Reference list for water related coal seam gas and coal mining research
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- 3.1Research themes
- 3.2Summaries by country
- 3.2.1Australia
- 3.2.2Canada
- 3.2.3China
- 3.2.4India
- 3.2.5Russia
- 3.2.6United Kingdom
- 3.2.7United States
3Overview of research projectsA total of 210 research projects from Australia, Canada, China, India, Russia, UK and the US were found relating to the water-related impacts and coal seam gas/coal mining, either currently being undertaken or completed, in the period July 2012 to September 2013. 3.1Research themesThe relative proportions of projects relating to each research theme are represented in Figure 3.1. Where a project was deemed to be associated with more than one research theme, it was included in the calculation of statistics for each research theme. Research themes R3 (co-produced/mine water) and R7 (water supplies) were relevant to the majority of projects. These research themes are highly related topics in scientific research, as it is often mine water or co-produced water that is impacting on water supplies. The research theme with the least associated projects was R4 (seismicity). While there were many research projects found relating to hydraulic fracturing and well integrity, very little of it was related to water impacts.
Figure 3. Distribution of research themes 3.2Summaries by countryResearch into the water impacts of coal seam gas and coal mining is connected to (and often largely driven by) the production of coal seam gas and coal mining in each country. According to Flores (2014), the only countries producing significant amounts of coal seam gas are China, Australia, India, US and Russia. The relative distribution of the 210 research projects by country and research theme is displayed in Figure 3.2. More research projects were identified from Australia than from any of the other countries. Many research projects were also identified from China and the US, while very few relevant ones were found from Russia or Canada. 
Figure 3. Relative proportion of projects by country and research theme 3.2.1AustraliaAustralia is second only to the US and Canada in the production of coal seam gas (Flores 2014). While Australia contains more than 30 coal-bearing basins, the Surat and Bowen Basins in Queensland are the most gas-rich in the country. The majority of the projects reviewed were from Australian sources. Of the 210 projects identified, 99 originated from Australia. The distribution of research themes represented in these projects is displayed in Figure 3.3. As with the overall distribution of research themes amongst the research projects, the theme of co produced/mine water dominated the research into water impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas in Australia, followed closely by water supplies. 
Figure 3. Distribution of research themes in projects from Australia 3.2.2CanadaThere are 15 coal basins extending throughout Canada, some of which are shared with the US. The majority of the coal bed gas reserves in Canada are in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (Flores 2014). Production of coal seam gas commenced in 2000, with more than 6000 wells producing gas by 2008 (Flores 2014). The majority of literature available on Canadian coal bed methane was completed prior to 2012 and was therefore, outside the scope of this report. Since 2012, Canadian research has focused on the water-related impacts of wellbore integrity and hydraulic fracturing in shale and tight gas reservoirs (for examples see The Canadian Water Network website Of the 210 projects identified, only five originated from Canada. These were distributed amongst most of the research themes (excluding R2 (surface water disruption), R4 (seismicity) and R5 (well integrity)). The distribution of research themes represented in these projects is displayed in Figure 3.4.
Figure 3. Distribution of research themes in projects from Canada 3.2.3ChinaChina is actively exploring coal seam gas resources and has commenced production. IEA (2012) in Flores (2014) predicts that China will greatly increase its dependency on coal by 2017. China produced twice as much coal as Australia and the US combined in 2011. Much of the coal gas currently produced is coal mine methane (CMM), which is recovered from active mines. However, coal seam gas production has been rapidly increasing since 2003, with the Qinshui and Ordos Basins found to be most commercially productive (Flores 2014). The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China provided two main contacts for acquiring research project information. Of these two bodies, only the Ministry for Environmental Protection had responded at the time of finalising this report. The Ministry of Environmental Protection is not directing any research into water impacts of coal mining or coal seam gas (Y Zou 2014, pers. comm., 24 March). Of the 210 projects identified, 43 were from researchers in China. The distribution of research themes represented in these projects is displayed in Figure 3.5. As with the overall distribution of research themes amongst the research projects, the theme of co produced/mine water dominated the research into water-related impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas in China. Compared to the research reviewed in report 2 of this series (covering a 12 year period, January 2000 to June 2012), there has been a substantial increase in research pertaining to surface water pathways disruption and well integrity.
Figure 3. Distribution of research themes in Chinese research projects 3.2.4IndiaAlthough there is currently no commercial production of coal seam gas (coal bed methane) in India, there is large coal bed methane (CBM) potential and one successful pilot project at Raniganj (Shah and Komal 2014). Only four relevant projects were identified during this review from India. These related to the coal mining research themes of R3 (mine water), R7 (water supplies) and R8 (water dependent ecosystems). 3.2.5RussiaRussia has the second largest coal reserves in the world (Flores 2014). While Russia is also thought to have one of the largest reserves of coal bed gas in the world, it also has abundant conventional natural gas reserves and thus, less incentive to exploit coal seam gas. Russia commenced production of coal seam gas after 2010 (Flores 2014). IEA (2012) in Flores (2014) predicted that Russia will greatly increase its dependency on coal by 2017. Only one research paper was found related to the water impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas in Russia. However, accessing Russian literature and research organisations was greatly limited by language barriers. The primary theme of this paper was surface water disruption (research theme R2). The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Australia were unable to find any research institutions involved in this kind of research in Russia and hypothesised that private oil and gas companies may be the main source of research pertaining to the water impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas in Russia. The major commercial company Gazprom was approached, but could not provide any information.
Of the 210 projects identified, eight were from the United Kingdom. The distribution of research themes represented in these projects is displayed in Figure 3.6. Compared to the research reviewed in report 2 of this series (covering a 12 year period, January 2000 to June 2012), the relative proportion of research into the water-related impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas has increased in the UK.
Figure 3. Distribution of research themes in projects from the United Kingdom 3.2.7United StatesThe US is the biggest producer of coal seam gas and has been producing coal bed gas from coal mines since the 1950s. The highest gas producing basins are Powder River (Wyoming and Montana), San Juan (Colorado and New Mexico) and Black Warrior (Alabama); however, there are 12 coal basins across the country. Much of the literature regarding the water impacts of coal seam gas are focused on the Powder River Basin. Of the 210 projects identified, 50 were from the US. The distribution of research themes represented in these projects is displayed in Figure 3.7. As with the overall distribution of research themes amongst the research projects, the theme of R3 (co-produced/mine water) dominated the research into water-related impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas in the US, followed by R8 (water dependent ecosystems) and R7 (water supplies). Projects were present from all of the research themes. 
Figure 3. Distribution of research themes in projects from the US Directory: system -> files -> resources resources -> Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An Analysis of International Approaches resources -> The National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List: 1 july 2008 30 june 2013 resources -> Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators isd sections of Law resources -> Executive Summary 3 Background 4 Developing the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme 4 resources -> Threat abatement plan for disease in natural ecosystems caused by resources -> Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Annual Report 2011–12 resources -> Sawfish and River Sharks Multispecies Issues Paper resources -> Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Queensland Crocodile Farming Download 3.05 Mb. Share with your friends:
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