Wellsite, Core, Sampling, and Laboratory Procedures

Overview
Reliable prediction of the gas-in-place reserves of a potential coal seam reservoir depends on
accurate measurements of gas content from samples of coal collected from reservoir depths. Other
associated laboratory tests on these or companion samples are necessary to properly characterize
the properties of the coal reservoir rock so that a geological and petrophysical evaluation can be
performed. These data will be coupled with permeability and well test information to forecast
production. That production forecast is the basis for the determination of the economic viability of
the project.
The principal goal of the early-drilled wells in any coal seam gas prospect assessment is to
safely, efficiently, and effectively collect core samples for such testing. This document contains
background information and standard procedures for pre-coring preparations, coring, sampling, core
and select sample handling, disposition of samples for other testing, and the requirements for the
ultimate archival of samples.
Much of the following introductory material is based upon Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 6 of the McLennan
et al. (1995) GRI publication. Chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10 of that same publication deal with planning,
collecting coal core samples, desorbed gas content testing equipment, and collecting desorbed gas
content data. I strongly urge the reader to read, understand, and use this valuable publication to
understand more about the process.

Introduction
Introduct ion
A coal bed gas reservoir is different than a conventional reservoir in many ways. It is together
both source and reservoir of the gas; it stores and produces the gas through a unique adsorptiondesorption mechanism; it is comprised of a rock which has physical and chemical properties
dramatically different than most other reservoir rocks; it is dependent upon flow through a naturally
occurring system of cleat fractures, and; it almost always requires dewatering before significant
volumes of gas can be produced. Recognize, however, that the bulk of the technology applied to
drilling, coring, sampling, testing, completing, and producing coal seam gas wells are merely
adaptations of conventional practices, not something totally foreign and unique. For that reason, this
paper will concentrate on the aspects of a coal seam project assessment program that will differ
from conventional coring operations. It will not touch on aspects of drilling, coring, etc. that are
essentially normal operating procedures.
The bulk of the gas within coal beds is adsorbed onto the surfaces of the microscopic organic
particles that comprise the coal rock matrix. Only a small fraction of the gas in the coalbed reservoir
is in the form of free gas in pore space, as it occurs in conventional reservoirs. Rather, the limited
macropores within the coal rock and within the fracture (cleat
cleat)
cleat spaces are typically water-filled. The
adsorbed gas of the coal reservoir is released, or desorbed,
desorbed when the reservoir temperature is
drawn-down by flowing or pumping water out of the coal seam. As dewatering reduces the
reservoir pressure, the gas desorbs from the coal matrix, diffuses through the matrix micropore
system to the coals macropore/natural fracture network, through which it may flow to the well bore.
The principal goal of such an assessment program is to capture coal core samples from the
deeply buried prospective coal seams. The removal of the reservoir pressure, as the core is tripped
to the surface, causes the coal to begin to release its adsorbed gas. Coal samples need to be placed
quickly into a sealable canister,
canister before much gas is lost to the atmosphere. The amount of gas
released by the coal after it is sealed in the canister can be measured with a simple volumetric
apparatus. The gas that desorbs from the coal as the core is cut and recovered, before it can be
sealed in the canister goes unmeasured and is called lost gas.
gas In contrast, the gas that desorbs after
the sample is canned and is measured is known as measured
measured gas.
gas After a period of time, sometimes
a month or more, a sample will no longer release measurable volumes of gas, but will still retain minor
adsorbed gas. This residual gas is released by crushing the coal to a medium sand-size (0.50-0.25
mm), then measured volumetrically. Although it is part of the total gas content of the coal, the
residual gas is not recoverable by our development operations and as such is not included in our
determination of the gas available to be produced. By measuring the amount of gas released,
calculating the lost gas, and summing the two, we determine the desorbed gas content of the coal,
our in-place reserve.
lost gas + measured gas + residual gas = total gas
lost gas + measured gas = desorbed gas in-place

The lost gas volume may be a significant portion of the desorbed gas content. It is critical for us
to know several pertinent parameters and the time at which certain key points in the coring and
recovery process are reached for the calculation of the lost gas volume. These include drilling fluid
type and density, drilling fluid and known or estimated formation temperature, time when the core
was cut, the time spent tripping out of the hole, the time between when the core reached the surface
and when the sample is sealed in the canister, surface ambient temperature and atmospheric
pressure, and time when the sample is restabilized at reservoir temperature in the canister. Using
this information and the measured gas volumes plotted as a function of time, we can extrapolate
across that period during which the core was loosing gas before the sample could be sealed in the
canister (lost
lost gas time).
time There are three common methods of calculating the lost gas volume: the
U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) Direct Method, the Smith and Williams Decline Curve Method, and the
Amoco Method. All three are forms of extrapolation estimation from the measured gas volumes. The
difference between the estimate by any one of these methods compared to the others is small if the
lost gas time is reasonably short. The question of which method to use can be circumvented by
quickly sealing the coal samples in canisters.
The adsorption-desorption phenomenon is also temperature dependent. For this reason, the
desorption canisters need to be quickly returned to and held at reservoir temperature for the length of
the testing. In an attempt to accelerate the desorbed gas content testing, some operators and/or
contractors have conducted desorption tests at elevated temperatures. Because coal is a thermally
unstable substance, highly susceptible to oxidation and other chemical changes at elevated
temperatures, this is bad laboratory practice.. The coal cores or the desorption samples should
not be exposed to elevated temperatures (ca. >5C above
ab ove reservoir temperature) at any time.
The measured gas, calculated lost gas, and total desorbed gas volumes are corrected to standard
reservoir temperature and pressure. The sample net weight is determined and the gas content
reported as standard cm3/g or scf/t. This may be on either a raw-coal basis or, more commonly, on a
dry, ash-free (daf) or dry, mineral matter-free (dmmf) basis.
The gas liberated during the canister desorption tests is not pure methane, but rather like most
natural gases, it is a mixture of various components. It typically contains a significant amount of
carbon dioxide as well as nitrogen, ethane, and possibly heavier hydrocarbons. The different gas
components will vary from sample to sample. Because the coal has a differential capacity to adsorb
each of these distinct gases, and because the gas composition determines its utility and price, it is
critical that at least one sample of the desorbed gas be taken so that its mix of components can be
analyzed. The composition of the liberated gas often will change through the course of the long
desorption test, so it is important to sample the gas at least once early (first day) in the testing
procedure, and then again later during the desorption test period.
period
After the canister desorption tests are complete, these same samples will be used for several
other laboratory tests. In this way, much of the analytical data, being derived from the self-same

samples, can be correlated directly to the gas content information. These tests include:
Proximate analysisanalysis- a collective term for a battery of tests to determine the following coal
component parameters:
moisture - the weight loss of a ground coal sample after drying for 1 hour at 105 F
(40.5 C);
ash - the weight of remaining material after combustion under specific conditions in
an oxygen-rich atmosphere;
volatile matter - the weight loss after volatilization of a sample of the coal at 950 C in
an oxygen-poor atmosphere, and;
fixed carbon - essentially the difference the sum weight-percent of moisture + ash +
volatile matter from the whole (100%) coal.
Ultimate analysis - the collective determination of the elemental composition of the coal sample
in terms of C, H, N, S, ash, moisture, and O (by difference).
Adsorption isotherm
isoth erm - a laboratory test, conducted under isothermal (constant temperature)
conditions to measure the capacity for the coal to adsorb gas under varying pressure1.
Maceral composition and vitrinite reflectance (rank) - These microscopic observations are
used to fundamentally characterize the petrographic composition of the coal rock.

Other tests, may be conducted on these or companion samples from the cores, as deemed necessary
and prudent. These may include, hardness, grindability, triaxial compressive strength, x-ray
diffraction mineralogy (of ash, fracture-fillings, and interbedded lithologies), and detailed cleat
fracture description.
The goal of this combination of tests is to characterize the coal rock and access its quality as a
prospective coalbed gas reservoir. Much of this information will be the basis for continuing
geological, petrophysical and geophysical characterization of the coals and associated strata. Many
of the parameters determined in these tests will be critical to the quantification necessary to simulate
the production characteristics and forecast the production of gas and water from the prospective
coal reservoirs. As such, the core samples gathered represent the physical basis upon which the
geological, engineering, and economic decisions governing this project will be made. Because the
number of cored wells to be drilled will be few and amount of sample material gathered limited, it is
important that these operations be well planned and properly executed. The procedures in this
document are meant to facilitate these various operations.

This gas storage capacity of a coal is different for various gases (CO2, CH4, N2, etc). For this reason, a
multi-component gas, approximating the gas recovered from the canister desorption tests, should be used to conduct
the adsorption isotherm determinations.

Planning Coring
Desorption measurements can be performed on a variety of different sample types, including drill
cuttings, percussion sidewall cores, rotary sidewall cores, conventional full-diameter core, wirelineretrieved whole core, or pressure core. The technology used to cut the samples and retrieve them to
the surface is governed by the objectives of the operation, borehole conditions, equipment
availability, and monetary constraints.
It may be preferable in many instances to collect wireline-retrieved (continuous) core which may
be brought to the surface more quickly than conventional core, but in these relatively shallow wells
the trip time should be short enough that such would not provide a major advantage in significantly
reducing the lost gas time for these samples.
The drilling mud used during any coring operation should be compatible with the objectives of the
coring project while it also performs the necessary functions of pressure control, lifting cuttings,
controlling filtrate invasion, and cooling and lubricating the drilling tools. Because the target coal
formation is both chemically sensitive and dependent upon natural fracturing for its permeability, it is
often recommended that a simple, water-based, balanced or slightly under-balanced mud be used.
The differential pressure between the mud column and the formation to be cored should be kept to a
minimum to avoid flushing. Strong acids or strong bases (including caustic and sodium carbonate)
should not be used and the pH of the mud should be maintained as close to neutral as feasibly
possible. Ideally, surfactants, emulsifiers, dispersants (lignin, tannin, lignosulfonates), organophosphates, organic solvents, or organic polymers and polymer breakers should not be used because
of their potential to react with and damage the coal formation and core. Although they may be
necessary, lost circulation materials should be used in amounts minimally sufficient and chosen
wisely because they may cause plugging and/or malfunction of the close-tolerance parts of the
coring tools. Shredded cellophane, micas, and abrasive LCMs should be avoided. A low
concentration of KCl will do no damage, but only very minor tonsteins or thin ash-fall beds of swelling
smectitic clay shales are expected to be encountered in the coal-bearing strata.
Preparations for Core Sampling and Testing
The single most important question to answer before drilling begins is how many desorption
canisters will be needed on-site for each well. This will depend upon the thickness and stratigraphic
packaging of the coals to be cored.
The desired sampling density for a desorption testing program would be to collect one desorption
sample representative of each 1 to 2 m in thick ( >3 m) coal seams, two desorption samples from each
moderately thick (1 - 3 m) coal seam, and a single (one) sample from each thin (0.25 - 1 m) coal seam.
Very thin (<0.25m) seams need not be sampled. One or two additional samples of bony (i.e.,
argillaceous) coal and carbonaceous shale should also be taken from each well. By applying such a
scheme and to an available offset log or continuous core description, an estimate of the number of

canisters needed on-site can be made. In practice, the samples gathered for gas content testing will
vary from well to well, being governed by the thickness of the coals, recovery, and condition of the
coal cores, not to mention the whims of the wellsite geologist. An estimate of reservoir temperature
needs to be made prior to drilling so that the desorption canisters can be pre-heated to that
temperature.
It is important that a conscious effort be made in the sample selection to be sure to gather
samples representative of all grades of coals and not bias the data set to only the clean, bright,
blocky coals. This is necessary to have a set of samples that represent the full range of coals in
terms of gas content and ash.
In addition to the desorption samples, other non-systematic grab samples should be taken from
the coals and the intervening strata. Porous sandstones may be sampled for standard core analysis
(porosity, grain density, and permeability) and possibly for petrography. Shale interbeds can be
sampled for x-ray diffractometry and palynology. Provision should be made for appropriate sample
bags and packaging for shipping, in addition to the equipment for the desorption samples. Much of
the other testing will be conducted on cuts from the canister samples after the desorption tests are
completed. This allows one to tie many of the other coal parameters directly to the desorbed gas
content.

Getting Ready to Core

Prior to arriving on wellsite, kindly assure that the following equipment and materials will be
available on-site:

Personal protective equipment

Coring operations logsheets, core description sheets, gas desorption log sheets, record
notebooks, and coring check list needed to record coring operations data
Stopwatch to record time data used to estimate lost gas
Tools to disassemble core barrel
An abundance of rags to wipe down core
Hammer to break and sample core
Tape measure and indelible markers (blue or black, and red) and yellow chalk or paint
marker to measure and mark core
Desorption canisters, prepared to receive core samples and weighed
Sample poly bags to maintain core integrity within the canisters
Anaeroid barometer and thermometer to measure ambient atmospheric conditions
Adequate power to raise and maintain canisters at reservoir temperature during
desorption testing
Hand lens, grain-size card, dilute HCl, rock color chart, etc. to describe core
Packing material, core boxes, pallets, and shipping crates to protect, package, and
transport cores.

To ensure a competent coring and sampling program, the operations geologist will need to
carefully coordinate the scheduling of persons involved in the drilling and coring of the well, including
the mudlogging, wireline logging, core service, and testing personnel.

On Wellsite
During Coring
At core point, the wellbore will need to be circulated clean of solids, the drilling mud conditioned
for coring, and the drill string tripped-out to rig-up and run-in with the coring assembly. At this time,
all necessary personnel and equipment should be on-site and the coring objectives and procedures
reviewed.
Check the pipe tally and strap. This is a source of the all too common, potentially fatal confusion
of depths during coring. Observe the assembly of the downhole coring equipment, particularly the
retrievable section(s) of the core barrel and the core catcher. Be available and ready when the string
tags on bottom. Record the appropriate parameters for the downhole equipment, drilling fluid,
operations to that point, anticipated core interval, and any notes.
To begin cutting the core, the driller should have the string slightly off bottom, with the kelly
rotating the string at a stable rate. Then slowly and carefully lower the string onto bottom and
gradually increase weight-on-bit. Record the time that coring begins. Try to keep the rate of rotation
(RPM) and weight-on-bit as constant as possible. Monitor and record the rate of penetration (ROP)
for each foot of core cut. The ROP can be used to estimate the depth and thickness of coal cut
because the relatively weak coal is easily cut and has a rapid penetration rate. This will help with the
preparations to receive the core at the surface. Record time data immediately and accurately. It is
critical to the calculation of the lost gas.
Finish cutting the desired core interval. Shut down the mud pumps before lifting off bottom and
stopping rotation. This helps to firmly seat the base of the cored interval in the core barrel shoe.
Record the time coring ceases. When the driller lifts off bottom you may see the core break on the
weight indicator. The crew will then rig up to recover the wireline-retrievable portion of the core
barrel. Record the time that the core starts off bottom and the time that it reaches the surface.

Handling the Core at the Surface

One of the primary objectives is to minimize the time between when the core starts off bottom
until the coal samples are sealed into the desorption canisters. To do this, proper care should be
taken to ensure that everything and everyone is prepared when the core barrel arrives at the surface.
If we are not prepared, significant time will be lost. It is important to follow organized and efficient
procedures for handling the core. Overexposing the coal core pieces to atmospheric conditions
before they are sealed into the desorption canisters can cause errors introduced into the desorbed
gas determinations.
The coal samples should be able to be sealed into the canisters within twenty minutes at most
from the time that the core barrel is laid down on the catwalk. To ensure this and that the core is
properly marked and labeled, there must be a well defined and efficient division of labor among the
available wellsite personnel. This should be determined and reviewed prior to the time that the first
core comes to the surface. Unfortunately, it cannot typically be planned much in advance because of
the variable nature of the personnel who will (or will not) be available on the drilling site when the
core actually arrives. It is the responsibility of the company operations geologist (or other designated
responsible party) to assure that all jobs are covered and that everyone available to help knows just
what they will be doing with the core when it arrives at the surface.
I cannot stress enough the need to choreograph this particular aspect of the coring operation. It
is not hard, but it does take some thought and cooperation.
Remembering that time is of the essence, the following series of jobs will need to be efficiently
done, roughly in this sequence:
1)

The core barrel will be recovered to the floor on a sand line or other wireline. Note the time on
the record sheet. Note the ambient temperature and barometric pressure.

2)

Gently hoist the core, just high enough to clear the rig floor, with all hands keeping clear of the
base of the core assembly, and lay the core barrel down on the catwalk.
catwalk

3)

Remove the core shoe carefully.. Stand clear of the end because the interior of the core
barrel may be pressurized. Open the split inner core barrel. Do not disturb the core if at all
possible. If sections are disturbed, refit them in their original position and spacing as best as
possible.

4)

Wipe down the upper surface of the core with dry, clean rags, taking care to not move or disturb
the core.. Do not wash the core.
co re. Mark the length of the core with two parallel lines using
a red and a black, blue, or yellow indelible marker or paintpaint -pen. The red line should be on
the right as you stand over the core, looking in the upup -hole direction. (Red on right upup hole.)
Measure the core from top to bottom, marking each 1 ft. with a horizontal line on the upper half

5)

of the core, first. Then, each piece with the 1 ft. marks can be picked up, the lower half wiped
clean, and the horizontal line continued around the whole core. Again, try very hard to not
disturb the core any more than necessary. One must be very careful with the coal core pieces.
It is better to leave them unmarked, rather than disturb them greatly. Label each 1 ft. with the
proper depth. Note the loss and % recovery.
6)

The geologist should then briefly scan along the core and mark the points at which the 30-35 cm
(ca. 1 ft) -long desorption samples should be collected. Very cursorily describe each while
noting the depths. These can be described in detail
det ail later,
later after the desorption tests are
complete. For now, just note the lithology, relative degree of cleating, condition of the coal core,
and if the sample is visibly evolving gas at the time the sample is canned. Use any convenient
means to mark the sampling points, but remember that most marking devices dont work well on
wet, black coal. Strips of rag or paper towels work well enough. Be quick about it!

7)

Another worker should be following along immediately behind the geologist to can the
desorption samples as quickly as possible. Wipe away any excess mud with a clean rag. It is
acceptable to use a moist rag or even a little rinse water, but take care not to saturate the core
or to disturb the core any more than necessary. Place the samples in poly bags previously
weighed and marked. These bags allow for easy handling of the often fragmented coal samples,
and help to maintain their integrity.

8)

Place the coal core sample into a desorption canister of known volume. You can often fill the
canister with fragmented pieces of coal from that portion of the core. Be sure that the sample is
moist, but not saturated. Wipe clean the sealing surfaces of the canister. Seal the canister.
Note the sample number, sample depths (top and bottom), canister number, time, ambient
temperature, and barometric pressure on the Gas Desorption Logsheet.

9)

As quickly as possible complete steps 6-8 above for all of the coal core samples. Again, keeping
lost gas time to a minimum is imperative!

10) The canisters should be returned to reservoir temperature as quickly as possible. The gathering
of the measured gas volumes will begin almost immediately. Many readings will be taken early
in the testing procedure. This will improve the accuracy of the lost gas calculations.
These procedures will be repeated with each core as it is retrieved. A detailed core description and
further sampling of the core may be done later under laboratory conditions, but the observations
made on wellsite may be critical. Careful marking and making notes at the time the core is taken
eliminates many questions and potential errors that often cannot be rectified. Again, it is extremely
important to move along so that the desorption samples can be sealed in the canisters quickly,
minimizing the lost gas time.

Collecting Desorbed Gas Content Data

Determining the desorbable gas content and the in-place gas reserves of a coal seam reservoir
requires accurate measurements of gas desorption data. The processes used are essentially one or
another modifications of the U.S. Bureau of Mines Direct Method (e.g., Kissell, et al., 1975).
Fundamentally, the modern adapted procedure is as follows:
1)

Collect the coal sample(s) from their in situ condition at reservoir depth, seeking to
not disturb the coal any more than possible, and place into a sealed canister at
surface conditions as quickly as possible.

2)

While maintaining the coal sample within the sealed canister at reservoir temperature
but essentially atmospheric pressure, measure the volume of gas desorbed and
emitted from the sample. This process begins on wellsite soon after the sample is
sealed in the canister and continues in the laboratory for an extended period.

3)

During the desorbed gas measurements, collect desorbed gas sample(s) for
compositional analysis.

4)

Continue the measurements of the desorbed gas until they fall below 10 cm3/day for
seven consecutive days. Accurately measure the canister head space volume. The
canister can then be opened to make a detailed description of the lithologic character
and cleat fracture network of the desorbed sample.

5)

Following the commonly used variation of the Diamond and Levine (1981) method
outlined in McLennan, Schafer, and Pratt (1995), determine the residual gas content
by crushing the sample (or better a representative sub-sample) and measuring the
evolved gas. Although the residual gas, much like residual, immobile oil in a
conventional rock, does not contribute to producible reserve, but still must be
accurately determined.

6)

Calculate the volume of gas that was lost from the coal sample between its removal
from the in situ reservoir conditions until it was sealed in the canister, using one or
more of the established methods (i.e., modified direct methods and/or decline curve
methods).

7)

Correct the measured gas volumes to standard temperature and pressure conditions
and correct for expansion of the gas into the canister head space.

8)

Determine the non-coal fraction of the sample by measuring the moisture content and
ash content of the coal by the standard ASTM D-3173 and D-3174 methods and
correct the gas contents to a dry, ash-free (daf) basis.

9)

Certain canister desorption samples will then be selected for further testing, such as

adsorption isotherm determinations, coal petrography, palynology, ultimate analysis,

x-ray diffractometry, etc.
Details on many of the above procedures and specifics on equipment used can be found in the GRI
publication A Guide to Determining Coalbed Gas Content by McLennan, Schafer, and Pratt (1995),
Chapters 9 and 10, or in specific references that they cite. The procedures that they have outlined in
that publication are the standard industry practices.
The measurement of the desorbed gas needs to start soon after the canister is sealed. The early
measurements are critical to the accurate calculation of the lost gas value, particularly when using
the decline curve method. For this reason, many readings will be taken in the first two days (on
wellsite). Readings should be taken as close as possible to the following times after each sample is
sealed-in:
10 min
20 min
30 min
40 min
50 min
60 min

75 min
90 min
105 min
120 min
150 min
180 min

4 hr
5 hr
6 hr
8 hr
10 hr
12 hr

16 hr
20 hr
24 hr
32 hr
40 hr
48 hr

then once every 24 hours thereafter. Normally the samples are moved to a more suitable laboratory
location after two or three days. The core-containing canisters should be kept at the elevated, nearreservoir temperature during transport to the lab. If not, the period that they are not kept heated
should be as short as possible and no measurements should be taken until they are restabilized at
reservoir temperature. Proper care should be taken to avoid exposure to temperatures 5C
5C
above the estimated or measured reservoir temperature. Desorption testing process continues in
the laboratory until the desorbed gas measurements fall below 10 cm3/day for seven consecutive
days.
The demands of trying to record information at this frequency during an active coring program are
great. It will likely require that two persons be assigned directly to doing nothing but taking
desorption measurements from the canisters and recording that information. They should be
experienced in working with the desorption equipment and necessarily should have good laboratory
techniques.
One common mistake is confusing the samples after they are placed in the canisters. In addition
to a unique canister number, each of the canisters should be clearly labeled in some manner with the
well and depth from which the sample it contains comes, which needs to be advised by the drilling
co-ordinator/company man on site. Care must be taken to be sure that as the gas volumes are
measured and recorded with no confusion of which sample is producing how much gas. Record all
applicable information correctly and immediately.

It is important to collect one (or more) samples of the gas from the canister desorption tests for
compositional analysis. The gas is not pure methane. Rather, it is typically a mixture of methane,
ethane, propane and heavier hydrocarbon gases, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Each coal has a
different adsorptive capacity for each of these component gases. We will want to use a threecomponent CH4-CO2-N2 gas, mixed in the proper proportions to match the measured compositions, to
do the important adsorption isotherm tests on the coal samples. Great care should be taken when
capturing the gas samples for composition testing. Do not allow them to be contaminated with air.
Because the gas mixture desorbed from the coal changes through the course of the desorption test,
we will want to capture one gas composition sample early in the process, then another again slightly
later in the test. For consistency, it is recommended that at least one sample be taken from each
canister at the 24-hour measurement point and again at the 48-hour point. If the gas desorption
volumes stay high, we may want to catch another gas chemistry sample about day 10 in the
desorption test.
Sorption time, the time required for 63.2% of the total (including residual) desorbed gas to be
released, should be calculated after the canister desorption test is complete. The unipore diffusivity
constant of Smith and Williams (1984) should also be calculated from the desorbed gas curve. This is
in lieu of direct testing of the actual diffusion coefficient of the coal, which is impractical.

Other Analyses of Core Samples

Several other analyses may be performed on either grab samples collected directly from the core
or on the canister desorption samples after the desorption tests are completed. Using the canister
desorption samples eliminates some of the sample-to-sample variability, but it requires that the
analyses wait, often a month or more, before the additional testing can start.
Adsorption Isotherm Tests
The most important of these tests are the adsorption isotherm determinations. The adsorption
isotherm gives a direct measure, as a function of pressure, of the quantity of gas that can be
adsorbed by a unit mass of coal at a constant temperature. It is a measure of the coals capacity to
adsorb gas. When coupled with the canister desorption and reservoir pressure data, it will indicate if
the coal is fully saturated with gas or, as is the case with some coalbed reservoirs, it is
undersaturated and will require substantial pressure draw-down before significant gas can be
desorbed and produced. The shape of the isotherm curve and the Langmuir constants that describe
it are critical input to predictive reservoir simulators.
Adsorption is temperature-dependent. Because of this the test is carried out at a constant
temperature (hence isotherm). Because we are interested in the coals adsorption characteristics at
reservoir conditions, tests need to be conducted at a temperature approximating that of the in situ
reservoir, just as the canister desorption tests are.
Coals adsorb different gases at different rates. Because the composition can vary dramatically

and because each of the various gases adsorbs differently, analyzing at least one desorbed gas
sample from each canister desorption test is recomended. The measured composition of the gas can
then be used to adjust the CH4-CO2-N2 three-component gas mixture which will be used in the
adsorption isotherm test for each coal sample. Recent experience in tests performed on San Juan
Basin Fruitland Formation coals has shown just how important using such gas mixtures can be in the
correct determination of the adsorption capacity of coals.
The adsorption isotherm tests are normally performed on coal, as received, and then the results
recalculated to a dry, ash-free (daf) basis. The moisture and ash contents needed for this adjustment
are determined as part of the standard proximate analyses that should be performed on all of the
canister desorption samples.
Porosity, Permeability, and Relative Permeability
Unfortunately, because of the weak, friable nature of most high quality, low ash coals, the ones
that we would most like to test by standard core analysis methods are usually recovered in a highly
fractured state and thus are not suitable for such testing. In our San Juan Basin experience, the best
coal zones were recovered as disaggregated granule to small pebble sized rubble fragments. In the
rare cases that good coals were recovered whole, their natural cleat fractures were infiltrated with
drilling mud and mud solids, changing their properties dramatically. Care should be taken when
attempting these conventional core analyses.
Proximate Analysis
Proximate analysis is a battery of standardized tests, common to the coal industry, in which the
moisture, ash, and volatile matter contents of a coal sample are determined. The fixed carbon, or
difference between the sum of the moisture + ash + volatile matter and the whole, is calculated. The
procedure for these tests are standard and is known to any reputable coal laboratory.
Ultimate Analysis
Ultimate analysis is an elemental analysis of the chemical composition of the coal. The organic
fraction of the coal is comprised almost entirely of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen.
The determination of these five elements, together with the determination of the ash (mineral
impurities) and the moisture, comprise the ultimate analysis.
X-ray Diffractometry
X-ray diffractometry (x-ray diffraction mineralogy) determinations may be performed on aliquots
of the canister desorption coal samples and on selected grab samples of both coals and interbedded
rocks from the cores. Three types of preparations may be made: bulk rock (or bulk coal), clay-sized
fraction separates from rock, and heavy fraction separates from float/sink-treated coal.

Coal Petrography and Palynology

Coal petrology, the microscopic examination of a highly polished sample of crushed coal sample,
mounted in an acrylic puck, is used to determine the distribution and nature of the component grains
(macerals) that comprise the coal. The modal distribution of the maceral types and the reflectance of
the vitrinite macerals determine the type and rank of a subject coal. The palynology, or paleontology
of the spores of the coal plants, may be used to determine precisely the age of the coal beds, assist in
correlation, and suggest the depositional setting of individual coals.
Thin Section and SEM Petrography of Rock
A few grab samples of the associated rock strata of the coal may be selected from the cores for
thin section and, possibly, scanning electron microscope (SEM) petrography. This is used to
determine the texture, composition, and potential reservoir properties of the selected samples.
Detailed Core Descriptions
In addition to the cursory wellsite core descriptions, the recovered cores should be cleaned,
slabbed, and described in detail geologically. This may include lithologic, sedimentologic, ichnologic,
and fracture descriptions.
Mechanical Properties
If suitable samples are obtained, a few may be selected for triaxial compression tests under in
situ confining stress conditions. The objective of these tests is to determine the mechanical
properties (i.e., Youngs modulus, Poissons ratio, and strength) of the sampled lithologies (both coal
and rock). These data can be used in fracture stimulation design and to answer mechanical
questions about the coals and intervening strata.

Core and Sample Handling

and Final Disposition
Coal cores and samples are typically friable, easily broken, and easily damaged by mishandling.
The cores and samples must be handled carefully. After sampling and description is completed on
wellsite, the cores pieces should be wrapped in cellophane (cling wrap) and then placed in sturdy
cardboard (or foam or plastic) boxes suitable for their protection. Wood or styrofoam blocks should
be included in the boxes to fill the spaces left by the absent canister desorption samples. Other
sample spaces should be similarly filled. If necessary, the core pieces should be packed in clean
rags, newspaper, or other suitable packing material to keep them from moving about inside the core
boxes. Each box should be clearly labeled (in English) with the well name, location, core number, and
depth interval of the core pieces it contains. The many boxes should be strapped on pallets and/or
sturdily crated for transportation to the laboratory. Neither the core nor the boxes containing the
cores should be exposed to the weather or temperature extremes before, during, or after shipment.
They should be stored in a cool, clean, dry, environment.
After the canister desorption and other tests are completed, the remainder of the desorption
samples should be carefully replaced into the cores in their proper location. After sampling and
testing are complete, the cores may be slabbed (one-third/two-thirds, or with this small diameter
core, in half). Because of the friable nature of the core and the often weak, fissile shales in the
intervening sections, slabbing will need to be done carefully. The thin slab set, should be well
packaged and kept as a "keep set", not to be sampled further. The second, thick portion can be used
for any subsequent sampling.

References
References Cited
ASTM D-3173, 1992, Standard test method for moisture in the analysis sample of coal and coke:
in Storer, R.A. (ed.), Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 5, Petroleum Products, Lubricants
and Fossil Fuels, Vol. 05.05 Gaseous Fuels, Coal and Coke: ASTM, Philidephia, PA, p. 316-317.
ASTM D-3174, 1992, Standard test method for ash in the analysis sample of coal and coke: in
Storer, R.A. (ed.), Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 5, Petroleum Products, Lubricants
and Fossil Fuels, Vol. 05.05 Gaseous Fuels, Coal and Coke: ASTM, Philidephia, PA, p. 318-320.
Campbell, G.S., 1982, Wellsitting Rocky Mountain Wildcats: Oil Finding versus Hole Making:
Publishers Press, Salt Lake City, UT, 77 p.
Diamond, W.P., and Levine, J.R., 1981, Direct method determination of the gas content of
coal: procedures and results: US Bur Mines Rpt of Investigations, RI 8515.
Kissell, F.N., McCullough, C.M., and Elder, C.H., 1975, Direct method of determining methane
content of coals for ventilation design: US Bur Mines Rpt of Investigations, RI 7767.
McLennan, J.D., Schafer, P.D., and Pratt, T.J., 1995, Guide to Determining Coalbed Gas
Content: Gas Research Inst., GRI-94/0396, Chicago, IL, also available from Am. Assoc. Petrol.
Geol., Tulsa, OK, n. seq. num.
Moore, T.R., 1991, Coal gas desorption measurements: cuttings samples compaired with
conventional core samples: Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 75, p. 1133.
Moore, T.R., 1994, San Juan Coal Seam Project: Geological Review: Phillips Petroleum
Company, Farmington Area, proprietary report, 167 p.
Smith, D.M., and Williams, F.L., 1984, Diffusion models for gas production from coals,
application of methane content determination: Fuel, v. 63, p. 251-255.

Other Potentially Helpful References

ASTM D-388-90, 1990, Standard classification of coals by rank: in Storer, R.A. (ed.), Annual
Book of ASTM Standards, Section 5, Petroleum Products, Lubricants and Fossil Fuels, Vol. 05.05
Gaseous Fuels, Coal and Coke: ASTM, Philidephia, PA, p. 193-196.
Boade, R.R., 1989, Evaluation studies of the San Juan Basin coalbed methane project: Phillips
Petroleum Research & Services, Letter Rpt. Boade-7-89, 12 p.
Dutro, J.T., Dietrich, R.V., and Foose, R.M. (eds.) 1991, AGI Data Sheets, 3rd. ed.: Am.
Geological Inst., Annapolis Junction, MD, 294 p.
Kim, A.G., 1977, Estimating methane content of bituminous coalbeds from adsorption data: US
Bur Mines, Rpt of Investigations RI-8245, 22 p.
Kim, A.G., 1978, Experimental studies on the origin and accumulation of coalbed gas: US Bur.
Mines, Rpt of Investigations RI-8317, 18 p.
Moore, T.R., Pearson, D.L., and Boatwright, D.C., 1991, Petrologic factors controlling coal gas
contents of Fruitland Formation coals, San Juan Basin, New Mexico: Am. Assoc. Petrol.
Geol. Bull., v. 75, p. 1133.
Phillips Petroleum Company, 1981, Log Quality Control Guide: proprietary manual prepared
by Phillips Petroleum Company, Exploration Projects Section, Bartlesville, OK, 141 p.
Phillips Petroleum Company, 1984, Coring and Core Testing Procedures: proprietary manual
prepared by Phillips Petroleum Company, Exploration and Production, Bartlesville, OK,
n. seq. num.
Phillips Petroleum Company, ca. 1986, Geologists Wellsite Training Guide: proprietary manual
prepared by Phillips Petroleum Company, Exploration Projects Section, Bartlesville, OK,
81 p.
Phillips Petroleum Company, 1989, Stimulation Quality Control Field Handbook: proprietary
handbook prepared by Phillips Petroleum Company, Formation Completion Task Force,
Bartlesville, OK, n. seq. num.
Swanson, R.G., 1981, Sample Examination Manual: Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Methods in
Exploration No. 1, Tulsa, OK, n. seq. num.
Ulery, J.P., and Hyman, D.M., 1991, Modified direct method of gas content determination:
application and results: Proc. 1991 Coalbed Methane Symposium, Univ. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa,
AB, p. 489-497.