Possible controls of hydrogeological and stress regimes on the producibility of coalbed methane in Upper Cretaceous–Tertiary strata of the Alberta basin, Canada

摘要: The coalbed methane potential and producibility of any coal-bearing strata are strongly affected by the hydrogeological regime formation waters coal permeability, which in turn depends on effective stress coals. Peat that accumulated Alberta basin during Late Cretaceous early Tertiary led to deposits may contain significant resources. flow plays an important role maintenance this resource. present-day is driven gravity (topography) erosional rebound controlled rock permeability presence gas-saturated sandstones. estimated gas place Tertiary–Upper coals decreases significantly with stratigraphic age, ranging between less than 2 bcf/mi2 lower zones 12 uppermost content, especially deeper coals, would be expected for corresponding rank burial depth, most likely because underpressuring has caused release from accumulation adjacent sands. shallow although low rank, amounts late-stage biogenic methane. salinity water seams, where topography, low, generally 1500 mg/L, places, it reaches 3000–5000 mg/L. deeper, underpressured west-central part higher, reaching 18,000 This affects treatment and/or disposal strategies regard produced concurrent methane.The resource west-southwestward increasing order several darcys millidarcys deep zones. minimum stress, closing fractures, increases zero at edge these approximately 20 MPa near Rocky Mountain deformation front. Fractures, including those will vertical propagate a southwest-northeast axis along direction maximum horizontal perpendicular front.Considering regimes conjunction estimations content region probably good Ardley zone Scollard Formation maybe, lesser extent, stratigraphically Edmonton Belly River groups their respective subcrop central southern Alberta. western have reduced as result permeability. These regional considerations need applied against local studies thickness, identify best targets exploration production.