Search

In this paper, we review and analyze the salient features of the ongoing energy transition from a high to a low carbon economy. Our analysis shows that this transition will require decarbonizing th...

Coalbed methane (CBM) resources in China have been estimated to exceed 36 Tcm. As of 2014, there were ∼9300 producing CBM wells in China with an annual production of ∼4.4 Bcm. To satisfy its need for energy and to transition to a low-carbon economy, China has a big need to accelerate CBM development. This paper gives an overview of the status of CBM development in China, identifies key technical challenges, and proposes solutions to overcome them. Our review of the literature has revealed that current CBM development in China faces several technical challenges. Current projects are focused on high-rank coals in the Qinshui and Ordos basins, which have major geological and engineering challenges. The former includes low permeability, subhydrostatic reservoir pressure, and a lack of understanding of the connectivity of coal seams, which leads to difficulty in sweet spot indication. The latter includes difficulty in hydraulic fracturing in vertical wells, because of the ductile nature of the coal seams in th...