Coalbed Methane Reserves in China

Abstract

Coalbed Methane (CBM), a clean natural gas, has been expected to be utilized as one of the new domestic supply energy sources in China. The development of CBM in China has entered into a new phase, namely the execution of feasibility studies on exploration and production in particular areas, following the first phase of a general survey of CBM reserves.
Institute of Petroleum Geology, Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources (MGMR) performed a general survey of CBM reserves in China, and they evaluated the potential for developing and using CBM at each reserved area from such criteria as methane contents in coal, coal rank, permeability, and coal deposit conditions.
The purposes of this paper are to introduce the said evaluation of CBM reserves in China, and also to introduce some CBM reserves data obtained by test drilling in North China area, Hunan Province and Sichuan Province.