Abstract: With the soaring price of world energy and the serious mine disasters caused by gas explosion, under the emission reduction demand of green house gas (GHG), the development of coalbed methane (CBM) has been paid more attention to increasingly both at home and abroad. Influenced by technologies, funds, and policies, the CBM production reached 49.5 billion cubic meters in the U.S. in 2007. China is abundant in CBM resources. However, the CBM industry development is limited because of poor exploration and development technologies. Starting from the history of CBM exploration and development technologies, this paper discusses the current theories, technologies, and equipment and the existing problems both at home and abroad, pointing out the development trend of all technologies, and giving some suggestions. They all provide microscopic plans and decision evidences for the development of CBM industry in critical stages.

Key words: CBM, resources, exploration and development, theory, technology, trend