Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle
Emeritus Professor

Joan Esterle

Email: 

Background

Professor Joan Esterle is the Chair of the Vale-UQ Coal Geoscience Program. Her research interests are varied but focussed on how geological history impacts on coal measures behaviour during mining, processing and utilisation. She also develops 3D models for the distribution of sedimentary strata that can be used to predict geohazards in coal mines or reservoir behaviour in conventional and non conventional gas resources, and for geosequestration. In addition to working with Vale and other industry partners, she conducts multi-client studies through the Australian Coal Research Program (ACARP), The Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research (ANLECRD), and the UQ Centre for Coal Seam Gas (CCSG).

She received her PhD from The University of Kentucky, USA, in 1990. She worked for 17 years with CSIRO, followed by GeoGAS-Runge Group before joining the UQ full time in 2010. Current projects include:

  • CCSG Surat Geological Framework and Faults and Fractures
  • ACARP Rangal Supermodel-Bowen Basin and Cenozoic Fault Reactivation
  • ANLEC Outcrop Analogue Modelling for CO2 Sequestration

Availability

Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Geology

Qualifications

  • Masters (Research) of Petroleum and Coal Geology, University of Kentucky
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Petroleum and Coal Geology, University of Kentucky

Search Professor Joan Esterle’s works on UQ eSpace

253 works between 1986 and 2025
All (253) Journal Article (140) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (94) Book (1) Other Outputs (15) Edited Outputs (1)

61 - 80 of 253 works

2021

Conference Publication

Combined petrography and palynofacies study of the Toolebuc hydrocarbon sources

Rodrigues, S., Golding, S. D., Esterle, J., Mendonca Filho, J. G. and Flores, D. (2021). Combined petrography and palynofacies study of the Toolebuc hydrocarbon sources. Australian Earth Sciences Convention, Online, 9-12 February 2021.

Combined petrography and palynofacies study of the Toolebuc hydrocarbon sources

2021

Conference Publication

Coal spectral features in the mid-infrared range.

Rodrigues, S., Fonteneau, L. and Esterle, J. (2021). Coal spectral features in the mid-infrared range. . Australian Earth Sciences Convention, Online, 9-12 February 2021.

Coal spectral features in the mid-infrared range.

2021

Journal Article

Using carbon isotopes and organic composition to decipher climate and tectonics in the Early Cretaceous: an example from the Hailar Basin, Inner Mongolia, China

Moore, Tim A., Moroeng, Ofentse M., Shen, Jian, Esterle, Joan S. and Pausch, Roman C. (2021). Using carbon isotopes and organic composition to decipher climate and tectonics in the Early Cretaceous: an example from the Hailar Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Cretaceous Research, 118 104674, 1-25. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104674

Using carbon isotopes and organic composition to decipher climate and tectonics in the Early Cretaceous: an example from the Hailar Basin, Inner Mongolia, China

2021

Journal Article

Acid-free palynological processing: a Permian case study

Wheeler, Alexander, Moss, Patrick T., Götz, Annette E., Esterle, Joan S. and Mantle, Daniel (2021). Acid-free palynological processing: a Permian case study. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 284 104343, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2020.104343

Acid-free palynological processing: a Permian case study

2020

Journal Article

In situ techniques for classifying apatite in coal

Davis, Brooke A., Rodrigues, Sandra, Esterle, Joan S., Rintoul, Llew, Duxbury, Alex J. and Golding, Sue D. (2020). In situ techniques for classifying apatite in coal. International Journal of Coal Geology, 230 103572, 103572. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2020.103572

In situ techniques for classifying apatite in coal

2020

Journal Article

Flow structures and mineralisation in thermally altered coal from the Moatize Basin, Mozambique

Rodrigues, Sandra, Esterle, Joan, Ward, Valerie, Glasser, Lance, Maquissene, Timoteo and Etchart, Eduardo (2020). Flow structures and mineralisation in thermally altered coal from the Moatize Basin, Mozambique. International Journal of Coal Geology, 228 103551, 103551. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2020.103551

Flow structures and mineralisation in thermally altered coal from the Moatize Basin, Mozambique

2020

Journal Article

Stratigraphic constraints on the Lower Cretaceous Orallo Formation, southeastern Queensland: U–Pb dating of bentonite and palynostratigraphy of associated strata

Cooling, J. J., Crowley, J. L., McKellar, J. L., Esterle, J. S., Nicoll, R. S. and Bianchi, V. (2020). Stratigraphic constraints on the Lower Cretaceous Orallo Formation, southeastern Queensland: U–Pb dating of bentonite and palynostratigraphy of associated strata. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 68 (3), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/08120099.2020.1781690

Stratigraphic constraints on the Lower Cretaceous Orallo Formation, southeastern Queensland: U–Pb dating of bentonite and palynostratigraphy of associated strata

2020

Journal Article

Interactions between vitrinite and solid additives including inertinite during pyrolysis for coke-making considerations

Aziz, Hammad, Rodrigues, Sandra, Esterle, Joan S. and Steel, Karen M. (2020). Interactions between vitrinite and solid additives including inertinite during pyrolysis for coke-making considerations. Fuel Processing Technology, 201 106321, 106321. doi: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2019.106321

Interactions between vitrinite and solid additives including inertinite during pyrolysis for coke-making considerations

2020

Journal Article

Evidence for an Early-Middle Jurassic fluid event constrained by Sm–Nd, Sr isotopes, rare earth elements and yttrium in the Bowen Basin, Australia

Sun, Beilei, Esterle, Joan S., Dawson, Grant K.W., Rodrigues, Sandra, Lord, Rhiannon, Golding, Sue D., Feng, Yuexing and Zeng, Fangui (2020). Evidence for an Early-Middle Jurassic fluid event constrained by Sm–Nd, Sr isotopes, rare earth elements and yttrium in the Bowen Basin, Australia. International Journal of Coal Geology, 224 103478, 103478. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2020.103478

Evidence for an Early-Middle Jurassic fluid event constrained by Sm–Nd, Sr isotopes, rare earth elements and yttrium in the Bowen Basin, Australia

2020

Journal Article

Scaling compressive strength from mini-cylinder specimens of sub-bituminous coal

Barbosa, Karina, Esterle, Joan and Chen, Zhongwei (2020). Scaling compressive strength from mini-cylinder specimens of sub-bituminous coal. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 53 (6), 2839-2853. doi: 10.1007/s00603-020-02083-6

Scaling compressive strength from mini-cylinder specimens of sub-bituminous coal

2020

Journal Article

Subsurface fractures, in-situ stress and permeability variations in the Walloon Coal Measures, eastern Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia

Mukherjee, Saswata, Rajabi, Mojtaba, Esterle, Joan and Copley, Jeff (2020). Subsurface fractures, in-situ stress and permeability variations in the Walloon Coal Measures, eastern Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia. International Journal of Coal Geology, 222 103449, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2020.103449

Subsurface fractures, in-situ stress and permeability variations in the Walloon Coal Measures, eastern Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia

2020

Journal Article

Controls on gas domains and production behaviour in a high-rank CSG reservoir: Insights from molecular and isotopic chemistry of co-produced waters and gases from the Bowen Basin, Australia

Hamilton, Stephanie K., Golding, Suzanne D., Ruyobya, Brycson B., Esterle, Joan S. and Baublys, Kim A. (2020). Controls on gas domains and production behaviour in a high-rank CSG reservoir: Insights from molecular and isotopic chemistry of co-produced waters and gases from the Bowen Basin, Australia. Geosciences, 10 (2) 74, 74. doi: 10.3390/geosciences10020074

Controls on gas domains and production behaviour in a high-rank CSG reservoir: Insights from molecular and isotopic chemistry of co-produced waters and gases from the Bowen Basin, Australia

2020

Journal Article

Palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate during the late Carboniferous–early Permian in northern China from carbon and nitrogen isotopes of coals

Xu, Zhanjie, Hamilton, Stephanie K., Rodrigues, Sandra, Baublys, Kim A., Esterle, Joan S., Liu, Qinfu and Golding, Suzanne D. (2020). Palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate during the late Carboniferous–early Permian in northern China from carbon and nitrogen isotopes of coals. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 539 109490, 109490. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109490

Palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate during the late Carboniferous–early Permian in northern China from carbon and nitrogen isotopes of coals

2020

Journal Article

Shore hardness measurements of sub-bituminous coal microlithotypes

Barbosa, Karina, Esterle, Joan, Van De Wetering, Nikola and Chen, Zhongwei (2020). Shore hardness measurements of sub-bituminous coal microlithotypes. International Journal of Coal Geology, 217 103341, 103341. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2019.103341

Shore hardness measurements of sub-bituminous coal microlithotypes

2020

Book

Ash from coal and biomass combustion

Singh, Ashok K., Masto, Reginald Ebhin, Hazra, Bodhisatwa, Esterle, Joan and Singh, Pradeep K. (2020). Ash from coal and biomass combustion. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-56981-5

Ash from coal and biomass combustion

2019

Journal Article

The use of short impact load cell to derive geomechanical properties of sub-bituminous coal and mudstone

Barbosa, Karina, Esterle, Joan, Bonfils, Benjamin and Chen, Zhongwei (2019). The use of short impact load cell to derive geomechanical properties of sub-bituminous coal and mudstone. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 72 103018, 103018. doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2019.103018

The use of short impact load cell to derive geomechanical properties of sub-bituminous coal and mudstone

2019

Journal Article

Carbon isotopic evidence for rapid methane clathrate release recorded in coals at the terminus of the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age

Van de Wetering, Nikola, Esterle, Joan S., Golding, Suzanne D., Rodrigues, Sandra and Götz, Annette E. (2019). Carbon isotopic evidence for rapid methane clathrate release recorded in coals at the terminus of the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 16544, 16544. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-52863-6

Carbon isotopic evidence for rapid methane clathrate release recorded in coals at the terminus of the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age

2019

Journal Article

Widespread nearshore and shallow marine deposition within the Lower Jurassic Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin, Australia

La Croix, Andrew D., Wang, Jiahao, He, Jianhua, Hannaford, Carey, Bianchi, Valeria, Esterle, Joan and Undershultz, Jim R. (2019). Widespread nearshore and shallow marine deposition within the Lower Jurassic Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin, Australia. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 109, 760-790. doi: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.06.048

Widespread nearshore and shallow marine deposition within the Lower Jurassic Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin, Australia

2019

Journal Article

Testing impact load cell calculations of material fracture toughness and strength using 3D-printed sandstone

Barbosa, Karina, Chalaturnyk, Rick, Bonfils, Benjamin, Esterle, Joan and Chen, Zhongwei (2019). Testing impact load cell calculations of material fracture toughness and strength using 3D-printed sandstone. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 38 (2), 1065-1096. doi: 10.1007/s10706-019-01073-y

Testing impact load cell calculations of material fracture toughness and strength using 3D-printed sandstone

2019

Other Outputs

Guidelines for Estimating Coal Measure Rock Mass Strength from Laboratory Properties - Report A Empirical Approach and Report B Synthetic Rock Mass Models

Zhai, Hao , Zoorabadi, Mahdi , Masoumi, Hossein , Canbulat, Ismet , Tsang, Matthew , Pistellato, Davide and Esterle, Joan (2019). Guidelines for Estimating Coal Measure Rock Mass Strength from Laboratory Properties - Report A Empirical Approach and Report B Synthetic Rock Mass Models. Australia: Australian Coal Research Association.

Guidelines for Estimating Coal Measure Rock Mass Strength from Laboratory Properties - Report A Empirical Approach and Report B Synthetic Rock Mass Models

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    Optimising biomass addition in premium coking coals
    Anglo American Steelmaking Coal Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    High value biocoke for low emission steel production
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Tracking the Carbonisation Performance of Vitrinite Macerals
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Geological Assessment Southern Denison Trough
    Denison Gas (Qld) Limited
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Coal matrix shrinkage and its effects on cleat porosity, permeability and late life coal behaviour
    Arrow Energy Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    A guideline towards standardising structure interpretation in ATV/OTV logs
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Hyperspectral characterisation of coal and evaluation of coal quality spectral predictive features
    Plotlogic Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Utilising hyperspectral drill core scanning for geotechnical characterisation
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Australian Coal Petrographic Atlas: Maintaining the Knowledge
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Influence of inertinite and volatile release characteristics on viscosity development and fusibility during coking
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Reducing the Subjectivity of CMRR Calculation Using Machine Learning
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    In-situ Characterisation of Coal from Coal Seam Gas Developments (ARC Linkage Project led by UNSW)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Testing the Surat Basin two deposition centre hypothesis: Part A Zircon geochronology
    Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Integrating In Situ Stress Patterns with Basin to Local Scale Structures in the Nebo Synclinorium, Bowen Basin
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Topsoil deficits in site rehabilitation accelerated transformation of spoils to functional soils
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Analysis of the stable isotype characteristics of a coalbed methane field in the Cesar Rancheria Basin, Colombia and implications for gas saturation and production
    Drummond Energy Inc
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    The Jundah Project
    Bridgeport Energy (QLD) Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Coal spectral libraries for scanning devices
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Advanced Environmental Technologies for Increasing Coal Seam Permeability
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS) and ancillary preparation systems for carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope microanalysis for archaeology, biology, earth and environmental scie
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Regional geological study of the Hutton Sandstone
    Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Workflow improvement of Arrow's Regional Facies Model
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Physical and chemical interactions occurring between macerals during cokemaking and their influence on coke strength
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Regional geological model update
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Controls on Fluorine and Phosphorus Distribution in Bowen Basin Coals
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) - Achieving excellence in isotope geochemistry and geochronology
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Integrated geological analysis of coalbed methane fields
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Guidelines for estimating rock mass strength from laboratory properties (ACARP grant administered by UNSW)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2023
    Vale-UQ Coal Geosciences Programs
    Vale Exploration Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Coals as methane bioreactors: significance of microbial methane generation in coal seams for coal seam gas (CSG) production and CO2 geosequestration
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Hyperspectral scanning of Precipice Outcrop
    Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Understanding faults and fractures in the surat basin
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Provision of hydrology research to better include faults and aquitards in Australian regional groundwater models to improve assessment of impacts of CSG extraction
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Supermodel 2015 - Fault characterisation in Permian to Jurassic coal measures
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Water chemistry atlas for CSG fields- Phase 2
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Lithofacies analysis of permian and triassic strata - Galilee Basin
    Adani Mining Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Precipice sandstone outcrop study
    Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Surat Geological Framework Model
    Arrow Energy Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014
    True triaxial cell for advanced testing of porous media
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    A water chemistry atlas for CSG fields: Discovering value beyond baseline monitoring
    Santos Limited
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Construction and updating of Surat Cumulative Management Area geological model
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Preparation of Geological Models for Upscaling
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Regional Stratigraphic Framework for Rangal-Baralaba-Bandanna Coal Measures in Bowen and Galilee Basins
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Regional Stratigraphic Framework for Rangal-Baralaba-Bandanna Coal Measures in Bowen and Galilee Basins
    Australian Coal Association Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Enhancement of the Coal Seam Gas Water Production Tool: Data collation and preparation
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    Understanding, characterising, and managing solids production in CSG producing wells (Centre for Coal Seam Gas Research Project)
    Santos Limited
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Characterisation and differentiation of th eRangal and Moranbah coal members in the central Bowen Basin
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Ecological & hydrogeological survey of Great Artesian Basins
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Future gas through bioconversion of stranded and waste coal
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Research Partnerships Program
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Scales of geological heterogeneity within the Walloon Coal Measures
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Characterisation of Coal from ATP814 to Support CBM Production
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Coals as methane bioreactors: significance of microbial methane generation in coal seams for coal seam gas (CSG) production and CO2 geosequestration
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    GC-IRMS for stable isotope ratio analysis of complex gas and liquid mixtures
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Instrumentation for elemental analysis of geological and environmental samples
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Understanding origin, recharge and flow regimes of coal seam waters to better constrain aquifer interactions
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Coal microstructure characterisation for advanced coal technologies
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Fully automated and OH&S compliant geological, biological, and environmental preparation facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Controls on flow pathways in coal seam reservoirs
    CRC for Greenhouse Gas Technologies
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Dynamic Gas Permeability Investigations of Highly Stressed Coals
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Understanding salt dynamics to facilitate water reuse on coal mine sites
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Constraints on Timing and Evolution of Gas Distribution in the Surat Basin
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Reservoir characterisation in the southern Denison Trough for carbon dioxide storage

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Julie Pearce

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Geological characterisation of the southern Denison Trough for CO2 sequestration

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Julie Pearce

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Reservoir properties of the Toolebuc Formation, Eromanga Basin, Australia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen, Emeritus Professor Sue Golding

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Production of high strength metallurgical coke from coal-biomass blends for low emission steel production

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Karen Steel

  • Doctor Philosophy

    High value bio-coke for low emission steel production

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Karen Steel

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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