What are the disadvantages of coal seam gas?
Possible environmental effects: environmental groups have raised concerns that CSG development might cause environmental damage through release of untreated production water at the surface; damage to, and contamination of underground aquifers by hydraulic fracturing; damage to wildlife habitat in sensitive areas and …
Is coal seam gas bad?
Coal seam gas extraction can affect water in a number of ways: it could contaminate underground water if there’s a leak that enters a water source; affected water could travel between underground water sources; loss of pressure could cause fluid to move between connected underground sources; or it could contaminate the …
How do you get coal seam gas?
Coal seam gas is held in place by water pressure. To extract it, wells are drilled through the coal seams and the water pressure is reduced by extracting some of the water. This releases natural gas from the coal.
What is coal seam gas?
coal bed methane
Coal seam gas (CSG), also known as coal bed methane, is a form of natural gas typically extracted from coal seams at depths of 300-1,000 metres. CSG is a mixture of a number of gases, but is mostly made up of methane (generally 95-97 per cent pure methane).
Is coal seam gas mostly methane?
Coal seam gas (CSG) occurs naturally, in varying quantities, in coal seams. It consists mainly of methane (CH 4) – hence its other name of coal bed methane (CBM). Gases in coal seams are formed during the long geological process of coal formation (coalification) when organic matter is converted into coal.
How many CSG wells are there in Qld?
10,664 CSG wells
Of the 10,664 CSG wells drilled in Queensland, 8.8 per cent have been hydraulically fractured within the Surat and Bowen Basins only. Many coal formations (i.e. where CSG comes from) naturally have a lot of fractures, which allow water and gas to flow easily.
Can you extract oil from coal?
It adds steam and oxygen, cranks up the pressure, and pushes the coal through a series of chemical reactions. Then it spits out something extraordinary: 160,000 barrels of oil a day. For decades, scientists have known how to convert coal into a liquid that can be refined into gasoline or diesel fuel.
What is mining and fracking for coal seam gas?
Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as fracking or fraccing, is used to stimulate and accelerate the flow of coal seam gas. The process involves high pressured injection of sand, water and chemicals into the coal seam gas well.
Is fracking a type of mining?
When the hydraulic pressure is removed from the well, small grains of hydraulic fracturing proppants (either sand or aluminium oxide) hold the fractures open….Hydraulic fracturing.
| Schematic depiction of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas | |
|---|---|
| Process type | Mechanical |
| Industrial sector(s) | Mining |
| Main technologies or sub-processes | Fluid pressure |
Is coal seam gas petroleum?
Petroleum is defined to include any hydrocarbon in gas or liquid form, including products extracted from solids such as coal or oil shale. Therefore, in addition to liquid petroleum products such as oil, this regime regulates gas production, including coal seam gas (CSG).
What are the risks of coal seam gas?
1. Dependency on Fossil Fuels. By using coal seam gas, we’re continuing to be dependent on fossil fuels. While they are good for us in many ways, they are bad for the environment, and as a result, coal seam gas is not perfect in terms of not having any pollutants as major byproducts. 2. Environment Risk Factors.
What is coal seam gas (CSG)?
Key issue Coal seam gas (CSG) is a polarising issue in some communities. Proponents argue that CSG is a vital energy resource, necessary for continued gas supply. Opponents claim that CSG could have serious environmental and social impacts.
What is co-coal seam gas mining?
Coal seam gas (CSG) mining is a risky, invasive form of unconventional gas mining . Coal seam gas extraction usually involves tens of thousands of gas wells, with roads, pipelines, compressor stations, wastewater dams, and other infrastructure.
How many coal seam gas wells are currently in operation in Australia?
How many coal seam gas wells are operating currently? The CSG industry in Australia has expanded rapidly since 2010 – particularly in Queensland. The Queensland Government reported that there were 5127 CSG production wells in operation in mid-2016. Mapped locations of all of the CSG exploration and production wells in NSW are available here.