A number of oil companies active in coalbed methane exploration in the U.S. ar transferring their knowhow to several of France's coal basins.
Looking for methane in coal seams is new to France. While there is little expectation of gas production before 1996, if at all, the drilling is giving a boost to an otherwise depressed exploration scene.
Pioneer in this area in France is Windsor, an affiliate of Perlman Properties (formerly Windsor Gas). Several other companies are also exploring.
ENRON-WINDSOR
Windsor drilled three holes as long ago as 1988 in the Lorraine coal basin, the most easterly part of the Paris basin.
An affiliate of Enron Corp., Houston, is operator on two of Windsor's parcels, the 565 sq km Saint-Avold permit where two wells have been drilled and the 66 sq km Farebersviller permit where one hole was drilled.
"A minimal amount of gas was produced," Enron Manager William Cooper told OGJ. Gas was detected in Saint-Avold's 1 Bening well, but mechanical problems arose. Enron drilled the 1 Fletrange on the same acreage.
"We are encouraged, but we are going slowly," Cooper said. "We have no formal budget for this year, which will be an appraisal year."
The Saint-Avold permit extends to September 1996. Commitment is $2.8 million. The Farebersviller permit extends to March 1997 with a $1 million outlay.
CONOCO, UNION TEXAS
Elsewhere in the Lorraine basin, DuPont France (Conoco) has the 858 sq km Eply permit, which extends to March 1997 with a $1.75 million financial commitment. It ran seismic last year.
"We use the available data gathered for conventional exploration," explained Frankest Payot, manager for France. "This is very fractured ground."
Conoco is planning three holes this year on locations that have not yet been selected.
A third U.S. company on the track of Lorraine basin coalbed methane gas is Union Texas Petroleum Corp., Houston. Its 528 sq km Ponta-Mousson permit runs to September 1997 and involves an $1.5 million outlay.
Nonie J. Ferrand, general manager of Oil and Gas Consultants, Palaiseau, France, which represents UT in France, is reserved about prospects.
"There has been very little exploration so far, and it is very difficult to tell results. There are many different basins in France, but so far the main activity has been in Lorraine."
Union Texas shot seismic at yearend 1993 and will be drilling at yearend 1994. Considering the fractured nature of the ground, "3D seismic runs would be nice," Ferrand said, "but it is too expensive. Until we have gas production we stick to 2D."
KELT PROGRAM
Kelt Energy plc, London, which has worked coal deposits in Alabama, has the 1,153 sq km Alea permit. Alea, which extends to March 1998 and involves a $900,000 outlay, is in southeastern France.
Manager Denis Bizot said Kelt has tested gas in two wells but has not yet determined the project's economic worth. Kelt plans to drill another well in 1995 and is looking for a partner before proceeding. He said there are mixed feelings about prospects of methane gas in France.
"But French coal is very gassy ... and fields are extensive."
His own results are encouraging, he said.
Unlike the other players in this field, who whether they like it or not will have only one buyer for their gas-Gaz de France - Bizot is planning to sell to the electricity utility, Electricite de France.
"This gives us another option than GdF," he said. "EdF is very interested in small local production for small power plants."
LIMAGNE BASIN
Enron has an option to farm into Windsor's permits, which also include two tracts in the less promising Limagne coal basin in central eastern France.
They are the 626 sq kin Blanzy-Le Creusot area with a $1 million outlay and Decize-Acohn with an $1.4 million outlay. Both extend to October 1996, but Enron has as yet no plans for seismic or drilling there.
Copyright 1994 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
