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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1996; v. 109; p. 315-324;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1996.109.01.23
© 1996 Geological Society of London

Coal Geological Studies Related to Coalbed Methane

Subsurface correlation of Carboniferous coal seams and inter-seam sediments using palynology: application to exploration for coalbed methane

Duncan McLean1 & Iain Murray2

1 Industrial Palynology Unit, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
2 Conoco (UK) Ltd, Rubislaw House, Anderson Drive, Aberdeen AB2 4 AZ, UK

Palynology has a long history of application in the hydrocarbon exploration and development industry. Palynological methodologies developed for the study of traditional hydrocarbon reservoirs are directly transferable to exploration for coalbed methane. The principal difference in approach relates to the fact that coal seams usually contain abundant palynomorphs, whereas conventional reservoirs (sandstones and carbonates) do not. Work since the 1930s in the onshore British coalfields and work in the offshore southern North Sea Carboniferous basin illustrate that the high-resolution correlation of coal seams is achievable using palynology. The methods lend themselves to studies of coalbed methane reservoir connectivity and correlation. Other applications, such as the identification of coring points and stratigraphic targets, the monitoring of vertical and horizontal drilling and the study of coal seam maturation by spore colour analyses represent standard palynological applications.





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