Coalbed Methane
María Mastalerz, Agnieszka Drobniak
Abstract
Over the last several decades, coalbed methane (CBM) has emerged as an important energy source in the United States as well as worldwide and is expected to play a significant role in the energy portfolio of the future. This chapter opens with a discussion of the origins of CBM and follows with an overview of current world CBM resources and production. Past and present CBM exploration and production activities in coal-producing countries are also discussed, and they are the basis for predictions of further development of the CBM industry. Competition from other energy sources such as shale gas and low gas prices presents challenges to this industry, as demonstrated by the decline in the US CBM production over last several years. Because CBM is considered an unconventional resource, its drilling and extraction techniques are also reviewed, and environmental concerns related to CBM extraction are briefly discussed.