How do the characteristics of CBM basins vary?
CBM plays vary enormously. Factors that control the occurrence and productivity of coalbed gas include, but are not limited to, thickness, heterogeneity, depth, and composition of coal, seals, gas content, gas composition, permeability, pressure regime, structural setting (folds, faults, joints, cleats), hydrology (ground-water flow and quantity and quality of water), and conventional trapping mechanisms, such as structure. In general, coalbed gas plays for potential additions to reserves extend from depths of 500 to 6,000 ft below the surface. The San Juan, Powder River, Raton and Uinta Basins are maturing, and lessons learned in these basins are not necessarily applicable for new plays and other CBM basins.
