Sekayu CBM well gas content averages 141 scf/ton

Vancouver-based firm CBM Asia Development Corp. reported on Friday that Medco Energi, the operator of Sekayu CBM PSC in South Sumatra, has received final gas content data from Core Laboratories N.V. for the CBM-SE-04 well.

Core Laboratories conducted gas content analysis on nine coal samples that were cored and desorbed from the CBM-SE-04 well at the Sekayu block, which as previously reported penetrated a total 147 feet of coal. Gas contents ranged from 76 to 203 standard cubic feet per ton (scf/ton) on a dry, ash-free (d.a.f.) basis, averaging 141 scf/ton d.a.f.

That is about triple the average coal seam gas content in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, USA, which the US Geological Survey and other experts consider to be the closest commercial CBM analog for South Sumatra, the company said. The Powder River Basin is the world's second most productive CBM basin, currently producing 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) from thick, low-rank coal seams similar to those in South Sumatra.

CBM Asia's Chairman Scott H. Stevens noted "Gas content from CBM-SE-04 is 40% higher than anticipated. Immediate gas production from the nearby CBM-SE-02 and -03 wells prior to stimulation and with minimal dewatering is highly encouraging. Medco's operations at the Sekayu PSC continue to confirm good gas content and permeability, along with high gas saturation in the thick coals that are present across the block."

Medco Energi has 50 percent interest in the block with CBM Asia has the right to earn an estimated 12% participating interest. (romel)