Prospects for Industrial Extraction of Methane from Coal Seams in the Karaganda Basin: Results of Experimental-Industrial Studies at the Taldykuduk Site
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31643/2027/6445.28Keywords:
methane, degasification, drilling, hydraulic fracturing, industrial production, gas permeability.Abstract
The study focuses on assessing the industrial potential of coalbed methane production in the Karaganda Basin based on drilling and testing data from wells T7 and T8 at the Taldykuduk site. The goal is to develop and verify engineering solutions, ensuring efficient methane extraction from unstressed seams under real geological and technical conditions. The research object is the coal seams of the Karaganda suite, characterized by high gas content, developed fracturing, and heterogeneous reservoir structure. Vertical wells were drilled with local enlargement of productive intervals, zone isolation using packers, and controlled hydraulic stimulation. A set of geophysical surveys was conducted, including gamma, density, and neutron logs, caliper logging, inclinometry, gas-geochemical monitoring, and flow tests, to determine reservoir pressure and permeability. Laboratory analyses of core and coal samples examined adsorption–desorption properties, elemental composition, and formation water characteristics, enabling the selection of optimal reagents and gas treatment schemes. Stable methane inflows up to 30 m³/day were obtained under steady depression without water inflow, confirming readiness for pilot-industrial operation. After hydraulic stimulation and optimization of well regimes, an increase in gas flow rate was recorded, confirming the efficiency of reservoir stimulation. Based on pressure and flow curves, technological parameters were defined — perforation intervals, hydraulic treatment conditions, and requirements for gas collection, dehydration, and compression systems. The practical significance of the study lies in substantiating a technological scheme for industrial methane extraction and reducing methane hazards during mining. Implementation of the proposed approach will enable integration of extracted gas into the regional energy balance and reduce uncontrolled methane emissions, providing environmental and economic benefits.
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Copyright (c) 2025 R.A. Mussin, D.R. Akhmatnurov, N.M. Zamaliyev, N.E. Issina
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