The nation's main coalbed methane developer signed a deal with
two companies on Friday for a new technology to boost
production.
China United Coalbed Methane Corp Ltd (CUCBM) signed the
agreement with Canadian firm Petromin Resources Ltd and Hong
Kong-based Enviro Energy International Holding Ltd. Total
investment in the project is 9.9 million yuan.
The project will inject carbon dioxide (CO2) deep into coal
seams that cannot be mined, to enhance production capacity. Enviro
Energy International and Petromin will bring technical guidance,
support and assistance and CUCBM will provide labs and supervise
outdoor operations.
The project is a milestone in deep coalbed methane development
in China, Sun Maoyuan, president of CUCBM, told China Daily.
Recycling and storing CO2, is also an important step to reduce
emissions. The project is part of a five-year program to develop
multi-well CO2 injection-enhanced coalbed production. A single-well
test has already been carried out in Qinshui, Shanxi province, in
collaboration with the Canadian government.
The China United Coalbed Methane National Engineering Research
Center was set up last year, with registered capital of 76 million
yuan.
The center is co-funded by CUCBM and five other companies -
PetroChina, Sinopec, Huaibei Mining Group, China University of
Geosciences (Beijing) and Beijing Orion Co Ltd.
A practical and reliable alternative energy source, coalbed
methane will help meet China's energy demand and reduce the number
of gas explosions in coal mines, Sun said.
China is still in the early stages of coalbed methane
development. The National Development and Reform Commission has
drafted a five-year plan for the industry, targeting output of 10
billion cu m by 2010.
(China Daily January 26, 2008)
