In the heart of China’s energy ambitions lies a treasure trove of deep coalbed methane (CBM), buried over 1,500 meters beneath the surface. This vast, untapped resource holds the key to transforming China’s energy landscape and accelerating its journey towards carbon neutrality. However, unlocking this potential is no simple task. The complex geological conditions of deep CBM reservoirs demand innovative solutions and robust standards to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly exploitation.
Enter Xinjun Chen, a researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Efficient Development in Beijing. Chen and his team have been delving into the intricacies of deep CBM exploration and exploitation, aiming to construct a standard system tailored to the unique challenges posed by these deep-seated resources. Their findings, published in a recent study in ‘Meitian dizhi yu kantan’ (translated: Modern Geology and Prospecting Technology), offer a roadmap for the future of China’s deep CBM industry.
The existing standards, designed for shallower CBM resources, fall short when applied to deep CBM. “The geological conditions of deep CBM are vastly different,” Chen explains. “We’re talking high temperatures, high pressures, high stress, and strong heterogeneity. The current standards just aren’t equipped to handle these complexities.”
To address these challenges, Chen and his team propose a standard system framework that focuses on three key dimensions: geological complexity, technical adaptability, and industrial and ecological collaboration. This framework is underpinned by four principles: scientific rigor, systematic approach, practical applicability, and dynamic adaptability.
The team’s vision for the standard system is phased, with short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives. In the short term, the goal is to establish an integrated geological and engineering standard framework. This involves improving exploration accuracy and optimizing exploitation processes to drive technological innovations and industrial transformation. “We need to focus on the core technical standards,” Chen says, “like reservoir assessment, sweet spot assessment, and fracturing stimulation. These are the areas where we can make the most significant improvements.”
Looking ahead, the medium-term objective is to develop a comprehensive technical standard cluster covering the entire industry chain. This includes promoting whole life cycle risk management to achieve efficient resource utilization and maximize investment returns. The long-term goal is even more ambitious: to participate in the formulation of international standards and intensify international technological exchanges and cooperation, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of China’s deep CBM industry.
The proposed standard system encompasses six major fields: basic and general aspects, geological exploration, seismic surveys and logging, exploitation assessment, engineering construction, and safety and environmental protection. By focusing on these areas, the team aims to provide a solid foundation for the high-quality development of the deep CBM industry.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. For the energy sector, the establishment of a robust standard system for deep CBM exploration and exploitation could unlock vast new reserves of clean energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. For investors, the improved technical adaptability and risk management strategies could lead to more stable and profitable ventures. And for the environment, the emphasis on safety and ecological collaboration could mitigate the potential impacts of deep CBM exploitation, ensuring a more sustainable future.
As China continues to push the boundaries of deep CBM exploration, the work of Chen and his team serves as a beacon, guiding the industry towards a more standardized, efficient, and sustainable future. With their proposed standard system, they are not just shaping the future of China’s deep CBM industry but also setting a precedent for the global energy sector. The journey is long, but with each step, we move closer to a world powered by clean, sustainable energy.
