Attention Business Editors:
INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT CONSORTIUM INVESTIGATES SYNERGY BETWEEN GAS
PRODUCTION AND REDUCED CO(2) EMISSIONS
CALGARY, Nov. 6 /CNW/ - New technology is being developed in Alberta that
shows promise in enhancing the production of Alberta's large coal bed gas
reserves, while limiting CO(2) emissions.
The work is attracting international attention. It is being supported by
the U.S. Department of Energy, in agreement with President Clinton's recently
unveiled proposal on Climate Change, and is scheduled for presentation as part
of the IEA Climate Technology Initiative (CTI), at the Third International
Conference of the Parties (COP3) being held in Kyoto, Japan.
The process involves injecting CO(2) into Alberta's vast coal beds, where
the gas is absorbed by the coal, displacing methane. Currently the single
largest point source emitters of CO(2) in Alberta are the coal-fired power
plants. Linkage of this new process with the needs of the utility industry
would result in lower CO(2) emissions while providing a valuable energy
source.
To date, the process has been used economically to enhance methane
production at the Burlington Resources San Juan basin field in New Mexico.
This new process, while still in the developmental stages, is very similar to
the well-established practise of using CO(2) injection to enhance production
from oil wells. Many of Alberta's coal beds are rich in methane, making
Alberta an ideal location to develop the new technology.
The project, under the scientific leadership of the Alberta Research
Council and assisted by the Canadian Coalbed Methane Forum, is preparing to
enter Phase II. Experts from Alberta, Canada and the United States have
assembled a team that will inject power plant gas emissions into deep buried
coal seams at the Fenn - Big Valley area of Alberta. Field activities are
expected to begin the second quarter of 1998, dependent upon both regulatory
approval and final confirmation of industry participation.
The results of this pilot may help set standards that could result in a
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, while rewarding industry participants
with the ability to enhance recovery of natural gas at an economic rate. The
first results could be seen as early as 2001.
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For further information: Rudy Cech, P.Eng, Senior Vice-President, or
Ken Sinclair, B.Sc., Chairman, Canadian Coalbed Methane Forum, Sproule
Associates Limited, (403) 294-5500, Fax: (403) 294-5570, Email:
geol@sproule.com
CANADIAN COALBED METHANE FORUM has 1 releases in this database.
I found this the other night using infoseek. Notice the name. Validity? I hope so. |
