Monitoring CSG production and water movement

May 2014August 2016
Modelling workflows were created as well as software for modelling and data processing.

Monitoring CSG production and water movement

This research sought to identify monitoring technologies that are more cost effective, provide more geographic coverage and are also less disruptive for landholders.

The coal seam gas industry uses a range of technologies to monitor factors such as gas production, pressure and water quality. One method is by drilling monitoring wells that are costly, require land access and maintenance, and only provide information at one location.

During 2014 the research team used modelling techniques to evaluate several different non-seismic geophysical techniques for a number of different monitoring applications—groundwater integrity, stimulation effectiveness and reservoir performance. The technologies examined were microgravity, magnetotelluric, self-potential and DC resistivity. The modelling results indicate that certain combinations of non-seismic methods, in certain geological conditions, can work effectively and have the potential to provide a lower cost monitoring alternative to current well-based approaches.

During 2015 the research team conducted field trials to test the practical application of the most promising combination of these technologies in accordance with the most suitable uses/settings identified in the modelling study. The field work provided data to validate the computer models and allowed for the design of commercial applications.

Modelling workflows were created as well as software for modelling and data processing.

PROJECT OUTPUTS

  • Research poster: Non-Seismic Geophysics for CSG Monitoring, Centre Research Review (2015)
  • Evaluation: Evaluation of different non-seismic geophysics monitoring technologies   
  • Software: Customised processing software
  • Project status: Complete
  • Project title: Modelling non-seismic geophysics for CSG monitoring
  • Project leader: Professor Steve Tyson
  • Research group: The University of Queensland Centre for Natural Gas (formerly known as The University of Queensland Centre for Coal Seam Gas) & The University of Queensland School of Earth Sciences
  • Timeframe: May 2014 - August 2016
  • Project funders: APLNG, Arrow Energy, Santos, QGC, University of Queensland