How to Monitor Water Production in Gas Production Wells

Begin drilling operations into a known coal-bed methane field. Finding a methane field is done through geological survey and exploration. There should be a produced water basin at a point that will not interfere with the drilling operations. In the water basin There should be a level monitoring stick calibrated to the size of the basin in the basin. This stick should have volumetric marks that monitor the gallons of water being produced.

Start the stop watch once the flow of water begins to enter the water basin. This is important as a baseline to measure the flow of produced water.

Record the first hour̵7;s rate of water production. For instance, after 60 minutes of water flow into the basin, note the level on the monitoring stick. If the marks in the stick indicate 1,000 gallons, then the water production is 1,000 gallons/60 minutes or 16.7 gallons per minute. If the water production rate increases hour to hour, then gas production will be limited. Once the flow rate begins to decrease below 16.7 gallons per minute, then gas production will increase.