Objection Guide to Coal Bed Methane drilling and exploration at Dutton’s Lane, Upton

Objection Guide to Coal Bed Methane drilling and exploration at Dutton’s Lane, Upton

BACKGROUND

• Planning permission has already been granted for exploratory drilling but the application did not pass through any local consultation committees and was granted by ‘delegated powers’, ie - The CW&C Chief Planning Officer.
• Prior to the permission being granted, no meetings were arranged between Dart Energy and the local residents to explain the immediate impacts of the drilling and the possible long term consequences.

Dart Energy - The Road to Disaster

Dart Energy - The Road to Disaster

July 22, 2010 - Australia’s newest coal seam gas listing Dart Energy makes its market debut today, but analysts are fearful that the new company may struggle to retain support in its early days.

February 28, 2011 - Dart Energy will acquire the 90 per cent of Composite Energy it does not already own for $US46.7 million via the issue of 35.9 million shares.

April 19, 2011 - Global coal seam gas play Dart Energy is borrowing from shareholders for $100 million in a bigger-than-expected equity raising to tide it through until it can declare commercial reserves and start up early production.

November 30, 2011 - Coal seam gas explorer Dart Energy has narrowly avoided incurring a “strike” over executive pay after major shareholders objected to options for directors.

December 23, 2011 - Dart Energy has restructured its UK and Chinese interests, boosting control over assets but meaning it will also wear more of the financial burden of development.

December 28, 2011 - Junior gas explorer Dart Energy has agreed to acquire all of the unconventional gas assets of UK-based coal bed methane explorer Greenpark Energy for $42 million.

How our Politicians are connected to Energy Companies

How our Politicians are connected to Energy Companies

 

CWaC meeting 31st April 2014

CWaC meeting 31st April 2014

At last evening’s CWaC meeting we asked the executive the following question relating to unconventional gas exploration –

Will the proposed cross party working group discussion be open to the public and lead to a full and open public consultation before a strategy is agreed and that in the meantime all planning and other approvals relating to such developments relating to unconventional gas exploration and extraction are put on hold and the current draft local plan be amended to accommodate this exercise?

What is Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)?

What is Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)?

Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a process for exploiting coal that cannot be mined because the seams are too deep, thin or fractured.

The process involves using the same sort of drilling technology usually used for fracking to get air/oxygen into the coal seam and then set the seam on fire. By controlling the amount of oxygen injected it is then possible to only partially burn the coal and bring the gases produced to the surface where they can be burned to produce energy.

A witches brew of toxic and carcinogenic coal tars are produced in the burn cavity.

What is Shale Gas?

What is Shale Gas?

Shale Gas is methane (natural gas) which is trapped in impermeable shale rock deep underground, unlike conventional natural gas which is in permeable rocks, such as sandstone.

The gas cannot flow through the shale, so simply drilling a well, as you would for conventional natural gas, is not enough.

The shale rock must be cracked to free the gas, hence the need for hydraulic fracturing (fracking). For the same reason it is necessary to drill large numbers of wells at regular intervals. To produce as much gas as a conventional gas field with a dozen or so wells, would require hundreds or thousands of shale gas wells.

Because of the much more intense nature of the shale gas extraction process it is associated with much more negative impacts than conventional drilling.

What is Coal Bed Methane (CBM)?

What is Coal Bed Methane (CBM)?

Coal Bed Methane is methane (natural gas) trapped in coal seams underground. To extract the gas, after drilling into the seam, it is necessary to pump large amounts of water out of the coal seam to lower the pressure.

It is often also necessary to frack the seam to extract the gas.

There are a similar catalogue of negative environmental and social effects as with Shale Gas. This includes methane migration, toxic water contamination, air pollution, increased carbon emissions and a general industrialisation of the countryside.

Impacts that are specific to CBM include depletion of the water table and potentially subsidence.