Feasibility of coalbed methane exploitation in China

Coalbed methane exploitation by use of a network of horizontal wells is a new technique. Several horizontal wells or horizontal wells with several branches are drilled to form a network, and coalbed methane is produced by pumping water out of the coalbed. This technique has been used successfully in West Virginia. Coalbed gas seepage in China's low-pressure and -permeability coal seams can be improved by use of horizontal networks.