Abstract Coalbed methane wells require stimulation, or special completion techniques, to effectively connect the wellbore to the reservoir. A variety of completions and stimulations have been tried, and these are summarized through the end of 1991 as follows (with emphasis on San Juan and Black Warrior basins): Openhole cavity . This has worked best in the "fairway" zone of the San Juan basin where reservoir pressure and permeability are high. The wells can be prolific producers, up to 10 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFGD). The cavitation technique is discussed. The physical mechanisms involved in the completion are examined and used to try to understand why cavity completions outperform gel fracture stimulations in gas production in the fairway. Gel fracture treatments . These stimulations are conducted through casing perforations in coal seams. High fracture conductivities are achieved by using 12/20 mesh sand to concentrations of 10 ppg. Although gel damage to the coal formation is evident, moderate productivity increases have been achieved. Water fracture treatments . Because of gel damage to the formation, fracturing treatments have been conducted using water as fracture fluid, plus 12/20 sand to concentrations of a few ppg. In some parts of both basins gas production is greater than offset wells with gel fracture treatments, and the water fractures are cheaper by half. Sandless water fracture treatments . In the Black Warrior basin, water fracture treatments have been performed without sand, using ball sealers to open up more seams. Although their gas production may not