Publications

The appraisal of coalbed methane (CBM) has many unique activities when compared with conventional oil and gas exploration. In CBM, gas production usually comes after an extended dewatering process. This dewatering process can take a few days or up to many years. As a result, a CBM appraisal project will require surface facilities to manage water and gas production. From October 2010 to December 2012, VICO CBM installed and operated nine dewatering facilities in the Sanga-Sanga Field. High uncertainties in the early stages of the exploration phase lead VICO CBM to oversize facilities and add some redundancy. This approach was successful in overcoming high production variability from CBM wells and keeping the dewatering process running smoothly. Later on, when more data have been collected, it will be easier to size and standardize equipment properly. In other words, the design philosophy moves from flexibility to efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to discuss major parameters required to be taken into account in the design of dewatering facilities and to show how VICO overcame operational problems during the initial dewatering period in the Sanga-Sanga Field, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.