Chapter 5

Well Construction
5.1

Drilling

The drilling of coalbed methane (CBM) wells requires attention to the reservoir
data collected from the assessment corehole. Minimizing damage by drilling
underbalanced is preferred. The term underbalanced describes the well condition
when there is more pressure in the formation pushing up than there is in the
wellbore pushing down. In normally pressured basins, this would mean air
drilling vertical holes to total depth (TD). In over-pressured basins, the use of
liquids with some solids and air may be required to maintain backpressure and
control fluid influx.
Permeability testing will have determined the spacing of wells and whether or
not an operator needs to consider horizontal drilling. Low-permeability coals
with 3 ft or greater thicknesses are candidates for horizontal completions. Several
techniques for drilling horizontal wells in unconventional reservoirs have been
proven. Drilling multi-laterals in-seam using two wellbores has proven
successful for one operator.1
Air drilling may be required to drill through an area of strip mining that has been
reclaimed. The rubble pile, or spoils, that are buried at the surface have high
permeability and will not allow circulation of conventional fluids. Air drilling
allows circulation of the hole while drilling to surface-casing depth.
Conventional drilling with fluids may be needed to maintain hole stability
because of soft formations or influx of fluids. In this case, fresh water or
formation brine is preferred to limit damage to the coals, but achieving a slight
underbalance is still desirable.

June 2007

Well Construction 283

Coalbed Methane: Principles and Practices

5.1.1 Drill Bits

The choice of bits used in drilling coal is determined by the drilling technique.
Air drilling is done with air-hammer bits. Fluid drilling is commonly done with
tri-cone rotary bits. Coal is generally softer than limestone or sandstone.
Horizontal penetration rates can approach 100 ft/hr using water to circulate
through a rotary bit.

5.1.2 Drilling Fluids

The selection of a drilling fluid for CBM wells should be made only after review
of the geologic setting of the coals. Minimal use of surfactants, lost-circulation
solids, and polymers will reduce the risk of permeability damage. If air or mist is
chosen for a drilling fluid, no other additives are required. Foams will require the
addition of a surfactant to provide foaming properties when mixed with the air.
Drilling mud may be required for pressure maintenance.
Air drilling and use of freshwater systems are both economical and
environmentally appealing. Air drilling increases rate of penetration and reduces
cost because no mud is used; many wells are drilled to TD in 1 or 2 days.
Lost-circulation problems are greatly reduced with air drilling and fewer cuttings
are generated for disposal. Most coal basins now have access to air-drilling units.
Horizontal sections may be drilled with water and tri-cone bits, but the vertical
portion of the hole is lightened with injected air. This maintains an underbalance
pressure on the formation. The operator must be ready to process and control an
increasing volume of methane gas liberated by the drilling of multiple horizontal
laterals in the coalseam. Some patterns can approach 25,000 linear feet of
openhole horizontal coal.

284 Well Construction

June 2007

Coalbed Methane: Principles and Practices

5.2

Cementing

Cementing CBM wells is comparable to cementing conventional wells except for

the need to control fluid invasion into the delicate cleat system. While the hole
may be drilled underbalanced with air or lightweight fluid systems, the
cementing operation must be slightly overbalanced to prevent free-gas migration
into the cement column after placement is accomplished. Following best
practices for optimum flow rates, conditioning of the hole and centralization of
the casing will help ensure complete isolation of the coal intervals and aid in
directing the stimulation treatment.
Optimum flow rates should remove mud, drilling fluids, coal fines, and
lost-circulation material (LCM); in general, higher pump rates clean the hole
more effectively. Because most CBM wells are drilled with clear fluids, mud
removal is not a major factor; placing a cement blend without damaging the coal
is the fundamental objective.
Conditioning a CBM well vertically drilled with drilling mud would include
reducing the viscosity (Pv) and yield point (Yp) as low as possible to obtain a flat
gel-strength profile. Fluid-loss control should be lowered to reduce the filter cake
across permeable zones. In horizontal sections, the viscosity may need to be
increased to improve hole stability.
For air-drilled holes, circulating the hole with water or gel sweeps, to remove
fines and to pre-wet the hole, allows placement of cement and helps prevent
dehydration of the cement slurry before placement. Reactive spacers may be
needed to help prevent lost circulation.
For compatibility, spacers and flushes should be matched to the drilling system.
Separating reactive spacers from the cement slurry is a must. Follow the service
companys guidelines for spacers and flushes with specific cement blends and for
volumes recommended for various holes sizes. Cementing best practice is to
provide 710 minutes of exposure to the spacer fluids for adequate hole cleaning
in the annular space. Pump rates that provide turbulent flow while maintaining
low circulating pressures (equivalent circulating densities [ECD]) are
recommended.

June 2007

Well Construction 285

Coalbed Methane: Principles and Practices

Pipe centralization across the coalseams is required to obtain maximum zonal

isolation. If cementing back into a surface pipe, additional centralization should
be used to ensure a complete cement sheath. Standoff calculations can be made
by a service company to determine the recommended number of centralizers. In
horizontal sections, the use of rigid centralizers is recommended to reduce
sticking of the pipe while running.
Pipe movement is preferred to improve cement coverage, and rotation of the pipe
is preferred over reciprocation. The chance of sticking the pipe at the wrong
depth is minimized with rotation; surge pressures on the coalseams are also
eliminated. Pipe movement is not recommended if cementing through a packer
shoe or multiple stage cementer.
Gas-flow potential can be difficult to measure for wells drilled underbalanced.
Gas migration will leave channels in the cement and can result in a poor cement
bond that compromises the containment of the stimulation treatment. The use of
short transition-time cements, such as thixotropic blends, is preferred. Cement
additives that generate gas in situ after the cement is placed can also alleviate gas
migration.

5.2.1 Foam Cement

Foam cement provides ductile, secure, and long-lasting zonal isolation for CBM
wells. The light weight of foam cement places less pressure on the unique cleat
structures of coalbeds, reducing the tendency of the cement to exceed the fracture
gradient of the coal. If the gradient is exceeded, the coal formation may break
down and cause the cement to be lost to the formation rather than cementing the
casing into place as designed.
In extensive laboratory testing, foam cement surrounding casing was exposed to
hundreds of casing expansions and contractions caused by internal casing
pressure changes without apparent damage to the cement sheath. Conventional
cements tested simultaneously did not demonstrate such ductility and lost bond
with the casing. The tests demonstrated that a foam-cemented annulus could
absorb elastically the pressure-induced stresses.2
286 Well Construction

June 2007

Coalbed Methane: Principles and Practices

During primary cementing, foam cement can help prevent formation breakdown,
lost circulation, and post-job cement fallback. The extremely light weight of
foam cement makes it especially useful as lost-circulation plugs where
conventional methods of cementing may not be applicable. Slurries that contain
less water are usually stronger than those that carry a high percentage of water.
With inert gas as a filler material, slurries of even very low density can still have
high solids content, which contributes to the ultimate strength of the cement
sheath.

5.2.2 Lightweight Additives

Although many types of cement have been used, the simplest type is Class A
(Type 1) common Portland cement. This cement is mixed at a density of 15.6
lb/gal for neat blends; the density can be lowered with additional additives.
Bentonite, pozzolans, glass microspheres, particles of coal or asphalt, and fibrous
materials can all be used to lighten the density and help prevent lost circulation.
Because coal contains many natural fractures, or cleats, it is preferable to use a
granular material for curing lost circulation. Acid-soluble additives can make
removal easier during the completion but usually add to the density. A number of
blends have been developed that incorporate combinations of the above additives
to reduce weights to a 11.512.0 lb/gal cement density while still helping prevent
lost circulation and providing excellent zonal isolation. Best practice is to contact
the local service company representative to learn about blends being used in the
area. Blend modifications can be made to fit the requirements of a particular
project.

June 2007

Well Construction 287

Coalbed Methane: Principles and Practices

References
1

Schoenfeldt, H.V., Zupanik, J., Wight, D.R., and Stevens, S.H.: "Unconventional Reservoirs in the US and Overseas," Proceedings, International
Coalbed Methane Symposium, Tuscaloosa, AL (May 3-7, 2004) 441.

Technical Data Sheet HO2656: "Foam Cement Delivers Long-Term Zonal

Isolation and Decreases Remedial Costs," Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
2001.

288 Well Construction

June 2007