Parameters controlling high-yield coalbed methane vertical wells in the B3 area, Xishan coal field, Shanxi, China

Whether a coalbed methane well achieves high yield is dominated by various parameters, and the controls of parameters on gas production usually have been analyzed by mathematical methods. However, no related research was conducted in the Xishan coal field. Geological characteristics of the coal reservoir in the B3 area, Xishan coal field, were analyzed. In this study, the B3 area was divided into the west and east subareas according to the different effects of burial depth on gas content. Geological, engineering, and draining parameters were extracted to compare with gas production. The results show that, in both subareas, draining parameters play the most important role in controlling gas production. Among geological parameters, gas content and permeability have much more significant effects on gas production. In shallow buried subarea (the east subarea), the effects of resistivity and the difference of stop pressure and drop pressure (Ps–Pd) on gas production are much notable than other parameters, which reflects permeability is a dominating factor for controlling well productivity. Regions with low resistivity, high Ps–Pd, and high water level are favorable regions for gas development in shallow buried subarea. However, water production and gas content determine the well productivity in deep buried subarea (the west subarea), in which, high gas content and water production, low water level are much helpful for producing gas.