AMOCO CO2 PILOT SEEKS TO INCREASE COALBED GAS FLOW

Amoco Production Co. plans to test the effectiveness of carbon dioxide to boost coalbed methane recovery. Injection into a pilot project started at mid-December in the northwest part of the San Juan basin's Cretaceous Fruitland coalbeds. Amoco's 7A Florence Gas Com well in San Juan County, N.M,, serves as the CO2 injection well for coalbeds at 2,250 and 2,750 ft. An offset well, 2 Florence D, will monitor gas composition, pressure, and production response.

Dec. 27, 1993

2 min read

Amoco Production Co. plans to test the effectiveness of carbon dioxide to boost coalbed methane recovery.

Injection into a pilot project started at mid-December in the northwest part of the San Juan basin's Cretaceous Fruitland coalbeds.

Amoco's 7A Florence Gas Com well in San Juan County, N.M,, serves as the CO2 injection well for coalbeds at 2,250 and 2,750 ft. An offset well, 2 Florence D, will monitor gas composition, pressure, and production response.

Williams Field Services' nearby membrane separation plant furnishes the CO2. Injection volumes may be as much as 2.3 MMcfd. The pilot is expected to continue for about 1 year.

Conoco Inc. is a joint interest partner in the project. Other participants are the Western Research Institute (WRI) and the Gas Research Institute (GRI).

WRI provides on site technical and laboratory research assistance and is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. GRI provided funds to Resource Enterprise,, Inc. (REI) to collect and analyze data. Results obtained by WRI and REI will remain proprietary for at least 3 years.

In the area, Amoco also is injecting nitrogen to improve methane recovery from coalbeds. Amoco said the program has been successful and represents a first generation process, while the CO2 or a combination CO2 and nitrogen can be viewed as a second generation process.

Amoco describes the displacement process of nitrogen as a "rake" that does not form banks and does not sweep cleanly. But the CO2 process should be more like a "broom" that leaves no gas behind.