Pennsylvania Coalbed Methane Update

Markowski, Antonette K.
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, Harrisburg, PA

Pennsylvania has approximately 250 CBM wells in commercial production as of March 2004. About 485 permits since 1938 reflect wells exhibiting serendipitous discoveries of gas from coal, unsuccessful attempts at CBM, and various degrees of CBM production. Target depths range from less than 200 feet in Fayette County to 2,162 feet in Greene County. Total production for 2002 is 1.7 Bcf.

The largest CBM project in Pennsylvania, operated by Belden and Blake Corporation, produces mainly from the Blairsville field, Campbells Mill pool in Indiana County. Production is also in Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. Total gas production is 3,200 Mcf, ranging from 2 to 75 Mcfd. Coals of the Conemaugh Group, Allegheny Formation, and Pottsville Formation are targets.

Areas of mainly gob gas production in Greene and Washington Counties include the following: 1) LAHD Energy, Incorporated – 50 to 60 Mcfd from the Upper Freeport coal in the Munster field, unnamed pool. 2) CNX Gas Company, LLC (CONSOL Energy, Incorporated subsidiary) – 350 Mcfd from the Pittsburgh coal in the abandoned Blacksville #1 mine. Five vertical fracture wells exhibited low amounts of gas from the Ashtree field, Fish Creek pool. Three of five horizontal well projects in the Ashtree field, unnamed pool yield 100 to 350 Mcfd from the Sewickley and Pittsburgh seams. 3) Greene Energy, LLC (CONSOL Energy, Incorporated subsidiary) – 4 MMcfd (2.5 MMcfd to sales) from the Pittsburgh coal in the active Blacksville #2 mine. 4) Jesmar Energy, Incorporated Varner #1 –150 Mcfd from the Pittsburgh coal in the Lagonda field, South Franklin pool of Washington County.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90031©2004 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, October 3-5, 2004