Coal Bed Methane in China

Steve Zou, Marshall Miller, Charles Weiner

Economics are the prime consideration in exploration and production, and political economics are the most important part.

China's drive to improve its cities' environmental quality and its rapidly expanding economy are force driving exploitation of energy sources.

There are several coal basins in China; chief among them are Fuxin, pronounced Fooshin, and Hedong. Fuxin, while not the largest in total coal seam gas, is the most immediately exploitable. This is because the infrastructure, the market, and the political desirability exist now. In

Hedong, a much larger quantity of coal seam gas is present and will probably be ready for development quickly.

Coal seam gas contents, of course, vary with several parameters. One of these, permeability to gas in relation to total cost of production and delivery, will quickly determine rate of development.

Several entities in China are joining with several others of international origin to begin development of these resources. This is in addition to the increase in mechanical mining of coal and increased delivery by rail, barge and coal slurry pipelines.

Basin outline maps (generic) and selected parameters will be presented.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995