Disturbance to groundwater systems by the coal seam gas csg. Theory of gas extraction from coal seams and its use. By 2012 annual production of csg was 252 petajoules in queensland and 6. The coal seam gas extraction industry has displayed significant volatility over the past five years. Apr 10, 2014 learn more about coal seam gas csg and the technology arrow energy uses to extract it.
The process of extracting gas from the coal seam has come under considerable scrutiny in recent times. The narrabri coal seam gas field would become the largest coal seam gas in the state and risk vast areas of woodland, threatened species and groundwater from the great artesian basin. Why do we use fraccing in coal seam gas extraction. These solutions not only reduce costs to csg companies but meet community and government expectations with respect to care for the environment and water reuse. Fraccing involves injecting a mix of water, sand and chemicals. The development of australias coal seam gas resources.
Opponents claim that csg could have serious environmental and social impacts. Flac 3d was employed to model vertical stress and displacement contour plot characteristics of nonoutburst coal seam no. Image appears of a farmland landscape on the surface of a cross section of land. Water and coal seam gas how coal seam gas is extracted in nsw. The water is drawn back to the surface, along with the released methane gas. Production normally requires the drilling of many wells at a more dense spacing than normally required for conventional gas production. National assessment of chemicals associated with coal seam. Debate is intensifying over the extraction of coal seam gas, particularly in nsw and queensland.
Coal seam gas wells release the gas by reducing the pressure through groundwater extraction. Coal seam gas news, research and analysis the conversation. Keywords coal seam gas outburst coal seam miningenhanced permeability simultaneous extraction of coal and gas 1 introduction china is the largest coal producing country in the world, with an output of 3. Pump operations and coal seam gas pump industry magazine. Coal seam gas extraction australia industry report ibisworld. Fact sheet subsidence from coal seam gas extraction. Abstract coal seam gas csg extraction is set for expansion in new south wales. Csg is natural gas methane which is sourced from underground coal. With such abundant planes of land stretching from the coral sea to the indian ocean, there is much to be discovered of australias. It supports high standards for both industries and aims to maximise the safe and optimal extraction of resources. Coal seam gas csg is a naturally occurring gas, predominantly methane ch4 that can be used as a fuel to generate electricity. While the exact requirements vary by jurisdiction, this regulatory framework. A guide for the community legislative framework in nsw, mining is regulated under the.
Coal seam gas is simply natural gas sourced from coal deposits. This has led to the discovery of shale gas, tight gas, gas hydrates and coal seam gas as alternative sources of energy. Coal seam gas csg mining is an invasive form of unconventional gas mining. Maximising utilisation of queenslands coal and coal seam gas resources. There are two stages in the environment assessment process required by the epbc act. Proponents argue that csg is a vital energy resource, necessary for continued gas supply. Csg extraction from the sydney basin at camden produces a maximum of 30 megalitres ml of water per year from all gas wells and in 2012 produced only 4. Introduction the issue of coal seam gas csg extraction has now become a source of confrontation between many in the farming community, together with some city. The risk of spreading toxic groundwater from one of queenslands worst environmental contaminations has prompted a ban on coal seam gas drilling in an area where companies are already extracting gas. In conjunction with industry partners, osmoflo has developed world leading solutions for the treatment and beneficial use of the wastewater and salt byproducts from coal seam gas csg extraction. Natural gas or methane is found in several different types of rocks, including coal seams, sandstones and shales. With such abundant planes of land stretching from the coral sea to the indian. Extraction of water reduces pressure in the coal seams being targeted, allowing the gas to flow to surface inside a steel well casing.
Chemicals used for coal seam gas extraction in australia. These coal seams are drilled down into, releasing the associated gas which is extracted and can be used to generate electricity. This article examines the effect of csg extraction on agriculture, water r. In recent decades it has become an important source of energy in united states, canada, australia, and other countries. A csg project can spread across hundreds of thousands of hectares of land. Subsidence is a localised lowering of the land surface.
Coal seam gas csg is a naturally occurring methane gas found in most coal seams and is similar to conventional natural gas. For a comprehensive guide to mining and csg law in nsw, read our legal. These coal seams are discrete and not continuous over large distances. It is found within the pores and fractures of all subsurface coal seams, typically at a depth of 300 to metres. The parliamentary inquiry considered how to regulate a potential coal seam gas industry and whether a statewide ban on the extraction process known as fracking, introduced by the former napthine. However, the extraction of csg results in the release of fugitive. Farmers are protesting over safety concerns and threats to the countrys food security. A pressure relief gas extraction technical model of a typical mining area is proposed based on coal and gas simultaneous extraction theory. Coal seam gas dea doctors for the environment australia. The coal seams are generally filled with water and. Coal seam gas extraction usually involves tens of thousands of gas wells, with roads, pipelines, compressor stations, wastewater dams, and other infrastructure. Coal seam gas produced water and site management coal seam gas extraction target coal seams for coal seam gas csg production are generally 300 metres below ground surface. Coalbed methane cbm or coal bed methane, coalbed gas, coal seam gas csg, or coalmine methane cmm is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds.
Different formats and checks for accuracy make it difficult to combine. Oct 18, 2018 the narrabri coal seam gas field would become the largest coal seam gas in the state and risk vast areas of woodland, threatened species and groundwater from the great artesian basin. Coal seam gas csg or coal bed methane cbm is primary coal seam gas collected from unmined coal seams. Coal seam gas extraction australia industry report. A new approach to overlapping tenure in queensland may 2012 pdf, 1. The term refers to methane adsorbed into the solid matrix of the coal. Definition, theory, methods, and applications of the safe. Hydraulic fracturing is sometimes used to release gas from a coal seam. There are different ways of extracting natural gas from coal seams, including vertical drilling and horizontal or directional drilling. In 2009, coalbed gas production was less than onethird of tight gas and less than onehalf of shale gas. Water and coal seam gas managing coal seam gas produced. Osmoflo is helping santos overcome this problem through a 6mld reverse osmosis plant at the pony hills site near roma. A well is usually only fracture stimulated once during its lifetime, if at all. These coal measures are geological layers that consist predominantly of impermeable mudstone and siltstone that have thin seams of coal running through them.
A new gas extraction technique for highgas multiseam. Method of extraction to extract coal seam gas csg a well is drilled into the target coal seam. Methane gas is soaked up by coal grain faces or micropores and watergenerated pressure captures it within the seam. Geological controls on exploitable coal seam gas distribution in. Aug 17, 2012 gas extraction is one of the main measures of control and use of gas of coal mines. Learn more about coal seam gas csg and the technology arrow energy uses to extract it.
Coal seam gas extraction and coproduced water pdf 294. Natural gas collects in underground coal seams by bonding to the surface of coal particles. With the depleting conventional oil and gas reserves in the world on one hand and increasing guzzling energy needs on the other, the energy industry is constantly looking out for unconventional gas sources. This fact sheet explains how mining and coal seam gas csg projects are assessed and approved. Sep 02, 2014 this animation provides an overview of the coal seam gas extraction process, from drilling the well to what happens to the extracted gas and water. This animation provides an overview of the coal seam gas extraction process, from drilling the well to what happens to the extracted gas and water. While it promises to be an important alternate energy source, there are many challenges in its extraction and distribution. Coal seam gas is trapped in coal formations, typically 400 metres underground, although it. Csg extraction and the industry has met fierce opposition from a range of different groups. Fact sheet coal seam gas extraction and coproduced water. Policy implications of coal seam gas mining csg in australia article 3. Coal seam gas csg is a naturally occurring methane found in coal seams. Policy statement on coal seam gas extraction and health.
Compensation for coal seam gas occupation pacific rim real. Technological developments have reduced the cost of exporting natural gas as lng, encouraging investment in export facilities and new gas fields in queensland. But where are the coal seam gas wells in nsw, how is the gas extracted and what are the concerns. In this paper, the theory of gas extraction of coal seams based upon darcy law was studied. Coal seam gas csg is primarily methane a colourless and odourless gas, found in coal deposits formed over millions of years from fallen trees and other plant matter. Technical scheme and application of pressurerelief gas. In two decades coal seam gas has come to account for 30% of gas production. Since then production has increased rapidly, particularly during the first decade of the 21st century. As the cleanest fossil fuel, natural gas meets a variety of our energy needs. Study on gas seepage from coal seams in the distance.
Jan 07, 20 how coal seam gas is produced csg is a naturally occurring gas, mostly methane, found in the coal measures deep underground. Chemicals that are already listed on aics without conditions may be used for any industrial applicationincluding in coal seam gas extractionwithout notifying us. Mining first applied for exploration licences for csg and coal and then we found. Coal seam gas, shale and tight gas extraction methods. Coal seam gas industry csg water treatment osmoflo. This is more likely to occur in highgas multiseam mines and can result in fatal gas disasters. Field investigations were also conducted to verify the. Analysis by coal seam gas development proponents suggests that the subsidence impact from coal seam gas operations is likely to be undetectable from background landscape movement, and the risk of damage to infrastructure is anticipated to be low australian government, 2014. Coalbed gas production, which evolved from coal mine hazard to environmental concern, through past, present, and future contributions is modest compared to the total united states production of unconventional gas figure 2. Coal seam gas expansion would push up prices, says.
Mathematical model of gas extraction of coal seams was established and two kinds of solving approaches based on. Coal seam gas csg extraction is expanding in eastern australia. Safe disposal of huge volumes of water that need to be extracted prior to the extraction of coal seam gas in queensland is a major challenge for the industry. Csg, however, is found in coal seams, where underground water pressure keeps it contained. Coal seam gas extraction, fraccing and groundwater. Policy statement on coal seam gas extraction and health preamble. It occurs when underground voids or cavities collapse, or when soil or geological formations including coal seams, sandstone and other sedimentary strata compact due to reduction in moisture content and.
Find out about other forms of unconventional gas mining, such as shale and. Coal seam gas is shaping up as an issue in the nsw election. Learn more about shale gas in the article is shale gas. Mar 20, 2019 australias looming gas shortage the basis for calls to deregulate coal seam gas may not be real after all. An analysis of policy, pollutants and protests abstract australia is undoubtedly one of the most resourceful countries in the world. Heres how the picture varies state to state published. Exploration activities for this project have already seen toxic wastewater leak from holding ponds and contaminate local aquifers. At present, the design method is under the experimental period and do not satisfy the need of practice. Unearthing coal seam gas music plays and text appears.
Michael fibbens, michael y mak, and anthony p williams. This fraccing method changes the pressure of the stored gas, and stimulates the coal bed seam that releases more methane gas. How is subsidence from coal seam gas extraction predicted. Water and coal seam gas how coal seam gas is extracted. Nsw government submission inquiry into coal seam gas september 2011 5 part a 3. Fraccing is a process that breaks up the coal seam to improve gas and water flow. Gas extraction is one of the main measures of control and use of gas of coal mines. Coal seam gas is an attractive unconventional energy source that the world is fast embracing. Australias looming gas shortage the basis for calls to deregulate coal seam gas may not be real after all.
Coal seam gas expansion would push up prices, says thinktank this article is more than 6 years old economic benefits have been overstated, while. Fact sheet coal seam gas extraction and coproduced. Pumping water out of the coal seam releases this pressure and allows gas to escape from the coal into a well. Coal seam gas extraction is closely regulated by state, territory and commonwealth governments, which legally require protective measures to be in place to safeguard health and the environment. A block is a graticular section of the earths surface. Therefore, extracting multiple seams with high methane content frequently requires implementing highly efficient.
As mining depth increases, the gas content and pressure of the coal seams increase, and gas emissions from the coal face are significantly higher than those at shallower locations. It usually involves tens of thousands of gas wells, with roads, pipelines, compressor stations, wastewater dams, and other infrastructure. Coal seam gas csg is a polarising issue in some communities. Coal seam gas extraction csg largely consists of methane ch 4 found in underground coal seams. Unconventional gas, such as coal seam gas csg, shale gas, tight gas and basincentred gas, is generally produced from complex geological systems that require innovative technological solutions for extraction. Not all coal seams contain useful quantities of methane. It is important to understand what coal seam gas extraction means for human health and the environment.
The development of the coal seam gas deposits in queensland and new south wales associated with the coal fields will not only enable the supply of natural gas for the growing eastern australian market but also enable the establishment of major export liquefied natural gas lng industries, providing an impetus to employment, infrastructure. Unearthing coal seam gas what is coal seam gas, how is it extracted and what are some of the challenges involved. In australia the commercial production of csg commenced in 1996 in the bowen basin, queensland. For a comprehensive guide to mining and csg law in nsw, read our legal guide mining law in new south wales. The regulation of csg and coal mining developments is primarily the responsibility of state and territory governments. A massive expansion of coal seam gas csg extraction in australia has been driven by a demand for natural gas for electricity production partly because as a fuel it is more efficient than coal and oil. Advances in drilling technology have made csg extraction more economical, leading. But gas prices are still set to rise, and thats an area where coal seam gas could. The hole is drilled using drilling fluids to lubricate and cool the drill rods and drill bit, remove the rock cuttings, maintain pressure control of. Aug 15, 2011 debate is intensifying over the extraction of coal seam gas, particularly in nsw and queensland.
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