The project is being developed by senex oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of senex energy. Application of proven operational methodologies to bring coal seam gas wells into production optimising both gas and water production. The australian coal seam gas industry has earned a reputation as a highly regulated industry with bestpractice technologies to protect land and water resources. Coal, coal seam gas csg and water home page department.
Our field services include the construction, installation and maintenance of plant, equipment and the optimisation of gas wells. The usability, functionality and reporting features of the global link product enable operators, production engineers, management and reservoir engineers. Mar 20, 2019 extracting coal seam gas produces billions of litres of water. Coal seam gas explained csg in summary coal seam gas, also commonly referred to as csg, is natural gas.
Coal seam gas extraction and coproduced water, fact sheet. The volume from each well is tallied continuously in order to maintain reservoir integrity, manage field production, and monitor gathering system balance. Coal seam gas market global industry analysis and forecast. When coal is mined, methane is inevitably released from the coal seam and the surrounding rock. Extracting coal seam gas produces billions of litres of water. This process reduces pressure in the seams which allows csg to be released.
Our industry is one of the most highly regulated in australia, with strict rules in place governing how we operate. The development of australias coal seam gas resources. Coal seam gas, also commonly referred to as csg, is natural gas. Water production and disposal is the most important factor for the profitable csg production. Combining maths and bubbles to boost gas production. As the pressure within the coal seam declines due to natural production or the pumping of water from the coalbed, both gas and produced water come to the surface through tubing. The volume of groundwater extracted can vary significantly between individual wells, coal seams and coal basins, depending on geological conditions. To extract the gas, a steelencased hole is drilled into the coal seam 100 to 1,500 metres 330 to 4,920 ft below ground. Pumping groundwater from a coal seam reduces the pressure that keeps the coal. Eventually, the rate and amount of gas desorption decreases as the coal seam is depleted of its gas, and production declines.
Most of queenslands coal seam gas activity occurs in the states agricultural regions. Coal seam gas news, research and analysis the conversation. The major deterrents at that time to widespread development were low gas prices and the large quantity of water that was. As both the coal seam gas and agriculture industries are important to the states economy, it is essential that the coal. Polluted water spills in 20 from coalseam gas production under eastern star gas heightened distrust in the community. Clement, who is reluctant to apportion blame, says santos is. Natural gas or methane is found in several different types of rocks, including coal seams, sandstones and shales. Project atlas involves the exploration for coal seam gas on acreage located in the surat basin in queensland, australia, and its delivery to the domestic austrian market. It is the same natural gas methane that is piped through the gas mains that go to many. This allows the gas and produced groundwater to flow into the csg well and up to the surface. 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. One such beneficial use of treated csg water is managed aquifer recharge. The commonwealth regulatory regime works in concert with state and territory governments, which have primary responsibility for water resources and regulating environmental impacts associated.
In order to extract the gas from the coal seam, it is necessary to drop the pressure in the seam and capture the gas by removing the water. It is combination of important fossil fuel, however, methane is the main and largest constituent of the coal seam gas. Potential impacts of the production of coal seam gas on water resources to produce gas from coal seams, water must be extracted first, lowering the pressure so the gas can flow out of the coal. In nsw the coal seams targeted for gas production are generally found between 200 metres an d metres below the ground. The australian government plays an important role in protecting our environment from potential impacts of development activity, with a focus on matters of national environmental significance. Coal seam gas production fields have a finite life, so it is important to understand the implications from a future reduction in flow after gas production ceases. Managing coal seam gas activities queensland audit office.
South australian protocol for the referral of project applications to the independent expert scientific committee on coal seam. Combining maths and bubbles to boost gas production centre. Production normally requires the drilling of many wells at a more dense spacing than normally required for conventional gas production. The importance of coal seam gas as an energy source, as an example in australia, can be shown in table 1. Beneficial use of produced water from coal seam gas. Coal gasification is the process of producing syngas a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide co, hydrogen h 2, carbon dioxide co 2, natural gas ch 4, and water vapour h 2 ofrom coal and water, air andor oxygen. Coal seam gas csg is a naturally occurring methane gas found in most coal seams and is similar to conventional natural gas.
Coal seam gas and coal mining water knowledge program. The gas composition is normally stable, meaning that the gas can be fed directly into the natural gas network or a gas engine. Coal seam gas is natural gas extracted from coal bed which generally consists water and gas. The depressurization of coal seam gas formations causes in situ fluids to migrate through pores and fractures in the earth. Premier mike baird has a fundamental choice to make. Since then production has increased rapidly, particularly during the first decade of the 21st century. Coal seam gas csg mining is an invasive form of unconventional gas mining. Historically, coal was gasified to produce coal gas, also known as town gas. A new csiro report suggests that, when treated, this water can be pumped back underground. Feb 21, 20 charlie pickering pulls apart coal seam gas on the the project. The produced water is brackish and requires treatment by reverse osmosis before it is suitable for reuse. Technical and fields services coal seam gas, coal mining. It usually involves tens of thousands of gas wells, with roads, pipelines.
Jun 12, 2017 polluted water spills in 20 from coal seam gas production under eastern star gas heightened distrust in the community. Determining water quality requirements of coal seam gas. Assess the feasibility of injection and infiltration of treated coal seam gas csg water into a depleted aquifer to offset historical agricultural drawdown. Coal seam gas csg, also known as coal bed methane, is a form of natural gas typically extracted from coal seams at depths of 3001,000 metres. Coal seam gas csg is a form of natural gas that occurs in coal seams laid down mainly during the permian period, between 299 million and 251 million years ago. Magnetotelluric monitoring of coal seam gas depressurization. Already, up to 80% of nsw is covered in mining licenses and applications.
Countercurrent, gas and water flow in an annulus is not what were used to. Coal seam gas is formed from decomposition and activities of. 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. Coal seam gas csg wells calculate fbhp very few coal seam gas wells have permanent downhole pressure gauges, but well productivity depends crucially on the downhole pressure. Scada software our global link scada software is a scalable well control and monitoring package that is designed specifically for the coal seam gas sector and coal mine dewatering projects. By dr mahshid firouzi university of queensland with prof brian towler and benjamin wu uq school of chemical engineering. Well planning and design with an emphasis on gas production.
The water that is a byproduct of the csg production process often has difficult water chemistry, such as high silica and alkalinity. Thus, the coal seams are merely a new source for an old and valued fuel. It is the same natural gas methane that is piped through the gas mains that go to many australian homes and businesses. How much water is involved in coal seam gas exploration and production.
The water and gas are pumped back up the well, separated at the well head, and then the gas is sent to a processing plant and the. Pumping groundwater from a coal seam reduces the pressure that keeps the coal seam gas \csg\ in place. The atlas gas field is a highquality coal seam gas permit located in the surat basin. This reduces the pressure and releases the gas from the coal seam. In fact, coal seam gas is also known as coal bed methane, as it is extracted from coal seams that are typically 300 to metres below the surface. In keeping with this, a global energy company recently upgraded their generator safety systems with the latest control and safety technologies to meet stringent compliance requirements. Water and coal seam gas managing coal seam gas produced water author. The removal or discharge of large volumes of water from coal measures. 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.
How would you like to really see whats going on in your coal seam gas csg production well. But coal seam gas, just like conventional gas, can be used to power water and space heating for industrial, commercial and domestic users, as well as in gas turbines to generate electricity. The quality of csg water quality varies greatly, however it is generally rich in salts and other minerals. As both the coal seam gas and agriculture industries are important to the states economy, it is essential that the coal seam gas industry is effectively regulated to ensure the different industries, landholders, and communities involved coexist, the benefits are maximised, and the risks managed. Coal seam gas is simply natural gas sourced from coal deposits. It usually involves tens of thousands of gas wells, with roads, pipelines, compressor stations, wastewater dams, and other infrastructure. To assess and predict fieldlevel performance, it is essential to estimate the downhole pressure at least daily for all wells. The coal seam gas csg process is a natural gas extraction process from coal seams buried in the ground. Why australia cant get at its huge gas reserves bloomberg.
In order to extract the gas from the coal seam, it is necessary to drop the pressure in the seam and capture the. Interest in coalseam gas production in the area dates back to the 1950s. 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. Coal seam gas csg or coal bed methane cbm is primary coal seam gas collected from unmined coal seams. Meeting coal seam gas safety compliance rockwell automation. Aquatech is a global leader in pretreatment, desalination, posttreatment, concentrated waste disposal, and coal seam gas produced water treatment to meet the required water quality standards for the coal. Production of coal seam gas in australia requires depressurisation of the coal seam layers by extracting large volumes of groundwater. Very few coal seam gas wells have permanent downhole pressure gauges, but well productivity depends crucially on the downhole pressure. This is achieved by pumping the water out of the groundwater aquifer. Especially in marginally economic csg projects, water production and disposal cost is critical factor in the. Then the gas is sent to a compressor station and into natural gas pipelines. The gas is piped to an lng plant for foreign export. Water must be removed from the coal to lower the pressure and to initiate methane.
In australia the commercial production of csg commenced in 1996 in the. In order to release the gas, the coal seams are depressurized by releasing large volumes of water. Clement, who is reluctant to apportion blame, says santos is confident with. In other words, it may be necessary to plan for the management of ecosystems stresses as the production of coproduced water declines. On the surface, the gas is separated from the water. The coal seams are generally filled with water and it is the pressure of the water that keeps the gas as a thin film on the surface of the coal. Water and coal seam gas managing coal seam gas produced water.
Especially in marginally economic csg projects, water production and disposal cost is critical factor in the investment decision and can make or break a marginal project. A csg project can spread across hundreds of thousands of hectares of land. Coal seam gas is formed from decomposition and activities of organisms such as algae and plankton. The methane gas is contained within the coal seams by water from groundwater aquifers. In order to release the gas, the coal seams are depressurized by releasing large volumes of. It is estimated that produced water extraction will average about 95,000 ml per year over the life of the project. Decline curve analysis software for oil and gas wells. This water can contain salt and other contaminants that exist normally in coal seams in varying concentrations.
Gas from unconventional sources such as shale referred to as tight gas or coal seams is often extracted from many wells distributed over a large area. To produce coal seam gas csg, wells are drilled into underground coal seams, bringing water csg water from the seams to the surface. Methane is a gas formed as part of coalification coal formation. Project atlas coal seam gas project, queensland, australia. The amount of water involved in coal seam gas operations varies from project to project.
Interest in coal seam gas production in the area dates back to the 1950s. Coal gasification is the process of producing syngasa mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide co, hydrogen h 2, carbon dioxide co 2, natural gas ch 4, and water vapour h 2 ofrom coal. Natural gas in coal seams in australia is not a new discovery. Project atlas will involve drilling of approximately 100 wells. No two wells or coal seams behave identically and water production can vary from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of litres a day, depending on the underground. Coal and coal seam gas about department of agriculture. As dewatering progresses, gas production often increases at a rate governed by how quickly gas desorbs from coal, the permeability of the cleat and the relative permeability of the gaswater system in the. As dewatering progresses, gas production often increases at a rate governed by how quickly gas desorbs from coal, the permeability of the cleat and the relative permeability of the gas water system in the cleat. The table shows that coal seam gas contribution in the energy production is higher than petroleum products oil, condensate and lpg individually. Charlie pickering pulls apart coal seam gas on the the project.
Natural gas collects in underground coal seams by bonding to the surface of coal particles. Oct 20, 2014 premier mike baird has a fundamental choice to make. In australia the commercial production of csg commenced in 1996 in the bowen basin, queensland. Fact sheet coal seam gas extraction and coproduced water. Coal seam gas production fields have a finite life, so it is important to understand the implications from a future reduction in flow after gas. Csg is a mixture of a number of gases, but is mostly made up of methane generally 9597 per cent pure methane.
Water and coal seam gas managing coal seam gas produced. The process depressurises the coal seam, allowing the gas in the pores of the coal to be released and flow to the surface. Application of proven operational methodologies to bring coal seam gas wells into production optimising both gas and water. In the case of development activity related to large coal mines and the extraction of coal seam gas, this includes potential impacts on water resources. The table shows that coal seam gas contribution in the energy production is higher than petroleum. These coal seams are drilled down into, releasing the associated gas which is extracted and. Reducing the hydrostatic pressure on the gas in the pores of coal. It was first identified when coal mining began in the early 1900s. Coal seam gas mining costs farmers millions, csiro study. Coal seam gas water department of environment and science. The gas and liquid are brought to the surface via a pipe which is encased in layers of concrete and metal to prevent any leakage into permeable layers, including aquifers.
1536 608 1521 470 369 1195 246 142 320 636 395 634 1335 1339 317 667 1151 37 920 104 1415 1334 588 985 654 855 115 1206 664 500 765