Page 8 - AsiaElec Week 19 2021

AsiaElec COAL-FIRED GENERATION AsiaElec

Comet wins CBM block in Queensland

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN independent Comet Ridge has higher gas content than the main Mahalo high
been awarded a new coal-bed methane (CBM) production fairway. These characteristics are
exploration block by the Queensland State expected to add a “very significant” amount of
government. gas in place volume to the company’s Mahalo
Comet said on May 10 that the 338-square Hub area portfolio.
km authority to prospect (ATP) 2063, which Mahalo Far East’s award follows that of
will now be called Mahalo Far East, was one of Mahalo North (ATP 2048) in April 2020 and
two the state government had assigned to the Mahalo East (ATP 2061) in September 2020.
company in September 2020 under preferred Comet holds 100% of the two licences, which
tenderer status. cover a combined area of 885 square km.
Comet was awarded a 100% stake in Mahalo Commenting on the newly awarded ATP
Far East, which is located north-east of the 2063, Comet managing director Tor McCaul said
Mahalo Gas Project (MGP), for an initial term that combining the development of the Mahalo
of six years. Hub area blocks would provide greater efficiency
Comet owns a 40% stake in the MGP, which is and economies of scale, as well as a material
located inside the northern part of ATP 1191 and injection of gas into the East Coast market.
consists of petroleum leases (PLs) 1082 (Hum- Mahalo Far East also contains conventional
boldt) and 1083 (Mahalo). Australia Pacific LNG gas targets beneath the coals, with Comet not-
(APLNG) has a 30% stake in the project, while ing that appraisal work on the block’s coal-bed
Santos owns the remaining 30%. methane (CBM) resources would also look at the
Comet said Mahalo Far East contained coals deeper targets’ gas potential.™
that were generally deeper and had notably

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