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Bulletin 2007-05
March 20, 2007
2006 Alberta Coalbed Methane Activity Summary and Well Locations
This bulletin provides a summary of coalbed methane (CBM) activity and CBM well locations for Alberta at December 31, 2006.
CBM Activity Summary
At December 31, 2006, there were a total of 10 723 CBM wells in Alberta. This CBM well count includes all wells completed in coals, plus any wells licensed for CBM that were finished drilling by that date. A total of 2943 CBM wells were added in 2006.
A number of wells licensed for CBM in 2005 were not drilled and consequently have had their licences rescinded. These wells have been removed from the attached list of CBM wells.
Of the total 10 723 CBM wells, 6905 had produced or were producing by December 31, 2006. These wells may have produced from only coals or from a combination of coals and other gas zones. The EUB will provide CBM production estimates in EUB report ST98-2007: Alberta’s Energy Reserves 2006 and Supply and Demand Outlook 2007-2016, anticipated to be published in June 2007.
The table below provides CBM well counts by coal zone/formation at December 31, 2006.
CBM wells at December 31, 2006
| Coal zone/formation |
Total wells |
| Horseshoe Canyon and Belly River |
9 762 |
| Mannville |
822 |
| Ardley |
100 |
| Kootenay |
39 |
Total
|
10 723 |
Over 91 per cent of Alberta’s CBM wells are completed in the generally dry Horseshoe Canyon and Belly River coals. About 8 per cent of the CBM wells are completed in Mannville coals, which may produce significant volumes of saline water (greater than 4000 parts per million of dissolved solids). Less than 1 per cent of the CBM wells are completed in Ardley coals, where water production volumes are variable and may be nonsaline. Less than 1 per cent of the CBM wells are drilled to test production from Kootenay coals, which generally produce at small water volumes.
The Horseshoe Canyon and Belly River coals continue to be the main CBM target. The Mannville coals are actively being tested to evaluate CBM production characteristics, including occurrences of lower water content in some Mannville coals in central Alberta. The Ardley and Kootenay coals have seen limited testing and little, if any, production presently is occurring from these coals.
CBM Well Lists
Tables listing CBM wells in Alberta at December 31, 2006, are available on the EUB Web site at http://www.ercb.ca/docs/documents/bulletins/Bulletin-2007-05-CBMWellList_20061231.xls. Additional well completion, test, and production information for well locations listed in these tables may be obtained from EUB Information Services at (403) 297-8190. The summary of production will be listed in ST98-2007.
For further information about this bulletin, please contact Curtis Evans at (403) 297-8386.
[Original signed by]
Cal Hill
Executive Manager
Resources Branch
