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State Gas records “exponential”

increase in CBM production

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN junior State Gas has announced three holes in an initial exploration and appraisal
an “exponential” increase in coal-bed methane programme, which included the Serocold-1 and
(CBM) at its wholly owned Reid’s Dome project Aldinga East-1A wells.
in the Bowen Basin. State Gas announced on September 11 that
The company said on September 16 that flow rates at both Nyanda-4 and Serocold-1 con-
overnight flow rates at its Nyanda-4 well, which tinued to build. While noting that Nyanda-4 was
is located in petroleum lease (PL) 231, had flowing 128,000 cubic feet (3,600 cubic metres)
reached more than 240,000 cubic feet (6,800 per day, the company said simply that Sero-
cubic metres) per day. cold-1’s output was increasing.
State Gas executive chairman Richard Cot- Previous well bore damage has limited the
tee said the production jump had followed the depth at which Serocold-1’s pump could be
installation of custom-built pumping equipment placed, leaving around half of the targeted coal
from Canada. seams below the pump. However, State Gas said
“Seeing the well improve gas production the gradual increase in flow rates was encourag-
and now exceed previous flow rates using the ing and boded well for the future. It added that
customised pumps is very encouraging for the water production at both wells remained low,
development of the whole Reid’s Dome gas field,” providing further “positive signs” for the field’s
Cottee said. future production potential.
Nyanda-4, which is located in the southern State Gas said this week Nyanda-4’s dramatic
region of PL231, was drilled in late 2018. The production increase, coupled with the tighten-
well intersected 40 metres net coal, 25 metres ing supply outlook on the East Coast gas market,
of carbonaceous shales as well as a number of provided further support for commercial pro-
conventional tight gas sands. It was the first of duction from PL231.™

GE exits new build coal power market

GLOBAL US-BASED GE has said it is to stop building service expertise.”
coal-fired power plants and will concentrate As a major supplier of coal-fired generating
instead on renewables and gas-fired generation. equipment, GE has felt the pressure of global
GE said that its Steam Power business would environmental activism, and is also subject to
now reduce its exposure to coal through divest- investor’ decisions to reduce their exposure to
ing from coal projects, site closures and job cuts. companies such as GE that pose climate risk.
The company said it would still continue to For example, GE, which until recently was
deliver turbine islands for the nuclear market one of the world’s major builders of coal-fired
and service existing nuclear and coal power power plants, is among the 161 “focus compa-
plants. nies” that Climate Action 100+, which represents
However, the decision is restricted to its global investment companies, names as being as
Steam Power business, and does not touch gas- systemically important to the global transition to
fired generation, meaning the company will still net-zero emissions.
be exposed to fossil fuel generation. GE joins other major energy names such as
It said the move is part of its strategy of mak- BP and Royal Dutch Shell that are limiting their
ing electricity more affordable, reliable, accessi- exposure to fossil fuels in a bid to respond to
ble and sustainable. market sentiment and to meet investors’ expec-
Russell Stokes, GE senior vice-president and tations. In its renewables business, GE is pushing
president & CEO of GE Power Portfolio, said: ahead with its generation technology, announc-
“with the continued transformation of GE, we ing this week that it is to install its 13-MW Hali-
are focused on power generation businesses that ade-X offshore turbines at the UK’s 3.6-GW
have attractive economics and a growth trajec- Dogger Bank project in the UK.
tory. As we pursue this exit from the new-build GE’s Renewable Energy unit won the supply
coal power market, we will continue to sup- contract in October 2019 for the project, but
port our customers, helping them to keep their back then said it would supply 12-MW Halia-
existing plants running in a cost-effective and de-X turbines. It has now upgraded the contract
efficient way with best-in-class technology and to 190 enhanced 13-MW units.™

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 38 23•September•2020