ERCB sees rise in Alberta CBM output

June 13, 2008
Alberta's coalbed methane production could reach 640 bcf/year in 2017, or 16% of the province's marketable gas output compared with 5% in 2007, the Energy Resources Conservation Board said.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 13 -- Alberta's coalbed methane production could reach 640 bcf/year in 2017, or 16% of the province's marketable gas output compared with 5% in 2007, the Energy Resources Conservation Board said.

CBM production may be higher than forecast if commercial output from Mannville coals is accelerated, the board said.

Alberta had more than 9,000 wells that produced coalbed methane in 2007 with remaining established reserves estimated at 858 bcf, ERCB said.

The 9,339 wells that produced some CBM yielded a total of 240 bcf of gas in 2007, of which the ERCB estimates 77.7 bcf was CBM.

Industry drilled 2,055 CBM wells in 2007, down 24% on the year, and connected 2,259 wells, down 23%.

Alberta's first CBM was produced in 1970, ERCB defined the first CBM pool in 1995, and commercial production began in 2002.