The abnormal pressure regime of the Pennsylvanian No. 8 coalbed methane reservoir in Liulin-Wupu District, Eastern Ordos Basin, China

Coalbed methane reservoir pressure is an important parameter used to assess the producibility of coalbed methane wells. Practices indicate that high production of coalbed methane well is partly related closely to abnormally high pressure. Permo-Carboniferous coalbed methane resources are very abundant in the Liulin-Wupu District, Eastern Ordos Basin, which has been the highlight of coalbed methane exploration in China in recent years. In this district, the abnormally high pressure is present locally in the Pennsylvanian No. 8 coalbed methane reservoir (the Taiyuan Formation). Based on the distribution of the abnormally high pressure, burial history, hydrocarbon generation, hydrodynamics, and sealing regimes, the authors suggest that the abnormal coalbed methane reservoir pressure is related closely to local hydrodynamic trapping. The gas generated during the qualification is preserved, owing to the confinement of lower permeable roof and floor rock layers, and water trapping in the updip direction (like the fairway in San Juan Basin). As a result of pressure reconstruction event, the abnormally high pressure is formed during the uplifting stage. The current coalbed methane wells with high production are always located in abnormally high pressure areas. Therefore, the areas with abnormally high pressure in Liulin-Wupu District can be the preferred areas for commercial coalbed methane development. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.