How does coal seam gas affect the environment?
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 sustainable?
Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is not a ‘clean transition’ fuel because of the potential for substantial fugitive methane emissions associated with extraction and distribution. CSG may prove to be more damaging to the climate than coal.
How is coal seam gas extracted from the earth?
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. The gas and water are separated and the gas is piped to compression plants for transportation via gas transmission pipelines.
How are natural gas and coal seam gas related?
Conventional natural gas and CSG are chemically similar. CSG is almost pure methane; conventional gas is around 90 per cent methane with ethane, propane, butane and other hydrocarbons making up the remainder. The difference between CSG/shale gas and conventional gas is the type of geological rock they are found in.
What past ecosystem is associated with coal seam gas?
Significant reserves of coal seam gas are known in the Bowen and Surat basins in Queensland. In New South Wales reserves have been proven in the Sydney, Gunnedah, Clarence-Moreton and Gloucester basins.
Is coal seam gas a natural gas?
Coal seam gas is natural gas found in coal deposits, typically 300-600 metres underground. During the formation of coal, large quantities of gas are generated and stored within the coal on internal surfaces.
How is coal seam gas used to produce electricity?
CSG is trapped by the water that naturally occurs in coal seams and surrounding ground pressure. By drilling a well to release the water pressure, CSG can be extracted for processing into natural gas products for powering cookers, heaters and for generating electricity.
Is coal seam gas the same as natural gas?
Coal seam gas, or coal bed methane (CBM, is a form of natural gas, typically extracted from coal seams at depths of 300-1000 metres.