Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and Production

The stable carbon isotope ratios of coalbed methane (CBM) demonstrate diagnostic changes that systematically vary with production and desorption times. These shifts can provide decisive, predictive information on the behaviour and potential performance of CBM operations. Samples from producing CBM w...

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Main Authors: Martin Niemann, Michael J. Whiticar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-06-01
Series:Geosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/7/2/43
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author Martin Niemann
Michael J. Whiticar
author_facet Martin Niemann
Michael J. Whiticar
author_sort Martin Niemann
collection DOAJ
description The stable carbon isotope ratios of coalbed methane (CBM) demonstrate diagnostic changes that systematically vary with production and desorption times. These shifts can provide decisive, predictive information on the behaviour and potential performance of CBM operations. Samples from producing CBM wells show a general depletion in 13C-methane with increasing production times and corresponding shifts in δ13C-CH4 up to 35.8‰. Samples from canister desorption experiments show mostly enrichment in 13C for methane with increasing desorption time and isotope shifts of up to 43.4‰. Also, 13C-depletion was observed in some samples with isotope shifts of up to 32.1‰. Overall, the magnitudes of the observed isotope shifts vary considerably between different sample sets, but also within samples from the same source. The δ13C-CH4 values do not have the anticipated signature of methane generated from coal. This indicates that secondary processes, including desorption and diffusion, can influence the values. It is also challenging to deconvolute these various secondary processes because their molecular and isotope effects can have similar directions and/or magnitudes. In some instances, significant alteration of CBM gases has to be considered as a combination of secondary alteration effects.
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spelling doaj.art-28387ea353b04ee486cac8247e4ae2ec2022-12-22T01:23:50ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632017-06-01724310.3390/geosciences7020043geosciences7020043Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and ProductionMartin Niemann0Michael J. Whiticar1Statoil ASA, Martin Linges Vei 33, 1330 Fornebu, NorwaySchool of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3050, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, CanadaThe stable carbon isotope ratios of coalbed methane (CBM) demonstrate diagnostic changes that systematically vary with production and desorption times. These shifts can provide decisive, predictive information on the behaviour and potential performance of CBM operations. Samples from producing CBM wells show a general depletion in 13C-methane with increasing production times and corresponding shifts in δ13C-CH4 up to 35.8‰. Samples from canister desorption experiments show mostly enrichment in 13C for methane with increasing desorption time and isotope shifts of up to 43.4‰. Also, 13C-depletion was observed in some samples with isotope shifts of up to 32.1‰. Overall, the magnitudes of the observed isotope shifts vary considerably between different sample sets, but also within samples from the same source. The δ13C-CH4 values do not have the anticipated signature of methane generated from coal. This indicates that secondary processes, including desorption and diffusion, can influence the values. It is also challenging to deconvolute these various secondary processes because their molecular and isotope effects can have similar directions and/or magnitudes. In some instances, significant alteration of CBM gases has to be considered as a combination of secondary alteration effects.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/7/2/43coalcoalbed methanecoal seam gascoal seam methaneshale gascanister desorptionproductiongas compositionstable carbon isotopesstable hydrogen isotopesgeochemistry
spellingShingle Martin Niemann
Michael J. Whiticar
Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and Production
Geosciences
coal
coalbed methane
coal seam gas
coal seam methane
shale gas
canister desorption
production
gas composition
stable carbon isotopes
stable hydrogen isotopes
geochemistry
title Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and Production
title_full Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and Production
title_fullStr Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and Production
title_full_unstemmed Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and Production
title_short Stable Isotope Systematics of Coalbed Gas during Desorption and Production
title_sort stable isotope systematics of coalbed gas during desorption and production
topic coal
coalbed methane
coal seam gas
coal seam methane
shale gas
canister desorption
production
gas composition
stable carbon isotopes
stable hydrogen isotopes
geochemistry
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/7/2/43
work_keys_str_mv AT martinniemann stableisotopesystematicsofcoalbedgasduringdesorptionandproduction
AT michaeljwhiticar stableisotopesystematicsofcoalbedgasduringdesorptionandproduction