Indonesia?s first coalbed methane well drilled

Indonesia took a significant step in energy reserves finding effort with the completion of the first coalbed methane exploration well at Medco E&P?s working area in South Sumatra last week.

The well, which was drilled to the depth of 600 meters, was a result of joint effort between Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources? Research and Development Agency and Medco E&P.

Wimpy S. Tjetjep, Head of ministry?s Research and Development Agency said four more wells would be drilled nearby the first well to decide the prospect?s commerciality. ?We?re hoping to be able to discover 1-2 TCF of CBM gas from the five wells,? he said.

Elsewhere, Medco E&P General General manager in charge of South Sumatra Area Pudjo Suwarno said Medco would set aside US$5 million fund to partly finance the drillings. ?We are hoping to complete the drillings to enable us to get the accurate amont of reserves volume and to commercialize the gas,? he said.

Coal bed methane is methane that are trapped in coal seams. Coalbed methane extraction is a method for extracting methane from a coal deposit. The methane is dissolved in subsurface water in the coal seam. To economically retrieve reserves of methane, wells are drilled into the deposit, water is pumped out, then the methane is extracted, compressed and piped to market.

Indonesia is said to have 450 TCF of untapped coalbed methane gas potential. (godang)