Gas from Coal
A New Resource for the Energy Business?

Industry leaders highlight the latest developments and technologies available to exploit methane bound up in our vast coal resources, including coal seam methane, waste coal mine gas, and underground and pressurised coal gasification.

Program

Session 1: Government/Industrial Overview
Paper 1 Keynote Address
Government Policy Driving Development

  • Where is Government leading us?
  • New petroleum & gas regulation
  • Issues regarding conversion of coal to gas

David Mason, Acting Executive Director, Minerals & Petroleum Div, Department of Natural Resources & Energy

Paper 2 The Opportunities for a Generator
The incentives for electricity supply:

  • Is this an economical fuel
  • Why would a generator bother?

Adam Aspinall, General Manager Marketing, CS Energy

Paper 3 IGCC Technology
A solution to Kyoto?

  • Status of coal gasification and IGCC technology
  • What are the issues? Will it solve our greenhouse problems?
  • Beyong IGCC - Zero emissions

Allen Lowe, Manager Boiler & Turbine Systems, Pacific Power International

Paper 4 Characterisation of Methane Extraction
Getting the biggest back for your buck:

  • Gas flow properties within coal seams & maximising extraction
  • Storage and sequestration issues
    Abou Saghafi, Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Energy Technology

Paper 5 Methane from Operating Mines
Review of the potential for utilising waste gas from mines:

  • What are the quantities, qualities and uses?
  • Available technologies for exploitation & greenhouse reduction

Michael Wendt, Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Exploration & Mining

Session 3: Technology in Action
Paper 6 Coal Seam Methane
Review of developments in exploiting this large resource

  • Status of developments
  • Are the economics sustainable?
  • What is the future?

Paul Elkington, General Manager, Oil Company of Australia

Paper 7 Waste Coal Mine Gas
Overview of the coal industry's response to greenhouse and use of a valuable resource:

  • What is the resource?
  • What are the options for utilisation?
  • Review of current developments

Alex Armstrong, Consulting Greenhouse Response Co-ordinator, Australian Coal Association

Paper 8 Underground Coal Gasification
In-situ gasification is a new (or old?) method of exploiting coal reserves:

  • Historical developments
  • Previous international projects
  • Why Australia?
  • Current progress & future plans

Len Walker, Managing Director, Linc Energy

Session 4: Gas from Coal in Perspective
Paper 9 Hype or Reality?
A rational view of the exploitation of gas from coal:

  • The resource in perspective of the total Australian gas supply
  • Is in sustainable & competitive?
  • Do we need anything to promote/kill the hype?

Noel Berndt, State Manager Queensland, Epic Energy Queensland

Paper 10 Panel Discussion
Involving all the players

  • Is this a real and economically exploitable resource?
  • Do we need Government incentives to promote development
  • Are extraction & utilisation technologies adequate? What more do we need?