--> Abstract: Organic Petrography and Coal Bed Methane Potential of Selected Western Canadian Mesozoic Coals, by K. Burchard, M. Dawson, and W. Kalkreuth; #91012 (1992).

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ABSTRACT: Organic Petrography and Coal Bed Methane Potential of Selected Western Canadian Mesozoic Coals

BURCHARD, K., Institut fur Geologie, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, Germany, and M. DAWSON and W. KALKREUTH, Institute of Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology, Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

In the Canadian Rocky Mountains, large coal deposits of Mesozoic age that occur in the Front Ranges and Foothills are potential coal bed methane resources. High rank bituminous coals occur in the Kootenay group of the Front Ranges in southeastern British Columbia and in the Luscar Group of the Inner Foothills of west-central Alberta. Both coal-bearing sequences were folded and faulted during Laramide orogeny resulting in local tectonic thickening and shearing of the coal seams.

The present study investigates (1) the relationship between coal rank, petrographic composition, and coal bed methane potential of Kootenay coals and (2) coal rank and coal seam distribution in the Luscar Group to assess its coal bed methane potential.

Preliminary results suggest that in highly folded and faulted areas gas desorption capacity of the Kootenay coals is largely a function of structural position, shale contents, and hydrodynamic conditions. Petrographic characteristics (rank, macerals, microlithotypes) also have some effect on the gas storage capacity, but the effects are masked by the factors mentioned above.

Investigations on coal rank and coal seam distribution in the Luscar Group indicated a high coal bed methane potential for coals at depths less than 1500 m in the Nordegg area west of the Brazeau Thrust, west-central Alberta.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)