First Russian Development Plan for Coalbed Methane Field approved
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The Central Commission for Hydrocarbon Fields Development under the Federal Subsurface Use Agency approved the Development Plan worked out by Gazprom Promgaz for the pilot commercial development of the southeastern part of the Taldinskoye coalbed methane (CBM) field. It is the first draft document for CBM field development in Russia.
The Plan specifies a system for commercial field development based on exploration and test operation data. The selected development option provides for applying efficient engineering solutions taking into account the field geology features and its proximity to coal producers.
The Plan was elaborated due to estimation of methane reserves as an independent mineral resource and its inclusion into the Russian Classified Index of Natural Resources and Underground Waters.
Pre-development and construction works for 14 production wells are currently in progress at the Taldinskoye field. The pilot commercial operation of the field is scheduled for the second half of 2012.
Background
Gazprom Promgaz is Gazprom’s research center focused on regional energy policy substantiation, gasification, gas distribution and utilization, minor fields and CBM resources development.
The Taldinskoye field is located in the center of the Yerunakovsky geological-economic area of the Kuznetsky basin within the Novokuznetsky and Prokopyevsky Districts of the Kemerovo Region, 65 kilometers to the north of Novokuznetsk.
The Agreement on the execution of commercial CBM production project execution among Gazprom, the Kemerovo Region Administration and GPK Kuznetsk (presently Gazprom Dobycha Kuznetsk) was signed in 2003.
In 2005 Gazprom created a research and testing site for the CBM production technology development. At the first stage of the test Gazprom Promgaz drilled four wells with a depth ranging between 600 to 1,000 meters and performed 19 CBM fracturing operations.
In 2008 the geological reserves of methane as an independent mineral resource in coal seams of the Taldinskoye field (45.8 billion cubic meters of C1+C2 reserves) were estimated and the project for exploration activities in the southeastern part of the Taldinskoye field was developed for the first time in Russia.
In 2009 trial operation of seven exploratory wells started at the first pilot production area of the Taldinskoye field. The license owner is Gazprom Dobycha Kuznetsk, a fully-owned subsidiary of Gazprom. The wells production rates reach 5 to 7 thousand cubic meters per day.
In February 2010 Gazprom commissioned Russia’s first CBM production facility at the Taldinskoye field. Taking part in the commissioning ceremony was Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
In the same year, the State Mineral Reserves Committee approved the results of the Taldinskoye field reserves re-estimation. C1+C2 methane reserves amounted to 74.2 billion cubic meters.
In November 2011 coalbed methane was categorized as an independent mineral resource and included into the Russian Classified Index of Natural Resources and Underground Waters.
Gazprom Dobycha Kuznetsk is the license owner entitled to prospect, explore, and produce CBM within the Southern Kuzbass group of coal fields containing 6.1 trillion cubic meters of methane.