Accelerated production of gas from a subterranean zone

• US 8,333,245 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Effective Exploration LLC
• Original Assignee: Vitruvian Exploration, LLC (Vitruvian Exploration II Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Zupanick, Joseph A., Rial, Monty H.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US10/246,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,745 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/313, 166/369, 166/370, 166/372
• US Class Current: 166/370
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/006 Production of coal-bed methane E21B43/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well

Abstract

A method and system for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone includes lowering reservoir pressure in an area of a subterranean zone having a medium to low effective permeability through a multi-branching well bore pattern. At least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area of the subterranean zone is produced within three years of the start of production.

Claims

1. A method for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone, comprising:

lowering reservoir pressure in an area of a subterranean zone having a medium to low effective permeability through a multi-branching well bore pattern providing a drainage network for the area;

producing gas from the area of the subterranean zone in two-phase flow with water from the area;

producing twenty-five percent of total gas in the area of the subterranean zone within three years of a start of production; and

wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal bed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean zone has a low effective permeability.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising lowering reservoir pressure throughout the area of the subterranean zone while a subterranean aquifer continues to supply additional water to the area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern includes a plurality of cooperating bores, further comprising substantially uniformly dropping reservoir pressure throughout the area of the subterranean zone by producing through the cooperating bores of the well bore pattern to the surface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing gas from the area of the subterranean zone in two-phase flow with water from the area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises methane.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising producing the methane in a self-sustaining flow.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising reaching the self-sustaining flow within one year of a start of production.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising producing at least twenty percent of methane in the area within two years of the start of production.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern comprises a pinnate well bore pattern.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises a substantially polygonal area of the subterranean zone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises a substantially square area of the subterranean zone.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises a substantially non-disjointed area of the subterranean zone.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises a substantially symmetrical area of the subterranean zone.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises a shape operable to be nested between a plurality of similarly shaped areas.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the area extends to any point in the subterranean zone horizontally between any two of the cooperating bores.

17. The method of claim 4, wherein over fifty percent of the area is horizontally spaced apart from any cooperating bore by distance of greater than 200 feet.

18. The method of claim 4, wherein the pressure differential within the area is less than or equal to 10 pounds per square inch (psi) within six months of the start of production.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

producing water through the bore of the well bore pattern to a cavity; and

lifting water from the cavity to the surface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cavity comprises a volume greater than or equal to 1000 cubic feet.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the cavity comprises a horizontal cross section greater than or equal to 20 square feet.

22. The method of claim 4, wherein a plurality of the cooperating bores are substantially parallel to each other.

23. The method of claim 4, wherein the area extends to a periphery of the well bore pattern defined by a distal end of all the cooperating bores.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area of the subterranean zone within eighteen months of the start of production.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area of the subterranean zone within one year of the start of production.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area of the subterranean zone within nine months of the start of production.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area of the subterranean zone within six months of the start of production.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least one third of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within five years of the start of production.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least one-third of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within two years of the start of production.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least one-third of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within one year of the start of production.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least one-third of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within six months of the start of production.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least forty percent of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within five years of the start of production.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least forty percent of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within two years of the start of production.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least forty percent of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within one year of the start of production.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least two thirds of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within five years of the start of production.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least two thirds of the gas in the area of the subterranean zone within three years of the start of production.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow non-near well bore gas to be produced at a peak rate within three years of the start of production.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow non-near well bore gas to be produced at a peak rate within two years of the start of production.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow non-near well bore gas to be produced at a peak rate within one year of the start of production.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow non-near well bore gas to be produced at a peak rate within six months of the start of production.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow non-near well bore gas to be produced at a peak rate within three months of the start of production.

42. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing gas from the area under substantially continuous flow conditions for at least eighteen months after the start of production and reaching a peak production rate for non-near well bore gas during the eighteen months within nine months of the start of production.

43. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing gas from the area under substantially continuous flow conditions for at least a year after the start of water production and reaching a peak production rate for non-near well bore gas during the year within six months of the start of production.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow within three years of the start of production gas to be produced at a peak rate and to allow one-third of the gas in the area to be produced before a product decline from the peak rate reaches one-third of the peak rate.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow within two years of the start of production gas to be produced at a peak rate and to allow one-third of the gas in the area has been produced before a production decline from the peak rate reaches one-third of the peak rate.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow within one year of the start of production gas to be produced at a peak rate and to allow one-third of the gas in the area has been produced before a production decline from the peak rate reaches one-third of the peak rate.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow within nine months of the start of production gas to be produced at a peak rate and to allow one-third of the gas in the area has been produced before a production decline from the peak rate reaches one-third of the peak rate.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is operable under substantially continuous flow conditions to allow within six months of the start of production gas to be produced at a peak rate and to allow one-third of the gas in the area has been produced before a production decline from the peak rate reaches one-third of the peak rate.

49. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing gas from the area under substantially continuous flow conditions for at least eighteen months after the start of production and reaching a peak rate of gas production within the eighteen months, the peak followed by a decline that under substantially continuous flow conditions reaches one-third of the peak rate after one-third of the gas has been produced from the area.

50. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing gas from the area under substantially continuous flow conditions for at least nine months after the start of production and reaching a peak rate of gas production within the nine months, the peak followed by a decline that under substantially continuous flow conditions reaches one-third of the peak rate after one-third of the gas has been produced from the area.

51. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing gas from the area at an exponential decline under substantially continuous flow conditions.

52. The method of claim 1, further comprising lowering reservoir pressure by removing water from the area and providing gas lift to produce to the surface at least part of the water collected by the well bore pattern.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising providing the gas lift by providing compressed air down a surface bore through which the gas is produced.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the compressed air is pumped down the surface bore at over two hundred pounds per square inch psi).

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the compressed air is provided at a rate of over five hundred cubic feet per minute (CFM).

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the compressed air is provided at a pressure of over two hundred fifty pounds per square inch (psi) and at a rate of over eight hundred cubic feet per minute (CFM).

57. The method of claim 52, further comprising producing at least three thousand barrels of water per day during a first week of water production.

58. The method of claim 52, further comprising producing at least four thousand barrels of water per day during a first week of water production.

59. The method of claim 52, further comprising producing at least five thousand barrels of water per day during a first week of water production.

60. The method of claim 52, wherein the gas lift is provided at the start of production for a period of less than six weeks.

61. The method of claim 52, further comprising providing gas lift at least until gas production kicks off to a self-sustaining flow.

62. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern comprises a multi-lateral pattern.

63. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises an omni-directional pattern.

64. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern is operable to intersect a substantial number of natural fractures in the area of the subterranean zone.

65. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a majority of at least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area into the pattern from intersections of the well bore pattern with natural fractures of the subterranean zone.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam, further comprising producing a majority of gas from the area of the coal seam while relative permeability of coal to gas in a coal matrix of the coal seam remains substantially below twenty percent of absolute permeability.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective permeability is below eight millidarcies.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective permeability is below six millidarcies.

69. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective permeability is below four millidarcies.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective permeability is below two millidarcies.

71. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective permeability is below one millidarcy.

72. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing reservoir pressure by removing water from the area and reaching a self-sustaining flow within nine months of the start of production.

73. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing reservoir pressure by removing water from the area and reaching a self-sustaining flow within six months of the start of production.

74. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing reservoir pressure by removing water from the area and reaching a self-sustaining flow within three months of the start of production.

75. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing reservoir pressure by removing water from the area and reaching a self-sustaining flow within one month of the start of production.

76. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing reservoir pressure by removing water from the area and reaching a self-sustaining flow within two weeks of the start of production.

77. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing reservoir pressure by removing water from the area and reaching a self-sustaining flow within one week of the start of production.

78. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure differential within the area is less than or equal to ten pounds per square inch (psi) within three years of the start of production.

79. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure in the area is less than or equal to seventy percent of the drilled-in pressure within three months of the start of production.

80. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce the reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation in the area by ten percent within two years of the start of production.

81. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce the reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation in the area by twenty percent within three years of the start of production.

82. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce the reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation in the area by thirty percent within three years of the start of production.

83. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce the reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation in the area to substantially an irreducible level within three years of the start of production.

84. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce the reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation in the area to substantially an irreducible level within five years of the start of production.

85. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce the reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation in the area to substantially an irreducible level within eight years of the start of production.

86. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below ninety percent of an initial water saturation within eighteen months of the start of production.

87. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below ninety percent of an initial water saturation within one year of the start of production.

88. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below ninety percent of an initial water saturation within nine months of the start of production.

89. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below ninety percent of an initial water saturation within six months of the start of production.

90. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below ninety percent of an initial water saturation within three months of the start of production.

91. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below eighty percent of an initial water saturation within eighteen months of the start of production.

92. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below eighty percent of an initial water saturation within one year of the start of production.

93. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below eighty percent of an initial water saturation within nine months of the start of production.

94. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below eighty percent of an initial water saturation within six months of the start of production.

95. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the area of the subterranean zone to reduce reservoir pressure and reducing a water saturation below eighty percent of an initial water saturation within three months of the start of production.

96. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is a substantially horizontal pattern, further comprising producing gas and water from the area of the subterranean zone substantially through a single surface well connected with the horizontal well bore pattern.

97. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern is a substantially horizontal pattern, further comprising producing gas and water from the subterranean zone through one or more interconnected well bores extending from the surface to the horizontal well bore pattern.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the horizontal well bore pattern comprises a plurality of substantially identical sub-patterns extending from a substantial center of the area, the sub-patterns each having a disparate orientation.

99. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern comprises a plurality of substantially identical subpatterns extending from a substantial center of the area, the sub-patterns each having a disparage orientation.

100. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of the subterranean zone comprises at least three hundred acres.

101. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of the subterranean zone comprises at least five hundred acres.

102. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of the subterranean zone comprises at least seven hundred fifty acres.

103. The method of claim 1, wherein the well bore pattern comprises a substantially horizontal pattern.

104. The method of claim 1, wherein reservoir pressure is reduced by removing water and the water is produced to the surface.

105. A method for producing gas from a tight coal formation, comprising:

using a well bore pattern providing coverage of an area of a coal seam having an effective permeability below seven millidarcies to remove water from the area of the coal seam; and

removing a sufficient volume of water from the area of the coal seam to obtain at substantially continuous flow conditions and within two years of a start of water production a gas production peak rate having a decline that reaches one-third of the peak rate after at least twenty-five percent of gas in the area has been produced, wherein at least a portion of the gas is produced in a two-phase flow with at least some of the water from the area of the coal seam.

106. The method of claim 105, further comprising removing a sufficient volume of water from the area of the coal seam to obtain the gas production peak rate within eighteen months of the start of water production.

107. The method of claim 105, further comprising removing a sufficient volume of water from the area of the coal seam to obtain the gas production peak rate within one year of the start of water production.

108. The method of claim 105, further comprising removing a sufficient volume of water from the area of the coal seam to obtain the gas production peak rate within nine months of the start of water production.

109. The method of claim 105, further comprising removing a sufficient volume of water from the area of the coal seam to obtain the gas production peak rate within six months at the start of water production.

110. The method of claim 105, further comprising removing a sufficient volume of water from the area of the coal seam to obtain the gas production peak rate within three months of the start of water production.

111. The method of claim 105, wherein the decline curve comprises an exponential decline under substantially continuous flow conditions.

112. The method of claim 105, wherein the coal seam has an effective permeability below five millidarcies.

113. The method of claim 105, wherein the coal seam has an effective permeability below three millidarcies.

114. The method of claim 105, wherein the coal seam has an effective permeability below two millidarcies.

115. The method of claim 105, wherein the coal seam has an effective permeability below one millidarcy.

116. A method for producing gas from a tight coal formation, comprising:

using a well bore pattern providing coverage of an area of a coal seam having an effective permeability below seven millidarcies to remove water from the area of the coal seam; and

removing a sufficient volume of water from the area of the coal seam to obtain at substantially continuous flow conditions and within two years of a start of water production a gas production peak rate having an exponential decline that reaches one-quarter of the gas production peak rate after at least thirty percent of gas in the area has been produced, wherein at least a portion of the gas is produced in a two-phase flow with at least some of the water from the area of the coal seam.

117. The method of claim 116, further comprising obtaining the production peak within one year of the start of water production.

118. The method of claim 116, further comprising obtaining the production peak within nine months of the start of water production.

119. The method of claim 116, further comprising obtaining the production peak within six months of the start of water production.

120. The method of claim 116, further comprising obtaining the production peak within three months of the start of water production.

121. A method for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone, comprising:

lowering water pressure throughout an area of a subterranean zone having a medium to low effective permeability by removing water from the area through a well bore pattern providing coverage of the area to the surface;

producing gas from the area of the subterranean zone in two-phase flow with at least some of the water from the area;

producing gas in a self-sustaining flow from the area of the subterranean zone within two years of a start of water production; and

wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal bed.

122. The method of claim 121, further comprising producing gas in the self-sustaining flow within eighteen months of the start of water production.

123. The method of claim 121, further comprising producing gas in the self-sustaining flow within twelve months of the start of water production.

124. The method of claim 121, further comprising producing gas in the self-sustaining flow within nine months of the start of water production.

125. The method of claim 121, further comprising producing gas in the self-sustaining flow within six months of the start of water production.

126. The method of claim 121, further comprising producing gas in the self-sustaining flow within three months of the start of water production.

127. A method for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone, comprising:

providing a well bore pattern in a subterranean zone having a medium to low effective permeability, the well bore pattern comprising at least one bore and providing coverage of an area of the subterranean zone;

lowering water pressure in the area of the subterranean zone by using gas lift to produce to the surface at least some water collected by the well bore pattern from the subterranean zone;

producing gas from the area of the subterranean zone in two-phase flow with at least some water from the area; and

wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal bed.

128. The method of claim 127, further comprising providing gas lift by providing compressed air to a subterranean cavity collecting water from a well bore pattern.

129. The method of claim 128, wherein the compressed air is provided at a pressure of over two hundred pounds per square inch (psi) and a rate of over eight hundred cubic feet per minute (CFM).

130. A method for surface production of gas from a coal seam, comprising:

providing an onini-directional horizontal well bore pattern in a medium to low effective permeability coal seam, the well bore pattern providing coverage of an area of the coal seam and operable to intersect a substantial number of natural fractures in the area of the coal seam;

producing gas from the area of the coal seam in two-phase flow with water from the area; and

obtaining a majority of gas from the area into the well bore pattern from the natural fractures intersecting the well bore pattern.

131. The method of claim 130, further comprising producing twenty percent of gas in the area of the coal seam while relative permeability of coal to gas in a coal matrix of the coal seam remains below twenty percent of absolute permeability.

132. The method of claim 131, further comprising producing thirty percent of the gas in the area while the relative permeability of coal to gas of the coal matrix remains below the twenty percent of absolute permeability.

133. The method of claim 131, further comprising producing forty percent of the gas in the area while the relative permeability of coal to gas of the coal matrix remains below the twenty percent of absolute permeability.

134. The method of claim 131, further comprising producing fifty percent of the gas in the area while the relative permeability of coal to gas of the coal matrix remains below the twenty percent of absolute permeability.

135. The method of claim 131, further comprising producing sixty percent of the gas in the area while the relative permeability of coal to gas of the coal matrix remains below the twenty percent of absolute permeability.

136. The method of claim 131, further comprising producing seventy percent of the gas in the area while the relative permeability of coal to gas of the coal matrix remains below the twenty percent of absolute permeability.

137. A method for surface production of gas from a subterranean coal seam, comprising;

providing an omni-directional horizontal well bore pattern operable to intersect a number of natural fractures in a coal seam having medium to low effective permeability;

producing gas from an area of the coal seam covered by the well bore pattern in two-phase flow with water from the area; and

producing thirty percent of gas from the area of the coal seam covered by the well bore pattern while relative permeability of coal to gas of a matrix coal in the coal seam remains below ten percent of absolute permeability.

138. The method of claim 137, further comprising producing forty percent of gas from the area while the relative permeability remains below the ten percent of absolute permeability.

139. A method for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone, comprising:

forming a horizontal drainage pattern in a subterranean zone having a medium to low effective permeability;

the horizontal drainage pattern including a plurality of cooperation bores and connected to a surface well bore;

collecting fluids from an area of the subterranean zone covered by the horizontal drainage pattern through the horizontal drainage pattern, the area comprising at least one hundred acres;

producing fluids collected from the subterranean zone to the surface through the surface well bore; and

producing twenty-five percent of total gas in the area of the subsurface zone within two years of the start of water production.