rndusubjwtta WnutlOnbyUmSum*s} rhommanal,w pmunbd, dOOsnot nu9c9uliy r04ktmypo81ti0n0fthOSOdotyotPdmkumEn#moa8, Itoof!lcamor ~. PwoMPMMt,d mSPEm&lmPam ,ubJocI to FNMcaSUImvimuby Edltwtd~ of * ~ of WtmlwmEngln..m. PmII18.ionto IXWYla ~tOm ~tin*In0mUUn300-. lllwlmdOIUmy notb8 COpkl. TWabdractshouldc antain c onaplc uws ~tOfti-mt~tic 4n mo PaPN- Pmunm. WItbUbmim-1, sPk P.o. Box SU.S3S,luchudwnpTx 7sOs3- 3s3s, W&A,* 01.214-9s2.9s3s. Abstract In the last few years the oil and gas indusby has been turned around with respect to gas production and availability. Clean burning and abundant natural gas resources have caused high demand, and because of the tax incentives, coalbed methane is a popular gas source. Coalbed reservoirs are much different from conventional natural gas reservoirs because drilling and completion considerations are not the same due to the rock properties. Horizontal wellbores are considered to be vesy effective in reservoirs that are relatively thin, naturally fi-actured, and anisotropic with regard to permeability. Coalbed reservoirs have all of these features. The concern today is how to get the gas out of the coalbeds in an economic manner. Coalbed cleat systems are made up of natural fractures, hence vertical wells drilled in the reservoir must be fractured. Horizontal well drilling and completion is an alternative technique to overcome low production as well as reservoir heterogeneities in coalbed reservoirs. Some authors have shown that a properly drilled and completed horizontal well can increase production by about seventy-five percent over that of a fractured vertical well. This paper discusses coalbed properties essential to the application of horizontal drilling and completion. Several techniques used to drill and complete horizontal wells in coalbed reservoirs are discussed and compared with each other to distinguish their application. Introduction The US Bureau of Mines has demonstrated that methane drainage by horizontal and directional boreholes is a safe and effective method of removing methane in advance of mining and of controlling methane emissions during mining-2. Horizontal holes were found to have the advantages of relatively low drilling costs and the ability to intersect the coalbed cleat or tlacturc system, thus increasing permeability to gas flow. Hydraulically stimulated vertical holes on the other hand had the disadvantages of requiring large numbers of surface sites, higher costs, and production and maintenance problems. The concept of directionally drilled degasification holes was originally considered by the Bureau of Mines as a means of combining the best elements of the surface vertical borehole and underground horizontal drilling techniques. In the past few years the oil and gas industry has been turned around to be called the gas and oil industry. The clean burning, easily accessible, and overly abundant natural gas resource has created a high demand. For many years, coal mines were degasified and most operators thought little of the value of the gas. But recent demand and tax incentives have made coalbed methane gas a popular item. It is believed there is a large amount of gas stored in coalbeds throughout the United States with current estimates of 400 trillion cubic feet of gas being stored in coalbeds (Fig. 1, Table lY. Todays concern is how to get the gas out of the coalbeds in an economical manner. Recovesy of gas from coalbeds occurs in the presence of the low porosity and very low permeability inherent to these beds. The permeability is made up of natural fractures which are am-anged in a cleat system. There are two cleat systems: the face cleat and the butt cleat. The face cleat is continuous throughout the reservoir and provides the largest permeability. Vertical wells drilled in the reservoir must be fractured to be in contact with the cleat system and maximize recovery. Coalbeds are much different than conventional natural gas reservoirs in that drilling and completion considerations are not the same due to the unique coalbed propetiies. Drilling vestical wells in coalbeds has become a very simple process in Alabarn% 2 A REVIEW OF HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND COMPLETION TECHNIQUES FOR RECOVERY OF COALBED METHANE SPE 37131 Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Improvements in vertical well applications to coalbeds in the past few years have been centered on completion techniques. It has been shown that a vertical unli-actured well in a coalbed is difllcult to justify economicall~. However, with the help of hydraulic fracturing a vertical well can become economically feasible, Fig. 24. The use of a horizontal wellbore, however, allows control of the direction, so that the borehole can intersect the face cleat at right angles. The objective of this paper is to review the various horizontal drilling and completion techniques being used for the recovery of coalbed methane. Firs! a discussion of coalbed properties essential to drilling and completion of horizontal wells in coalbeds is discussed. The various techniques used are discussed and compared to one another. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques are enumerated. Characteristic Properties of Coalbeds Essential to Horizontal Drilling and Completion The properties of a coalbed essential to evaluate its drilling and completion are dual-porosity, permeability, gas adsorption, stratigraphy, bottom-hole pressure, and water production. Dual-porosity: One of the most important properties of the coalbeds is dual-porosity which is described by the macropore and micropore structures. With this type of porosity, the gas is held in the reservoir in three possible ways: (I) as adsorbed methane molecules on the surface of micropores, (2) as free gas within the fracture of the pores, and (3) as dissolved gas in the formation wate?. The fmt of the three, the adsorbed methane, is the primary source of the gas volume. The free gas that is contained in the natural fractures is a very small portion of the volume, and the ilactures themselves are known as the cleat system. The cleat system is the network of primary flow channels that provides the permeability of the coalbeds. This system consists of a butt cleat and a face cleat where the butt and face cleat systems are orthogonal to each other. Permeability: Formation permeability is the critical parameter that controls production. The primary concern of the completion engineer is to devise a completion method that will etllciently connect the coal cleat system to the wellbore. Many coalbed reservoirs simply do not have enough permeability to produce gas at economic flow rates. In order to obtain the best estimate of formation permeability in a specific coalbed reservoir, well tests, core analysis, and production data must be conducted, gathered, and analyzed. If the permeability is not above a certain critical value, then the coalbed may not be an economical reservoir. Thus, in many cases, hydraulic fracturing treatments serve to create a pathway that will comect the coal cleat system to the wellbore. If the permeability in a particular coalbed is too high, the coalbed cannot be properly de-watered, In cekin high permeability coalbeds that are connected to strong aquifers, it may be impractical to produce water at the high rates necessary to effectively drawdown the reservoir so that desorption can occur. Since the gas flow rate in coalbeds increases in a non-linear manner as pressure decreases and in order to obtain high gas flow rates (maximum gas desorption), the bottom hole pressure must be minimized. In general, the explorationist should look for coalbeds with permeabilities between lmd and 100 md$. In that permeability range, the pressure can be reduced enough to begin gas desorption and still have the high permeability necessary to flow gas at commercial flow rates. In coalbeds, permeability is a function of the effective stress6. The effective stress is the total stress minus the seam fluid pressure. Reducing the fluid pressure tends to C1OSCthe coalbed cleats thus reducing permeability. The permeability of coalbeds may be directionally-controlled by predominant cleat sets. The cleat spacing varies over a wide mnge, horn a few millimeters to tens of meters. Therefore, the coalbed is a fractured system with anisotropic low permeability. Permeability variations brought about by variations in fluid pressures will be anisotropic, depending on the nature, frequency, and direction of the cleats6. Such opening and closing of the cleats is also likely to change the phase permeabilities and capillary pressures within the coal. Gas Adsorption: Another important parameter of a coalbed is the amount of gas that is adsorbed to the surface of the coal. The volume of adsorbed gas must be determined by cutting a core and running gas content experiments with the core. This information is critical for completion optimimtion of a horizontal well in a coalbed, especially in new exploration areas. With the dual-porosity, there must be a primary and secondary porosity. The primary porosity is considered to be the micropore system. It is assumed that the micropore system openings are not accessible by water and this system contributes the largest portion of storage for the gas. The gas in the micropore system is stored as free gas and adsorbed gas. It has been shown that coalbed can store as much as 2000 SCF of methane per ton of coal by means of adscnptiorf. It is also assumed that virgin coalbeds are filly saturated with water and the volume of free gas in the micropore system is negligible compared to the amount of gas adsorbed. Stratigraphy of Coalbeds: The coalbed should be continuous over the drilling area and be free of faults and rolls so that horizontal holes may be more easily kept in the coalbed. It is also desirable for the horizontal holes to be drilled perpendicular to the face cleat to maximize gas production. Horizontal drilling in a specific coal bed is based on analysis of mined-out areas of the coalbed where the size, shape, orientation, and distribution of discontinuities are known. A more complete geologic evaluation of drill sites, to include the drilling of a core hole at the proposed initial coalbed intercept is essential to coalbed drilling. The core hole would confum the thickness and exact elevation of the coal for accumte drill path projections. In most coalbed reservoirs, SPE 37131 SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND ROBERT F. SCHAFFITZEL 3 hydraulic fracturing must be used to stimulate production. However, in certain basins, several thin coalbeds that spread over several hundred feet may be encountered. For such coalbeds, it may be diflicult to create long, propped fractures. Also, under certain well conditions there may be problems with diversion of the fracture treatments. Bottom-hole pressure and water production: As the coalbed reservoir is penetrated and completed, it is possible to produce water and reduce the reservoir pressure. This pressure reduction allows the adsorbed gas to desorb from the micropore system and diffhse to the macropore system. With the increase in desorption, the five gas within the fracture network increases. Once the gas has diffused through the coal matrix, it may then migrate through the cleat system to the wellbore. Dewatering of a coalbed is essential for efficient and effective degasification. Vertical dewatering is presently considered the best method to accomplish this task in a directionally drilled degasification system. Horizontal Drilling Options And Strstegy Horizontal wellbores were considered to be very effective in reservoirs which were: (I) relatively thin; (2) naturaily fractured; and (3) known to have anisotropic permeability. Knowiedge of just these properties can iead to the use of horizontal wellbores in coalbeds. Coalbeds were ve~ seldom found that are greater than 100 ft in thickness and are cioser to the 30 fl average. Natural ffactures are the basis of the coai matrix and offer an ideal opportunity for a horizontal borehole. Another consideration was the anisotropic permeability of the thin coaibeds. Coalbeds appear to be the perfect formation for a horizontal wellbore, but there are other considerations to look at prior to making a decision. Several core samples should be tested to determine the minimum and maximum stress directions and determine how weak and fkiable the coal is. This information is needed to determine if the coal will be stable enough in the lateral section. The core samples should also be tested to determine the criticai range of driliing fluid weight required to maintain horizontal weilbore stability. After the horizontal weilbore has been drilied, it is common to use a siotted liner in the wellbore to maintain stability for testing or production. Current horizontal drilling techniques are used to drili horizontal wellbores in coaibeds. The most commonly employed technique is the medium radius using the speciaily designed mud motors. With the medium radius technique, the original objective of drilling perpendicular to the face cleat, or the greatest permeability, can be controlled and monitored whiie driihng with MWD techniques. One consideration in drilling the coalbeds is that the curve section must be built prior to the entry of the coalbed due to the low rock strength in the coal. Rotary Drilling Technique: Verticai bit trajectory is maintained by varying combinations of bit rotation, thrust, and placement of centralizers on the driil string. Strategic placement of centralizers on the drill string results in a force being applied vertically on the drill big which determines the direction the driil bit wiii cut. The most effective drili string configuration is generaily determined by triai and error causing a loss in chili time. The primary objective during rotary drilling is to maintain bit trajectory within the coalbed by keeping bit inclination to within 1 of coalbed dip. Short- collared drilling assemblies have been used successflily to drill the Beckley coalbed compared to the iong-colhsred assemblies. The configurations of the short-collared assemblies, ailow gravity to act and make these assemblies drili either upward or downward. This predictable behavior makes them usefhi in the controi drilling technique, where certain short-coihred assemblies are used to make large changes in the vertical trajectory of the hole. Figure 3 shows various rotary driil string configurations. IrI general, it has been obsemed that a fiiabie coalbed is very soft and that the overbreak of the hole can cause the trajectory to iower unpredictably. The strategy which was adapted for a relatively thin undulating coalbed was to let the assemblies drill to the roof or floor rock and make them deflect or bounce along the rock contact in coal. Vertical surveys, which are made with the downhoie surveying instrument are used in control drilling to monitor hole inclination so that bit trajectory can be maintained parallel to the bedding plane. This impiies that direction and dip of the coalbed bedding plane must be known. Holes driiied in coalbed or against the floor rock tend to arc to the right because of right-hand bit rotation. Generally, the left-hand trajectories are smaller than right-hand ones. Holes that arc to the left apparently only occur because of deflection of the bit off coalbed inclusions or the roof rock. Hence, because of bit rotation, left-hand trajectories are much less frequent, and usually iess in magnitude than right-hand trajectories. Long coalbed methane drainage hoies have been drilled with substituted short-collared assemblies for the iong- collared assembly normally used to rotary driil horizontal hoies. These assemblies drilled wideiy arcing hoies aiong the roof or floor rock, depending on their configuration, but never left the coaibed. Simple adjustments to the drilling parameters made deflections of the bit that foliowed the contact easier. Drilling along the contacts was abetted by the presence of shaley roof and floor rock, the fliabie nature of the coalbed, and by using a dulled drag bit. This strategy might have application to other sofi coalbeds with similar geology. Downhoie Motor Drilling Teehnique: Downhole motor driliing of horizontal boreholes for methane drainage in coal offered many advantages compared with rotary driiling. Inherently, driliing productivity was observed to be greater with downhoie motor drilling because it was not necessary to pull the drill string out of the borehoie to change borehole direction or to sidetrack. Figure 4 shows the major components of a typical downhole motor. The downhole assembly is used to maintain horizontal borehoie trajectory. 4 A REVIEW OF HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND COMPLETION TECHNIQUES FOR RECOVERY OF COALBED METHANE SPE 37131 Drilling Program Most horizontal drilling techniques for coaIbed methane were developed from the mining industry based on modified directional drilling techniques developed for crude petroleum. The general technique used in drilling a horizontal well through a coalbed is to first drill a vertical pilot hole to certain depth above the coalbed. This depth depends on whether the drilling technique is short-radius or medium-radius, The vertical hole is then reamed to the actual hole size. Casing is then set and cemented before drilling the horizontal hole. A typical hole size/casing configuration for the pilot hole is 3 in pilot hole reamed to 8-3/4 in hole in which a 5-3/4 in casing is set. Usually the casing is set through the curved section. The horizontal hole is then drilled using a 2-3/8 in diameter dyna- drill downhole motor and a 3-inch diameter diamond drill bit. The size of the horizontal wellbore is based on the casing program rather the reverse. A carefid hole size and casing configuration eliminates problems such as insufficient tubing size which prevents effective dewatering the coalbed reservoir and limits the ultimate recovery of methane. Also, insufficient casing size limits the injection rate needed for effective fracture treatment, and causes ineffective drilled cutting removal. Control of the pilot hole is accomplished by the use of 3/4 and 1/2 bent housing (with or without standoff rings) on the dyna-drill motor. Azimuth is controlled by rotation of the tool face. The smaller diameter horizontal holes cidled in coal tlom within mines, have consistently been found to stay open for a long time, except when drilled in stressed zones near mine openings. In some cases these horizontal holes were ddled to follow the regional dip of the coalbed to prevent caving. Drilling parameters which include pump pressure, mud volume pumped, penetration rates, and pulldown pressure are recorded using a geolograph. Mud and Hydraulic Programs: Water-based mud systems are generally used. On one occasion, two types of low-solids polymer mud systems (Dexrid and XC-polymer) were used. One to prevent fluid loss and the other to provide gel strength and aid in removal of drill cuttings9. In order to slow down fluid loss, such additives as cottonseed hulls, cellophane flakes, and ground walnut shells are added to the mud systems. Attempts have been made also to treat the lost- circulation problem with cement and later with gunk squeezes. The gunk squeezes were observed to be diflicult to drill through by the dyna-drill motor. It was found that irr horizontal drilling, some type of drilling fluid additives were required for removal of cuttings and higher flow rates than can reasonably be run through the dyna-drill were required for cleaning the hole. It was recommended that a bypass valve capable of delivering 25 to 30 gallons per minute to the dyna- drill at differential pressures of 500 to 700 psi and bypassing an additional 60 gallons per minute be used to improve cuttings removal. Air/mist drilhtg fluids have been used in some areas. These fluids provided required circulation velocity and also prevented hole erosion and enlargement. Bits: In general diamond bits were used for all of the ddling operations irr coalbeds. In particular the 3-in diameter diamond deep cone bit was found to be very effective for horizontal drilling and allowed rapid sidetracking. The diamond bits were more efficient because of their long life and lower overall cost, due to their high salvage value. Testing of tricone bits or hole openers for reaming work was also found to be worthwhile since the diamond reaming bits were observed to be inefficient and expensive. A drag bit was recommended for drilling coalbed because of its penetration rate and its usefulness for contact drilling. In contact drilling, a worn stepped drag bh was recommended because it has lost some of its ability to penetrate floor or roof rock and is still able to drill coal. The same success could be achieved by dulling a drag bit in the shop before putting it into service. Specially designed tri-con~ bits used in the oil and gas industry were also found to be applicable for rotary drilhng of horizontal wellbore. However, they are more susceptible to corrosion if drilling with aidmist drilling fluid. Borehole Trajectory and SuNey Techniques: In general, the boreholes exhibited arcing in the right-hand or clockwise direction, as have the majority of previously rotary drilled boreholes. A single-shot survey instrument was generally used to determine borehole inclination during rotary drilling. The magnetic single-shot survey instrument was also used to determine inclination, bearing, and tool face direction during drilling with the in-hole motor. Problems: Most of the drilling problems encountered were usually mechanical in nature and involved directional control. Mechanical problems included rig, dyna-drill, and mud pump breakdowns. In some cases, problems in maintaining the proper well path required setting plug backs and redrills prior to the fwt intercept of the coalbed. Other specific problems were caving of the holes drilled in shale and depth correlation between the horizontal well bores and the vertical holes. In the former case, if the shale formation was near the bottom of the casing, recentering of the holes was likely to be difficult. Correlation was diflicult because the accumcy of most well surveying equipment is at best * 2 to 3 t? vertically at the measured depth and many coalbeds are irr the range of 3 to 10 tt in thickness. In addition, experience with survey data fi-om several directional holes indicated that the vertical depths shown by the survey were usually deeper than the actual vertical depth of the holes. This made correlation with the vertical hole dlfflcult. Indication of coal tops obtained horn dyna-drill drilling rate changes and horn cuttings was also likely to be misleading, especially when drilling nearly horizontally across a formation. This problem was solved by drilling the well into it or even completely through it. The new geosteering tool can now be used to eliminate this probleml 1. SPE 37131 SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND ROBERT F. SCHAFFITZEL 5 Completion Options And Strategy The methods for completing horizontal coalbed wells have evolved fkom completion experience with vertical coalbed wells and conventional oil and gas wells. However, these methods must be modified to accommodate the unique properties of coalbed reservoirs. In order to successfidly complete a horizontal wellbore in a coalbed reservoir there are a few properties of coal that must be understood. Some of the major properties are: (1) the coal cleat system must be effectively connected to the wellbore, (2) the coalbed must be dewatered before gas production can occur, and (3) the well should be produced at minimum bottomhole pressure to maximize gas desorption12. The strategy concerning which completion method to choose for a particular well depends upon the stratigraphy of the coal reservoirs, the depth to the coal, the permeability in the coal, in-situ stresses, the amount of coal frees that are expected to be produced, and the problems associated with lifting and disposing of water that is produced tlom the coalbeds. The three completion techniques that have been commonly used for coalbed reservoirs are open-hole completion method, a stable cavity completion method, and a perforated casing completion methods, Fig. 5-. Open-hole Completion Method: Initially vertical coalbed wells were completed openhole during which the casings were set and cemented above the coal formation to prevent damage to the formation. This method allowed wellbore contact with the cleat system of the formation. This method also was determined to be troublesome due to the extensive cleaning required as a consequence of coal sloughing. The open hole can further be divided into true open-hole, slotted or pre-perforated hner/casing or segmented uncemented liner/casing completion. Generally, an uncemented completion was used when a completion with little or no stimulation was anticipated. True open-hole completions were generally used in medium to high permeability competent coalbeds with little water. No effective production control can be obtained with open holes or slotted liner completions. The advantages of true open hole completions were low cost, no production loss, and providing superior injection with the least flow resistance, with no effective control of flow into the appropriate zones. Pseudo open-hole perforated or slotted liner completions can be used to protect the borehole from collapse. The slotted liner provided a convenient method of maintaining a flow through the zone as well as the ability to keep the hole open. Limited frees control was achieved by choosing appropriate dimensions of slots and drilled holes. However, the liners were susceptible to plugging. Stable Cavity: In this method, a cavity was created by jetting the well with gas over a long period of time until coal frees were no longer being circulated from the well. This method was generally recommended for a thick coalbed with permeability greater than 50 md. That is, if high permeability, geopressured, thick coalbeds were encountered, one may select the stable cavity completion as the optimum method for a particular well. That choice will be highly dependent on factors involved with jetting out the well and disposing the fluids. To complete a well properly, data must be obtained and the completion must be properly designed. The San Juan Basin has had the best results with the cavity completion techniqut?3-lb. Here, casing was set above the main coal target, then the coalbeds were jetted from the well until a stable cavity was created. Normally, a slotted liner was run in the well. The cavity completion technique creates a cavity with a radius of up to five feet in some wells. San Juan wells with the cavity completions have produced, on average, ten times more gas than the hydraulic fractured wells~ Other operators have tried this technique outside San Juan coalbeds and have found that they were not as successful. With the open cavity, there was the long-term concern of stability. There was also a problem with the production of coal frees which carmot drop to the rathole (or sump) below the lowest target zone. The cavity appeared to be more successfid in the San Juan because of its localized coalbed properties. The reservoir was over-pressured and the permeability was high. These were likely to be the properties responsible for the success. The reason that cavity completions appeared to be more successful seems to be that the cavity enhanced the permeability around the wellbore by (1) a tensile fhcture induced during air/water irjection phases, and (2) shear failure zones induced during blow-down phases of the cavitation process, Fig. 6. Perforated Casing: Due to the sloughing problem during open-hole and stable cavity completions, operators began using perforated cemented casing. This was the premium completion approach. Implicit in the decision to case and cement was a commitment to perforate and stimulate the well. This was a very expensive completion, Early wells had problems due to low strength casing and improper fluid and cements which created large amounts of formation damage. Hydraulic fracturing was required in both of the above scenarios. The openhole completion technique did not prove acceptable for hydraulic ti-acturing techniques. The perforated casings were too weak at fmt to complete a successful fracture job. Operators soon created casing strong enough to withstand the pressures associated with the hydraulic fractures. Today, hydraulic fracture jobs are done in the cased holes with great success. Problems such as the creation of a complex fracture network near the bore-hole, the creation of coal frees that may block portions of the fracture, high poroelastic effects, and slip at the fi-acture tip, can cause the magnitude of the tiacture propagation pressure to increase substantially. Table 2 shows a summary of drilling and completion techniques used in some coalbed basins. Table 3 shows some advantages and disadvantages of the various completion techniques. Hydraulic Fracturing in Coalbeds In the SanJuan coalbeds, the cavity technique has been proven to be the most prolific technique used, while in most other areas hydraulic fracturing still remains the best. Hydraulic bxturing for coalbeds has been under study for a great amount of time 6 A REVIEW OF HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND COMPLETION TECHNIQUES FOR RECOVERY OF COALBED METHANE SPE 37131 and much improvement has been made. Hydraulic fracturing requires that the horizontal well be cased and cemented for best results. The concept behind the fiacturirtg is to create a flow path perpendicular to the greatest permeability, the face cleat. With this objective in mind, studies are done on the coalbed to determine the maximum and minimum stresses and other rock properties. With the determination of the direction of the face cleat, the casing can be perforated so that the fractures will be propagated perpendicular to the face cleat. This approach is the best possible scenario for horizontal coalbed wells with low and anisotropic permeabilities. The horizontal wellbore then will penetrate the reservoir perpendicuhrto the face cleat and can be propagated further, Fig. 7. A horizontal well drilled normal to the maximum horizontal stresses will benefit from the maximum horizontal permeability. It has been shown through simulation that a properly drilled and completed horizontal well may increase production by 75 0/0 over that of a fkactured vertical well, Fig,8S. Conclusions Based upon the review of the literature, the following conclusions are presented. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Horizontal well drilling and completion is an alternative technique to overcome low production as well as reservoir heterogeneities in coalbed reservoirs. Horizontal wellbores are very effective in coalbed reservoirs which are relatively thin, naturally ti-actured, and exhibit anisotropic permeability. Most horizontal drilling techniques for coalbed methane were developed from the mining industry based on modified directional drilling techniques developed for crude petroleum. The general technique used in drilling horizontal well through a coalbed is to fnt cldl a vertical pilot hole to certain depth above the coalbed. This depth depends on the ddlirtg technique whether short-radius or medium-radius. Core samples are taken and tested in the pilot hole to determine the critical range of drilling fluid weight required to maintain horizontal wellbore stability. The most commonly used technique is the medium radius using the specially designed mud motors. With the medium radius technique, the original objective of drilling perpendicularto the face cleat, or the greatest permeability, can be controlled and monitored while drilling with MWD techniques. Downhole motor drilling of horizontal boreholes for methane drainage in coalbeds offers mmy advantages compared with rotary drMng. Inherently, drilling productivity is observed to be greater with downhole motor drilling because it is not necessary to pull the drill string out of the borehole to change borehole direction or to sidetrack. The size of the horizontal wellbore must be based on casing program rather the reverse. A caretlrl hole size and casing configuration eliminates problems such as insufficient tubing and casing size, and ineffective drilled cutting removal. 6. The methods for completing horizontal coalbed wells have evolved from completion experience with vertical coalbed wells and conventional oil and gas wells. However, these methods must be modified to accommodate the unique properties of coalbed reservoirs. 7. The three completion techniques that have been commonly used for coalbed reservoirs are open-hole completion method, a stable cavity completion method, and a perforated casirtg completion method. 8. The properties of a coalbed essential to its completion are dual-porosity, permeability, gas adsorption, stratigraphy, bottom-hole pressure, and water production. Core samples should be taken and tested to determine the minimum and maximum stress directions and determine how weak and friable the coal is. This information is needed to determine if the coal will be stable enough in the lateral section. Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledged the editing and suggestions of Elise StriL the typing skills of Hyun Cho and Kayode Aremu. Financial support from School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, The University of Oklahoma and NSF through the NSF Faculty Career Award Grant made possible the research and preparation time for this work. References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Deul, M. and Cervik, J.: Methane Drainage in the Pittsburgh Coalbed; Paper presented at the I ~ International Conference of Mining Safety Research, Vama, Bulgaria,Oct. 3-7, 1977; pp 9-15. Presser, L. J., Finfinger, G.L. and Cervik, J.: Methane Drainage Study Using Underground Pipeline, Mariarma Mine 58V US Bureau of Mines RI# 8577,1981. The United States Coalbed Methane Resourcej an article in& @mrterlv Review of Methane From Coalbeds Technology Volume 7, #3, March 1990, published by the Gas Resewch Institute, Chicago, Illinois. Deimbacher,F.X., Economides,M.J., Heinernann, Z. E., and Brown, J. E.: Comparison of Methane Production From Coalbeds Using Vertical or Horizontal Fractured Wells,SPE21280, 1990. Ertekin, T., Sung W., and Schwerer, F.C.: Production Performance Analysis of Horizontal Drainage Wells for the Degasification of Coatbeds, SPE 15453,1986. Gray, I. Reservoir Engineering in Coalbeds: Part 1 - The Physical Process of Gas Storage and Movement in Coalbeds, SPERE (Fe. 1987), 28-34. Kravits, S. J., Sainato, A., and Finfinger, G. L.: Comparison of Rotaty and In-hole Motor techniques for Drilling Horizontal Boreholes in Coal, US Bureau of Mines, RI# 8933, 1985. Oyler, D.C. and Diamond, W. P.: Drilling a Horizontal Coalbed Methane Drainage System From a Directional Surface Borehole, US Bureau of Mines RM 8640, 1982. Oyler, D. C., Diamond, W. P., and Jeran, P.W.: Directional Drilling For Coalbed Degasification, US Bureau of Mines RI # 8380, 1978. Goodman, T. W.: Rotary Drilling Techniques Used in Beckley Coalbed: US Bureau of Mines, RM 9238, 1989. Maurer, W.C.: Recent Advances in Horizontal Drilling, JCPT, NOV. 1995, pp. 25-33. SPE 37131 SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND ROBERT F. SCHAFFITZEL 12. Holditch, S.A.: Completion Methods in Coalbed Reservoirs, SPE 20670, paper presented at the 65* Annual Technicrd Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in New Orleans, LA, September 23-26, 1990. 13. Logan, T. L., Clark, W. F., and McBane, R.A: Comparing Openhole Cavity and cased Hole Hydraulic Fracture Completion Technique, San Juan Basin, New Mexico; SPE 19010, paper presented at the Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting in Denver, CO, March 6-8, 1989. 14. Logan, T. L.: Horizontal Drainhole Drilling Techniques Used for Coalbed Resource Exploitation,SPE 18254,1988. 15. Logan, T.L., Schwoebel, J.J., and Homer, D. M.: Application of Horizontal Drainhole Drilling Technology for Coalbed Methane Recovery, SPE/DOE 16409, 1987 16. Palmer, I. D., Mavor, M.J., Seidle, J.P., Spitler, J. L., and VOIZ R. F.: Openhole Cavity Completions in Coalbed Methane Wells in the San Juan Basin, SPE 24906, 1992. 17. Schraufiagel,R.A, SpafTord, S. D. and Saulsberry, J. L.: Multiple Seam Completion and Production Experience at Rock Creekfl (Water-Operationalprocedures). 8 A REVIEW OF HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND COMPLETION TECHNIQUES FOR RECOVERY OF COALBED METHANE SPE 37131 Table 1- United States Coalbed Methane Resources (ref. 3) COAL BASI?WU3GION STATES GAS IN PLACE Arkoma Basin OklahomL Arkansas 2t04 Black Warrior Basin Alabama. Mississimi 20 Cahaba Coal Field Alabama 2 Central Appalachian Basin Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virgini& Virginia 5 Coosa Coal Field Alabama 1 Greater Green River Coal Wyoming, Colorado 1 to 30 Region Illinois Basin Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky 5t021 Northern Appalachian Basin Pennsylvani~ Maryland, West Virgini% Ohio, 61 Kentuky Pemsylvania Anthacite Fields Pemsylvania NQ Piceance Basin Colorado 84 Powder River Basin Montan~ Wyoming 30 Raton Basin Colorado, New Mexico 8to 18 Richmond and Deep River Virgini% North Carolina 2t03 Basins San Juan Basin Colorado, New Mexico Fruitland formation 50 Menefee Formation 22 to 34 Valley Coa Uinta Basin Utah, Colorado lto5 I Fields Virginia NQ n Coal Washington 1 to 24 Western Washingto] Region I Wind River Basin I Wvomirw lto2 , .W , TOTAL 296 to 394 NO - Not quantified I I SPE 37131 r Resources San Juan Basin Black Warrior Basin SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND ROBERT F. SCHAFFITZEL Table 2- Summary of Drilling and Completion Techniques Drilling Techniques and Data Mud drilling Air drilling; cement casing with light weight slurry Air/ Mud drilling Completion Techniques and Data Perforated casing stable cavity Perforated liner completion, lower portion of the coalbed (0.6 to 0.8 psihl ) Same as for Warrior Basin Justification Thick, high permeability, high messure coalbeds. To prevent sloughing of the hole and caving. Same as for Warrior Basin Associated problem High fracture pressure Difllculty in pumping fracture treatment Same as for Warrior Basin Table 3- Advantages and disadvantages of various completion techniques Type of Completion I Advantage Disadvantage Open-hole completion I Reduce formation I Frequent clean out due to wall sloughing. I damage. I Require tlacturing due to low permeability, but I I this is diff]cult Perforated Casing I Prevents sloughing hole and I Difllculty in pumping ffacture treatment casing. through perforations. Requires high fracture treatment pressure unique to coalbeds (use strong casing; use fluid that will cause minimum damage) I Expensive. Stable Cavity I Usefil in high permeability, I Not understood I hi~ messure and thick coalbed I Mav be costlv 10 A REVIEW OF HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND COMPLETION TECHNIQUES FOR RECOVERY OF COALBED METHANE SPE 37131 WESTERN WASMIWGTOM 24 lCF w4yT:rWf POWDER alvc n ~~ 3* lCF lLLlttOls IIOR1)IE8U PEMMITIVANIA 1 21 TCF APPALACMIAM AMTlf8AClTE f-l I II MOR114 D.KOTA ---7 I T Y!++ 1 sow OAtlQ,. I \ [1{ Fig.1 - Principal United States coalbed basins and latest accepted estimates on in-place coalbed resources (Ref. 3) --- .. .--- .... l Froctured Vertical Well ! 1- Un(roclured Vert!cal Well ~ -. ....- 6- L- 2- . -i . o . .. I o :00 500 Iwo t (days) Fig. 2- Increased flow rates of fractured vertical well over unfractured well SPE 37131 SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND ROBERT F. SCHAFFl~EL 11 I ..8 .. ..... NoI !O stol e .70 cosiw 2~6-inOD 10-in cen!rolizcr, 3 IG-in OD \ 8il, 3 /2-inOD, Fig. 3- Various rotary drill string configurations (ref, 7) ~Orienting sub Lower bearintjhousing -- Fig. 4 - Major components of a typical downhole motor (ref. 7) 12 A REVIEW OF HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND COMPLETION TECHNIQUES FOR RECOVERY OF COALBED METHANE SPE 37131 11 EARLY OPENHOLE STABLE CAVITY PERFORATED AND FRACTURE TREATED 11 -~~ Fll ..-. . ,......... -.. . ..... ......- .. Fig. 5- Illustration of three different completion methods used in coalbed reservoirs (ref. 13) 1 FACE CLEAT \ 50 GM -1 501 fl \ SHMAX N / \ PROPPED \ FRACTURE \ 129 \ Y \ \ SHEAR ZONES TENSILE K \ FRACTURE / \ \ \ 128 \ CA~?TY \ rc = 5 \ \ Fig. 6- Artists conception of permeability enhancement around cavity well: (1) tensile fracture, (2) shear failure zones. SPE 37131 SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND ROBERT F. SCHAFFl~EL I 1 \ bu~ cleat butt cleat Fig. 7- Principal permeability directions and positioning of horizontal boreholes in a typical coalbed (plan view) 1 0 ~ 0 100 500 woo t (days) 13 Fig. 8- Increased flow rates of a horizontal well over a fractured well (ref. 5)