Optimization design of multi-gathering mode for the surface system in coalbed methane field

Abstract

As a potential resource for emerging clean energy with abundant reserves, coalbed methane (CBM) has risen rapidly in recent years, and the construction of rational and economical CBM gathering system plays a vital role in the development of the oil and gas industry. At present, there is no literature that considers the optimization of the multi-gathering mode of coalbed methane pipe network system. Due to the complexity and high investment, this paper establishes a unified mixed-integer nonlinear programming model to determine the gathering modes (including liquified natural gas, compressed natural gas, and gas gathering station) of gathering system to reduce the cost of coalbed methane collection and export. The objective function is the maximization of total profit during the period of the whole project, and such constraints, like network structure, facility number, location, node flow balance, capacity and variable value, are taken into consideration. The solution strategy and heuristic algorithm is proposed and verified by the field data from Shanxi province (China). The results show that the model can solve the problem for optimization design of the surface system in complicated CBM fields.

Keywords

• Coalbed methane
• Multi-gathering mode
• Optimization
• Pipeline network