Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing the methane recovery rate through a wellbore which penetrates a coal seam. The invention utilizes the cavitation of the coal seam surrounding the wellbore after a substantial percentage of the original methane-in-place which is available for recovery from the wellbore has been recovered from the coal seam.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing the methane recovery rate through a wellbore which penetrates a coal seam. The invention utilizes the cavitation of the coal seam surrounding the wellbore after a substantial percentage of the original methane-in-place which is available for recovery from the wellbore has been recovered from the coal seam.

Abstract: A method for improving the recovery of methane from a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of introducing a first fluid into the formation which sorbs to the formation, allowing at least a portion of the first fluid to sorb to the formation, introducing a chemically different second fluid into the formation at a pressure higher than the parting pressure of the formation, relieving pressure within the formation to produce shear failure within the formation, and repeating the introduction of second fluid and the relieving of pressure until a desired permeability of the formation is obtained.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a novel method of fracturing subterranean coal formations as a means for stimulating the production of coalbed methane. A highly conductive proppant pack is emplaced in the fracture during the fracturing treatment that has a particle size gradient ranging from about 40/70 mesh at the leading tip of the fracture to about 12/20 mesh at the trailing base of the fracture. The fracturing process is conventional in the sense that the materials and equipment used in the process are well known. The manner in which such materials and equipment are used to fracture coal degasification wells is new.