The project will focus on advancing enhanced coal bed methane (ECBM) recovery and providing a pathway to adoption for near zero emissions technology from coal-fired power.
ECBM involves the injection of CO2 into coal seams to displace methane that can be used to generate energy, while providing the additional benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by storing the CO2 underground.
John Carras, director of CSIRO’s Advanced Coal Technology research, said: “ECBM wells are typically drilled vertically to inject CO2 into coal seams but this demonstration project will drill horizontally meaning the entry point of the well is more directly embedded in the coal seam, which we predict will increase the flow-rate of CO2 for underground storage.
“Working with our partners in China will allow CSIRO to increase its capabilities in pilot-scale demonstrations for carbon capture and storage technologies”
This ECBM project received funding from the Chinese and Australian governments as part of the Asia Pacific partnership on Clean Development and Climate. The ECBM demonstration project builds upon CSIRO’s existing collaborations with China, which include supporting the launch of a post combustion capture (PCC) pilot plant in Beijing and the first capture of CO2 in China using PCC technology.
The company also said that work has also begun on a second, transportable PCC pilot plant that is designed to capture 600mt/yr of CO2.
