Simulating the impact of coal seam gas water production on aquifers

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Strand ◽  
Reem Freij-Ayoub ◽  
Shakil Ahmed

Derived from a larger scale project, which studied geomechanical issues associated with coal seam gas (CSG) production, this paper investigates a hypothetical case study based on the Latrobe Valley, Gippsland Basin, Victoria. The paper focuses on examining aquifer water management associated with CSG production-related water extraction. As such, the paper limits itself to determining the volume of water production from a hypothetical case study area in the Latrobe Valley. A simplistic property model and methane production strategy has been used. The impact of extraction of this water on the hydraulic head in aquifers underlying the produced seams is quantified. The Latrobe Valley Depression contains 129,000 million tonnes of coal resources and is one of the world’s largest, and lowest cost, energy sources. Most of Victoria’s electricity is generated using coal from the Loy Yang, Morwell and Yallourn mines. In addition to these massive operations, significant additional coal resources are available and unallocated at this time. Opportunities exist for the continued usage of these resources for electricity production, gasification, liquefaction and other coal conversion processes, as well as solid fuel for industrial, domestic and other uses. The existence of data from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries 2003 coal resource model was the main reason for the selection of the case study, and their data was used to form a model of the stratigraphy of the Latrobe Valley. Aquifer models were simulated in MODFLOW, based on extraction figures modelled in the CSG simulator COMET3.

Author(s):  
Tracey Ollis

Abstract This paper outlines adult learning in the space of an important campaign against mining for coal seam gas (CSG). Recently, the government of Victoria became the first state to ban fracking for CSG in Australia. This significant legislative outcome could not have been achieved without the concerted campaigning of activists through the Lock the Gate Alliance (LTGA), in Central Gippsland. The campaign is mainly composed of circumstantial activists who have come together due to the serious threat from fracking to the quality of their land and water supply. This case study research examines adult learning in the field of a campaign. The findings from this research make clear activists learn to think critically about the environment and the impact of fracking for CSG. They learn communication skills, group work and networking skills. They develop a feel for the game of activism by learning informally through socialisation with experienced activists from the LTGA and the Environmental Non-Government Organisation Friends of the Earth (FOE). In turn, FOE resource the coalition and provide opportunities for both informal learning and nonformal learning to the protestors. Drawing on Bourdieu’s writing on practice, this paper outlines practices within the LTGA field that are influential in the knowledge and skill development of the activists.


2021 ◽  
pp. 074171362110053
Author(s):  
Tracey Ollis

This case study research examines informal adult learning in the Lock the Gate Alliance, a campaign against mining for coal seam gas in Central Gippsland, Australia. In the field of the campaign, circumstantial activists learn to think critically about the environment, they learn informally and incidentally, through socialization with experienced activists from and through nonformal workshops provided by the Environmental Nongovernment Organization Friends of the Earth. This article uses Bourdieu’s “theory of practice,” to explore the mobilization of activists within the Lock the Gate Alliance field and the practices which generate knowledge and facilitate adult learning. These practices have enabled a diverse movement to educate the public and citizenry about the serious threat fracking poses to the environment, to their land and water supply. The movements successful practices have won a landmark moratorium on fracking for coal seam gas in the State of Victoria.


2017 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 300-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna (Anya) Phelan ◽  
Les Dawes ◽  
Robert Costanza ◽  
Ida Kubiszewski

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 103588
Author(s):  
Yiran Zhu ◽  
Huilin Xing ◽  
Victor Rudolph ◽  
Zhongwei Chen

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 6047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Ekhtiari ◽  
Damian Flynn ◽  
Eoin Syron

Renewable electricity can be converted into hydrogen via electrolysis also known as power-to-H2 (P2H), which, when injected in the gas network pipelines provides a potential solution for the storage and transport of this green energy. Because of the variable renewable electricity production, the electricity end-user’s demand for “power when required”, distribution, and transmission power grid constrains the availability of renewable energy for P2H can be difficult to predict. The evaluation of any potential P2H investment while taking into account this consideration, should also examine the effects of incorporating the produced green hydrogen in the gas network. Parameters, including pipeline pressure drop, flowrate, velocity, and, most importantly, composition and calorific content, are crucial for gas network management. A simplified representation of the Irish gas transmission network is created and used as a case study to investigate the impact on gas network operation, of hydrogen generated from curtailed wind power. The variability in wind speed and gas network demands that occur over a 24 h period and with network location are all incorporated into a case study to determine how the inclusion of green hydrogen will affect gas network parameters. This work demonstrates that when using only curtailed renewable electricity during a period with excess renewable power generation, despite using multiple injection points, significant variation in gas quality can occur in the gas network. Hydrogen concentrations of up to 15.8% occur, which exceed the recommended permitted limits for the blending of hydrogen in a natural gas network. These results highlight the importance of modelling both the gas and electricity systems when investigating any potential P2H installation. It is concluded that, for gas networks that decarbonise through the inclusion of blended hydrogen, active management of gas quality is required for all but the smallest of installations.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document