Chapter 2
Coalbed Methane
Extraction
Preparing to drill for coalbed methane is a similar process as described for oil & gas. But the extraction of coalbed methane looks a bit different.
What is coalbed methane?
Coalbed methane is a form of natural gas that is trapped inside coal formations and held in place by hydraulic pressure. Unlike gas contained in shale and reservoir rocks, which is trapped only in the pores of a formation, coalbed methane is absorbed into the internal surfaces of a coal formation. Coal formations have large internal surface areas, and they tend to contain a lot of methane. A coal formation containing methane can yield 2-3 times more gas than a rock formation of the same size in a conventional reservoir.
Methane is the main component of natural gas, so coalbed methane can be used for the same functions as natural gas. In the early days of coal mining, methane was considered very hazardous. At high concentrations, this invisible gas can explode and cause a mine to collapse. Because of this threat, coal mines began venting methane. In the early 1980s, coalbed methane began to be produced and sold in commercial quantities
Many thanks to Ecoflights for providing this video on the effects of Coal Bed Methane on local residents and multi-generational ranching family.
Coalification Process
Coal deposits form over millions of years, as organic plant matter from terrestrial swamps is buried. Coalbed methane forms within coalbeds either through
- chemical processes: as pressure and heat increase overtime in a coal formation, a chemical reaction produces methane, or
- bacterial action: bacteria that live underground and feed off of coal also release methane as a by-product.
In the San Juan Basin, the majority coalbed methane is extracted from the Fruitland Coal Formation, which was formed in the Cretaceous period (about 70-80 million years ago). Some coalbed methane is also extracted from the Basin’s Menafee Formation, within the Mesa Verde Group. The San Juan Basin is the largest producing coalbed methane basin in North America and accounts for about 80% of U.S. coalbed methane production.
A typical coalbed methane well in the San Juan Basin is about 2000-3000 feet deep.
This diagram illustrates the Fruitland Formation, where most coalbed methane comes from in the San Juan Basin. The outcrop of the Fruitland Formation is exposed near the surface in La Plata County, CO.
As in “conventional” oil & gas extraction, a well is drilled, cased, and cemented. But here’s where the process differs. Coalbed methane is trapped in a coal formation by hydrostatic pressure. The formation must be dewatered in order to allow the trapped methane to come to the surface. The cemented casing is perforated at production depth, and the coal formation is fractured – usually hydraulically fractured. Fracturing causes water in the coal formation to pass through natural cleats and up the well. As water begins to recede, the gas trapped within the coal begins to desorb, move through the spaces in the fracture system, and travel up the well.
Typically, a coalbed methane well will initially produce more water than gas. Eventually, gas production will rise as water production decreases.
Case study – Coalbed Methane in La Plata County, Colorado (Northern San Juan Basin)
A coalbed methane boom hit La Plata County, Colorado in the late 1980s. This boom was spurred in large part by federal tax credits established to incentivize domestic production of natural gas from unconventional sources. Known as Section 29 of the 1980 Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act, this tax credit applied to coalbed methane wells drilled in the San Juan Basin before 1992, with abatements extending until 2002. British Petroleum (formerly Amoco) was the biggest company to take advantage of the tax incentives, and quickly drilled thousands of wells. Today, there are over 3,000 active coalbed methane wells in La Plata County.
The impacts of the boom have been widespread, altering local landscapes and livelihoods. For instance, several residents had to leave their homes due to methane and hydrogen sulfide contamination. Heavy truck traffic, contamination of drinking water, and depletion of underground aquifers continue to concern many residents. As production increased, natural geological seeps began emitting more methane. Stories of residents lighting their tap or creek water on fire – today infamously associated with fracking for oil and gas from shale – were already circulating in the 1990s in La Plata County due to coalbed methane production.
Residents in La Plata County put up an incredible fight against the expansion of industry in the area. Working with San Juan Citizens Alliance, many residents campaigned for environmental protections to mitigate the impacts of extraction and limit the amount of wells drilled. The County government also took unprecedented steps to gain local control over development. In the following video, Josh Joswick, former County Commission for La Plata County, reflects on this work.
Additional Resources
Coalbed Methane Development in the Intermountain Mountain West – This is a fantastic resource, including a special section on the San Juan Basin and testimony from La Plata County residents
SJCA Presentation on Methane Seeps in the San Juan Basin, Colorado
Read the Next Chapter in the SJCA Guide to
Oil & Gas in the San Juan Basin
Chapter 4
Split Estate
Who owns what?
Chapter 5
Local History
Oil & gas in the San Juan Basin.
Chapter 6
Just Transition
Renewables in the San Juan Basin.
Chapter 1
Oil & Gas Extraction
Drilling for oil & gas is a complex process that requires lots of equipment, infrastructure, people, and expertise.