Environmental Awareness And Sustainability Project

The igneous intrusions in the Raton Basin provide a high temperature and pressure environment promotes an increase in generation of gas (Jian and Cheng, 2014). No evidence suggests that the different intrusions within the coal were at different temperatures (Rooper et al., 2006). It has been suggested that the heat from the dikes enhance adsorption and porosity in coals and also increase the trap capacities of gas storage (Jian and Cheng, 2014). Igneous intrusions create safety problems in the mines underground and the gas created could result in the projection and rapid release of gases (Jian and Cheng, 2014).

4. Coal Seam Gas is a naturally occurring gas found in coal seams hundreds of metres below the surface of the Earth. Like conventional gas, CSG is comprised mostly of methane and is a type of petroleum. Coal Seam Gas is extracted via different methods including

Coal seam gas (CSG) is mostly composed of methane and is typically attached to coal underground. This gas is released when pressure on the coal seam is reduced by removing water from the seams (Queensland Government, 2014 ). In order to obtain the gas, wells are drilled into the coal seams, bringing water from the coal seams to the surface. This process reduces pressure and allows the gas to be released (Queensland Government, 2014 ). CSG is an important energy resource in Queensland and production of this gas takes up an ever-increasing proportion of Queensland gas use.

Coal seam gas is a much cleaner source than for example, burning fossil fuels. Water contamination

A few communities are concerned that the coal seam gas expansion doesn’t suit with the objects located in the area for example tourist regions

Antelope Valley receives its coal directly from the neighboring Coteau Freedom Mine. The Kress haulers from the mine directly drop coal into conveyor that run coal both to Antelope Valley Station and Dakota Gasification Plant. Antelope Valley Station takes the smaller chunks of lignite and crushes them down even further. This coal is then transferred using conveyors into the coal silos inside the plant. From here gravity forces the coal down into a pulverizing chamber. Once pulverized, air forces the coal into the boiler.

Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is a natural methane gas found in coal seams made by coal forming under the earth for millions of years. Countries such as the United States and China have utilised it for energy needs. Methane lines the inside of the coal cracks, pores and micro-pores and is found in the open fractures (cleats) and seams. (1) CSG is also known as Coal bed methane (CBM) and Unconventional Gas. Unlike coal itself, the gas lacks hydrogen sulphide. It is extracted by drilling a steel encased hole into the coal seam known as fracking. The gas is released from the coal as water is pumped out, the water and gas are separated and the gas then compressed into a natural gas pipeline.

Coal, a mineral I have discussed previously, is necessary to our everyday lives. Coal is an incredible source of energy; it heats our houses and buildings, and also fuels stoves. You may often wonder where this extremely useful mineral comes from. Coal does not just appear; it needs to be mined through a process which results in our being able to utilize it. Coal mining is fairly inexpensive, is carried out on a large scale and can be mined in either underground or surface mines.

State Government’s minister for mining wants to find away to achieve the best economic growth, whilst addressing greenhouse gas emission and maintaining the industry’s viability. The state government recognizes how important CSG mining is to the future of the state’s energy supply, with more than 1.1 million customers in New South Wales depending on gas to supply their homes with energy (Department of Industry, Resources & Energy, n.d). However, New South Wales current operation in Camden only supplies the state with 5% of its energy requirements (Department of Industry, Resources &

7.2 Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix: Although non-renewable energy sources provide a huge percentage of the global energy production, the biggest issue with it is its significant effect on global climate change and its limited resource expectancy. Hence, the need to increase the percentage production of renewable energy is absolutely essential to lower our dependency on fossil fuels.

‘Methane’ is the primary source of natural gas and the methane settlement found in coal seams is called ‘Coal Bed Methane’ a.k.a. CBM. Unlike conventional sources of energy, the extraction mechanism of CBM is very unique. Earlier methane used to be extracted through biological processes like Methanogenesis by formation of microbes, or a thermal processes where as wells are drilled deeper into the coal seam the temperature rises steeply and as a result thermogenic gas is created from buried organic material. The latest extraction technology uses water pumped from wells drilled into the coal seam thereby depreassurising the water held in the seam and results in the free flow of methane gas which is pipped and marketed. This technology grabbed popularity among energy traders and geophysicists and was considered as an ‘eco-friendly’ technique of CBM extraction unlike other extraction processes which required mining or combustion of coal. Though in comparison, this hydraulic technique is not as polluting as mining or combustion, the water which is produced from such operation can contain harmful and hazardous radio active material from the earth, thus if not regulated and discharged in a safe and proper manner it could pose extreme

It has been long recognized that there are many environmental consequences by extracting, using and disposing of coal. Due mainly to the nature of the coal deposits which are typically full-size, covering huge regions including more than one seams extending over big vertical durations. Coal mining in all likelihood consequences in an extra disturbance to the geologic conditions of an area than any other form of mining(Ehlen, Haneberg & Larson, 2005, p. 79).

There is abundant coal in many parts of the world, but with the constraints imposed by concern about global warming, it is likely that these will increasingly be seen as chemical feedstock and their large-scale use for electricity production will be scaled down. Current proposals for "clean coal" technologies may change this outlook. The main technology involves using the coal to make hydrogen from water by a two-stage gasification process, then burying the carbon dioxide and burning the hydrogen. Elements of the technology are proven but the challenge is to bring the cost of this down sufficiently to compete with nuclear power. Natural gas is also reasonably abundant but is so valuable for direct use after being reticulated to the point where heat is required, and as a chemical feedstock, that its large-scale use for power generation makes little sense and is arguably unsustainable. Fuel for nuclear power is abundant, and if well-proven but currently uneconomic fast breeder technology is used, or

Diminishing fossil fuel resources have prompted scientists and researchers to look for alternative sources of energy. Though several alternative sources of energy have been identified, generation of energy using combustion of fuels still remains the dominant source of energy globally [1].

According to recent studies, our energy usage today depends almost entirely on coal and natural gas (“Clean Energy 101”). Before modern fracking began to take precedence over the natural gas industry, most natural gas wells had been completely