Of the new or unconventional fossil energy resources studied in recent years with federal, state, or industry funding, the recovery of methane from coalbeds is the one resource with the greatest probable near-term commercial potential. Well completion records and production data indicate that much, if not most, of the gas currently produced from the Fruitland Formation of the San Juan basin, for example, has its origin in or from coalbeds.

All of the intermontane sedimentary basins of the Rocky Mountain region underlain by coal deposits, also contain methane that is genetically associated with those coals. Discussed will be individual characteristics of some of these basins that bear on methane formation and accumulation in each basin, techniques for estimating methane resources and defining target areas for exploration, amounts of gas contained in the basins, and identification of some completion and production problems. Basins specifically discussed will include Piceance, San Juan, Raton, and Powder River.

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