Coal Seam Gas
Coal Seam Gas
What is it?
Coalbed methane, also more commonly known as coal seam gas (CSG) in Australia, is a type of natural gas removed from coal beds. It has been labelled as an unconventional natural gas along with tight gas and shale gas. They are labelled as "unconventional" as a result of their unusual reservoir types. It is removed from coal seams that are 300 - 1000 metres underground, and it is mainly composed of methane gas. It is typically extracted by drilling a steel-encased hole into the coal seam which then lowers the pressure as water is pumped out. This will let the gas flow to the surface. Coal seam gas is said to have originated in Queensland's Bowen Basin in 1976, however there was not much interest or development until the early 1990s. Another reason for more interest in recent times is the advances in technology that allow for more efficient extracting. This energy source is innovative as it helps the world meet its energy needs while being environmentally friendly as it does not emit as much greenhouse gases as other energy sources. It may also be socially and economically positive for Australia as it can create 20,000 jobs and attract $40 billion of investment in the future. CSG is also much more cost efficient then some sources of energy like solar or wind. However, there are also certain risks and potential downsides of extracting coal seam gas.
Cultural and Global issues
Many global and cultural influences has made a significant contribution to the design and development of coal seam gas. The fact that the world's energy needs are increased every year drove people to discover newer sources of energy. As the years went by, and our lifestyles depended on energy more than ever, it was predicted that oil and gas would run out in less than 100 years which made exploration for alternative sources of energy, include CSG more prominent. People were also feeling the effects of global warming and wanted to minimize the effects by introducing
What is it?
Coalbed methane, also more commonly known as coal seam gas (CSG) in Australia, is a type of natural gas removed from coal beds. It has been labelled as an unconventional natural gas along with tight gas and shale gas. They are labelled as "unconventional" as a result of their unusual reservoir types. It is removed from coal seams that are 300 - 1000 metres underground, and it is mainly composed of methane gas. It is typically extracted by drilling a steel-encased hole into the coal seam which then lowers the pressure as water is pumped out. This will let the gas flow to the surface. Coal seam gas is said to have originated in Queensland's Bowen Basin in 1976, however there was not much interest or development until the early 1990s. Another reason for more interest in recent times is the advances in technology that allow for more efficient extracting. This energy source is innovative as it helps the world meet its energy needs while being environmentally friendly as it does not emit as much greenhouse gases as other energy sources. It may also be socially and economically positive for Australia as it can create 20,000 jobs and attract $40 billion of investment in the future. CSG is also much more cost efficient then some sources of energy like solar or wind. However, there are also certain risks and potential downsides of extracting coal seam gas.
Cultural and Global issues
Many global and cultural influences has made a significant contribution to the design and development of coal seam gas. The fact that the world's energy needs are increased every year drove people to discover newer sources of energy. As the years went by, and our lifestyles depended on energy more than ever, it was predicted that oil and gas would run out in less than 100 years which made exploration for alternative sources of energy, include CSG more prominent. People were also feeling the effects of global warming and wanted to minimize the effects by introducing