Coal Seam Methane Power Stations: Qld and NSW

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Production

In 2009, CBM production was 195 PJ, which is a 41% increase on the 2008 production of 138.5 PJ. Queensland produced 189 PJ (or 97%) from the Bowen Basin (117 PJ) and Surat Basin (72 PJ). In New South Wales, 5.8 PJ was produced from the Sydney Basin (5.6 PJ) and Gunnedah Basin (0.2 PJ). Note that CMM is not counted in CBM production statistics.


Industry developments

Industry Developments - Queensland

Shell Australia: The company is investigating the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Curtis Island near Gladstone. The plant is expected to produce up to 16 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG from 2015. Shell has acquired 30% of Arrow Energy's CBM resources.


Arrow Energy: The Stratheden project located in the Surat Basin, 20 km north west of Dalby commenced producing CBM in July 2009. The Arrow Energy and ERM Power Braemar 2 $545 million 450 megawatt (MW) open cycle CBM fired power station was completed in June 2009. The 540 MW Braemar 3 open cycle CBM fired power station is planned to be in operation from 2012. Arrow Energy is planning to develop a CBM to LNG project at Fisherman's Landing in Gladstone. The project is expected to produce up to 3 Mtpa of LNG from late 2012 for a period of 12 years. The proposed Surat Gas Project involves the staged development of approximately 1500 production wells and infrastructure in an area around Arrow's existing Surat fields.


Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG): In October 2009, Origin Energy and ConocoPhillips formed a 50:50 joint venture called Australia Pacific LNG. The joint venture plans to develop four LNG plants at Laird Point on Curtis Island near Gladstone. The first train is expected to be commissioned in late 2014. With all plants operational by 2020 the project will produce 14 to 16 Mtpa of LNG. Stage 1 of the Talinga CBM Project near Chinchilla was commissioned in November 2009. In January 2010, commissioning commenced on Stage 2 of the Talinga Project and in December 2009, Origin Energy commissioned the Darling Downs 630 MW CBM fuelled power station.


Santos Ltd: The $7 billion Gladstone LNG Project (60% Santos/40% Petronas) is a 3 to 4 Mtpa LNG plant which is planned to commence exports in 2014. CBM is planned to be sourced from Santos' CBM fields in the Bowen and Surat Basins.


Queensland Gas Company (a Division of BG Group): The CBM fuelled 135 MW Condamine Power Station was commissioned in late 2009. The $8 billion Queensland Curtis LNG Project involves transporting CBM via a 340 km pipeline to Gladstone where the gas is converted into LNG on Curtis Island. Construction of the 12 Mtpa project is planned to commence in 2010 with commissioning in 2013. In March 2010, the company and BOC Ltd signed a $100 million agreement which will result in the construction of a LNG plant next to the Condamine Power Station. The plant will produce LNG to fuel trucks. Construction is expected to start in early 2011.


Pacific GTL Ltd: The $1.5 billion SunState GTL Project is planned to produce 6 million barrels per annum of liquid fuels. Construction of the CBM to liquids project is expected to commence in 2010 at a site east of Miles.


Molopo Australia: Molopo plans to construct a $65 million 60 MW power station in Moura fuelled by CBM from the Mungi field. Molopo is investigating a 100 MW CBM fuelled power station on the Harcourt South field also located near Moura.


Bow Energy: The 30 MW CBM fired power station located at Blackwater is expected to be commissioned in early 2011.
Industry Developments - New South Wales

Coal and Allied Ltd: At the Mt Thorley Warkworth in the Hunter Valley a $5.5 million pilot project is aimed at reducing fugitive emissions of methane released during mining.


Metgasco Ltd: The Richmond Valley 30 MW CBM fired power station is planned to provide electricity to north east New South Wales. Metgasco plans to provide CBM to south east Queensland via the 145 km long Lions Way pipeline.


AGL: The northern expansion of the Camden Gas Project includes the proposed establishment of a gas extraction plant at Varroville.


Eastern Star Gas (ESG): The Wilga Park gas fired power station is being expanded to 40 MW. The first new 3 MW generator was commissioned in July 2009. Gas for the power station is primarily sourced from the company's Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Project.


Macquarie Generation: Seventy five kilometres of pipelines are planned to supply mine methane gas from local underground coal mines to the Liddell Power Station in the Hunter Valley.


From: http://www.australianminesatlas.gov....methane_10.jsp