Method for stimulating methane production from coal seams
AssigneeHalliburton Company
InventorsWeldon M. Harms, Edith Scott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for treating coal seams to improve dewatering to enhance gas production therefrom. The treatment is effected by contacting the coal with an effective amount of a selected additive comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzyl coco di-(hydroxyethyl) quaternary amine, p-T-amyl-phenol condensed with formaldehyde and a copolymer comprising from about 80 to about 100% C.sub.1-30 alkyl methacrylate monomers and from about 0 to about 20% hydrophilic monomers.
Claims14
A method of treating a water-containing coal seam penetrated by a wellbore to enhance dewatering and facilitate gas production comprising:
- introducing a treating fluid through a wellbore into contact with a subterranean coal seam, said treating fluid including an effective amount of an additive comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzyl coco di-(hydroxyethyl) quaternary amine, p-T-amyl-phenol condensed with formaldehyde and a copolymer comprising from about 80 to about 100% C.sub.1-30 alkylmethacrylate monomers and from about 0 to about 20% hydrophilic monomers, and
- pumping water from said coal seam through said wellbore whereby production of gas is initiated, said flow rate of water from said formation being at a rate in excess of the flow produced under substantially similar pumping conditions in the absence of treatment of said coal with said additive.
A method for fracturing a coal seam to enhance the production of methane therefrom comprising:
- injecting an aqueous fracturing fluid into a wellbore communicating with a coal seam under certain conditions such that a fracture is created therein, said fracturing fluid including an effective amount of an additive comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzyl coco di-(hydroxyethyl) quaternary amine, p-T-amyl-phenol condensed with formaldehyde and a copolymer comprising from about 80 to about 100% C.sub.1-30 alkylmethacrylate monomers and from about 0 to about 20% hydrophilic monomers and;
- said additive contacting at least a portion of any coal fines which are formed during fracturing of the coal seam whereby said fines are caused to be retained within the created fracture upon production of fluid therefrom;
- and
- producing fluid from said created fracture, said fluid including at least a substantial portion of said fracturing fluid initially and subsequently methane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.