Mudstones as methane sources: gas production from coal seam interburden (2015-2017)
Abstract
Carbonaceous mudstones associated with coal measures already exploited for gas present an attractive but used reservoir of methane. This project seeks to provide methods for accessing this gas. Mudstone associated with coal seam gas developments are very extensive and gas quantities may exceed even that in the coal itself. Further infrastructure and access permits are already in place for coal seam gas recovery. Unlike shale, which is fissile, mudstone is much softer, more malleable and plastic, and consequently will respond abnormally to hydraulic fracturing and propping, so new methods, to be developed in this project are needed for stimulation.
