Coalbed Methane in Virginia
Coalbed methane, or CBM, accounts for over 80% of the gas produced in Virginia. There are three main CBM fields in Virginia: Oakwood, Nora and Middle Ridge. When combined, this overall field ranks 4th in the nation for CBM production.
Coalbed methane, as the name implies, is associated with coal deposits. As the coal forms (called coalification) methane molecules bind to the coal. This is called adsorption. Water associated with the coal keeps the methane adsorbed to the coal. The pump jacks on most CBM wells in Virginia are installed to pump the water off the coal. This reduces the pressure and allows the methane to release, or desorb, from the coal. The proper disposal of these produced waters is regulated by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.
In Virginia, coalbed methane production enhances overall mine safety by reducing the amount of methane in our underground coal mines. For decades, degasification of coal mines involved venting the methane to the atmosphere. Since the 1980's, companies have captured this methane through CBM wells. This allows for a more systematic way to degas coal mines while increasing our nation's natural gas supply.
According to the National Energy Technology Laboratory, a cubic foot of coal can contain six or seven times the volume of natural gas that exists in a cubic foot of a conventional reservoir such as sandstone.
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Coalbed methane, as the name implies, is associated with coal deposits. As the coal forms (called coalification) methane molecules bind to the coal. This is called adsorption. Water associated with the coal keeps the methane adsorbed to the coal. The pump jacks on most CBM wells in Virginia are installed to pump the water off the coal. This reduces the pressure and allows the methane to release, or desorb, from the coal. The proper disposal of these produced waters is regulated by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.
In Virginia, coalbed methane production enhances overall mine safety by reducing the amount of methane in our underground coal mines. For decades, degasification of coal mines involved venting the methane to the atmosphere. Since the 1980's, companies have captured this methane through CBM wells. This allows for a more systematic way to degas coal mines while increasing our nation's natural gas supply.
According to the National Energy Technology Laboratory, a cubic foot of coal can contain six or seven times the volume of natural gas that exists in a cubic foot of a conventional reservoir such as sandstone.
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Take me to Conventional Wells in Virginia