A plan to gasify coal under the North Sea could revive the area’s fortunes if a new process to extract further fossil fuels in the basin is used, a company has claimed.
Five-Quarter Energy, based in Newcastle, is eyeing North Sea coal as the latest “unconventional” oil and gas play in the UK.
The firm, founded by former Yale professor Harry Bradbury and backed by the Duke of Buccleuch, is developing a proprietary method of extraction that it calls “deep gas winning” (DGW).
Dr Bradbury, who will be presenting his ideas at a conference in Aberdeen this month, said: “There are significant remaining coal reserves offshore and while there is a lot of debate around onshore exploration, we see it that Britain doesn’t stop at the coast and offshore development shows huge promise.”
The firm’s technology is similar – but different – to an existing process called underground coal gasification (UCG).
Mr Bradbury explains that his firm’s process involves converting the coal rock into gas deep underground using oxygen and steam, triggering a part oxidation process that produces syngas, which would then be pumped on shore.
“We aim to revive North and Irish Sea developments, making use of existing infrastructure and supplementing it where needed,” said Mr Bradbury. “It is also essential to utilise the existing skills pool in the offshore oil and gas industry because there will be global competition for people and equipment. If we can’t move quickly then countries such as the US and China will soak up the talent and equipment. We cannot underestimate the size of this potential.”
Key players in UK unconventional oil and gas extraction will come together to share their insight and current developments with delegates at Unconventional Gas Aberdeen 2014.
Alongside Mr Bradbury, Andrew Austin, chief executive of IGas, and Douglas Bain, UK country manager at Dart Energy, will discuss tapping the unconventional resource in the UK region and the challenges and opportunities this presents.
Dan Byles, MP and leader of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Unconventional Oil and Gas (APPG UG), will also address delegates at the conference. He will be joined by other distinguished speakers.
The third Unconventional Gas Aberdeen conference and exhibition will take place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on March 25 and 26.