Мінеральні ресурси України (Dec 2015)
Water resources management in coalbed methane production on the example of Pavlogradsko-Petropavlivska area
Abstract
The study focused on the search for optimal solutions for water supply and disposal of contaminated water in the coal basins. The study examined the problem of treatment and disposal of mine water, the issue of water management in coalbed methane production and treatment and disposal of produced associated water. The study proposes a strategy for the development of coalbed methane resources on the example of Pavlogradsko-Petropavlivska area in Donets Coal Basin (Ukraine). The proposed strategy include drilling low-cost vertical wells with a dominant share of the depths from 400 to 600 meters and the use of low-cost well completion technologies available in Ukraine. The surface of study area is mainly represented by flat agricultural fields which enables the construction of numerous drilling pads for 240 vertical wells. Total number of required hydrofracturing operations is 1 250. Economic feasibility of coalbed methane production associated with naturally fractured zones which are associated with numerous tectonic faults within the area. Technological parameters of fluids were determined for hydrofracturing in tight and naturally fractured coal beds according to the results of mathematical modeling. We calculated the annual volume of water required for the implementation of strategies for the development of coalbed methane resources. Research include proposal to supply the water from mines to the drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations. Mineral composition and volumes of mine water meet the water requirements for the preparation of the drilling fluid and fracturing fluid. Minimum and maximum volumes of associated water were estimated for proposed strategy of coal bed with methane resources development. Study include proposal to use the constructed wetlands for purification of the produced associated reservoir water, mine water and contaminated drilling and fracturing fluids within the area. Numerous ravines within the area makes usage of constructed wetlands a low-cost and cost-effective method for water purification.
