Coalbed Methane in China: Geological Theory and Development

The coalbed methane (CBM) reserve in China ranks third in the world with a total resource of 36.8×1012 m3. Exploitation of CBM has an important practical significance to ensure the long-term rapid development of China natural gas industry. Therefore, in 2002, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China set up a national 973 program to study CBM system and resolve problems of CBM exploration and exploitation in China. All the main research results and new insights from the program are presented in this book.  

The book is divided into 11 chapters. The first chapter mainly introduces the present situation of CBM exploration and development in China and abroad. Chapters 2 through 9 illustrate the geological theory and prospect evaluation methods. Then chapters 10 and 11 discuss CBM recovery mechanisms and technology. The book systematically describes the origin, storage, accumulation and emission of CBM in China, and also proposes new methods and technologies on resource evaluation, prospect prediction, seismic interpretation and enhanced recovery. The book will appeal to geologists, lecturers and students who are involved in the CBM industry and connected with coal and conventional hydrocarbon resources research.

Yan Song is a professor and the director of unconventional gas Research Institute at China University of Petroleum (Beijing). She holds a B.A. degree in petroleum geology from the Petroleum University (1982) and a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the Chinese Academy of Science (2002). Her research interests include conventional and unconventional natural gas geology. She is the chief scientist of the national 973 program in coalbed methane. Dr. Song has published over 170 papers, and 13 scientific books. She won once First Prize of the State Science and Technology Progress and twice Second Prize of the State Science and Technology Progress.