Innovative Solutions in Mining and Gas

How We Saved QGC Time, Money, and Improved Safety

A COMPLEX PROBLEM

The Background


To accurately value a Coal Seam Gas (CSG) company's assets and assess the total gas reserves, understanding the productivity of coal seams is crucial. The traditional method involves taking core samples and conducting detailed studies on the coal to predict seam productivity. This process requires extensive drilling and the subsequent sealing of unnecessary wells, adhering to regulatory standards.

Although initial coring offers insights into the potential productivity of future wells, it doesn't fully capture the depletion effects once surrounding wells begin production. To overcome this limitation and enhance reservoir models, CSG operations often integrate specific monitoring wells into their surveillance programs. These wells are critical for collecting essential data like reservoir pressures and temperatures, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the reservoir's behavior over time.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE

The Results

The innovative product developed by B&C Plastics revolutionized the installation of gauges and cabling in the coal seam gas industry. This new design utilized a two-part piece that easily clipped together, replacing the previously used 11-part assembly. This improvement drastically reduced the installation time for each gauge from approximately 15 minutes to just 2 minutes, cutting down the overall process from a day and a half to roughly 4 or 5 hours.

B&C Plastics, led by owners Royston and Wendy, was praised for their professionalism and proactive approach. The talented mould designers utilised advanced computer-aided design to create 3D models of the components. These models were instrumental in visualizing the concepts during meetings and played a crucial role in securing funding for the project. The collaborative effort was highlighted by the direct involvement of Gerard in every step of the manufacturing process, working closely with the B&C owners.

AN INNOVATIVE IDEA

The Solution


To improve data accuracy in measuring coal seam gas reserves, a core hole was re-entered and equipped with vibrating wire piezometers, connected via capillary string coil tubing. These gauges, installed at various reservoir intervals in holes ranging from 350 to 900 meters deep, required up to 8 gauges set at different depths for precise measurements.

The key challenge was to isolate the gauges from one another to ensure accurate depth-specific readings. Initially, cable bunching posed a risk of creating micro annulars, potentially causing pressure and temperature discrepancies between gauges. This required a solution to prevent inter-gauge communication and maintain data integrity.

The solution involved a specially designed cable spacer to enable perfect cement grout sealing around each gauge, ensuring isolation of the monitored zones. Gerard, through Queensland Gas Company (QGC), sought a manufacturer to tackle this challenge. After extensive deliberation, B&C Plastics was selected for their expertise. They successfully designed and manufactured the cable spacer using their five-step process, effectively addressing the isolation issue and enhancing the accuracy of reservoir monitoring.