Completing, Equipping, and Operating Fruitland Formation Coal-Bed Methane Wells in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico and Colorado

This paper is a review of drilling, completing, equipping and producing procedures used by operators in the San Juan Basin for Fruitland Formation coal-bed methane wells. Drilling fluids for both open- and cased-hole completions are compared as well as perforating and stimulating techniques. Coal-gas wells have special problems requiring design modifications of production equipment. Artificial lift methods such as the pump jack, gas lift, and progressive cavity pumps, which are in operation on Fruitland coal wells are discussed. Water disposal is a major problem for most Fruitland coal wells. Three disposal methods, evaporative units, evaporative pits, and disposal wells are evaluated. Finally, engineering challenges like zone identification and well spacing concerns are reviewed.