Development of Coalbed Methane as Unconventional Natural Gas

• Published in: Journal of MMIJ
• Main Author: Kotaro OHGA
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: The Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan 2016
• Subjects: uncoventional nutural gasses; coalbed methane; Mining engineering. Metallurgy; TN1-997; Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; TA401-492; Methane hydrate
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2473/journalofmmij.132.160; https://doaj.org/article/e8778eec7cf8430882624643da1a3990

Coalbed methane is one of unconventional natural gas, such as shale gas and methane hydrate. Shale gas was developed aggressively a few years ago in United States. In Japan, the development of technology for producing methane hydrate has been carried out. Coalbed methane was produced commercially since 1990's in United States and it has been produced continuously. In this paper, detail of coalbed methane such as generation of coalbed methane, measurement of methane contents, resources in the world and production system are described. Finally, resources and development plan in Japan are also described.