Research

Our aim is to search for novel solutions across a wide range of disciplines with achieving creative opportunities from current and raising issues in earth science and engineering. Current researches have mainly been focused on CO2 sequestration and CO2 enhanced unconventional gas recovery (CO2-ECBM). We have made great contributions to clarifying the CO2-ECSG (enhanced coal seam gas recovery) field by identifying CO2 behaviour in deep coal seams in its super-critical state. Though CO2 enhanced CSG recovery (ECSG) is believed to be an effective CSG-enhancing technique, the associated significant permeability reduction happens in coal seams upon CO2 injection due to associated coal matrix swelling is the main drawback and the situation becomes more critical when consider the naturally existing ultra-low permeability nature of coal seams. ECSG process should therefore be carried out with a proper reservoir permeability enhancing technique as hydraulic fracturing. However, highly unpredictable behaviour of CO2 in coal due to its unique chemical and physical characteristics is challenging. We are taking this challenge.

Research areas

Coal seam, shale and tight gases extractions

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

Production enhancing techniques including hydraulic fracturing

Reservoir geomechanics

Sand management techniques

CO2 storage in deep coal seams, saline aquifers, shales

Soil carbonations

Cap rock integrity

Collaborators

Earth Science Department, CSIRO, Clayton

North-eastern University, China

Penn State University