Delivering co-ordinated expertise

CCL has the technical capability to manage and deliver an end-to-end solution for UCG projects, providing technical leadership from project inception to completion, including:

Desk studies: CCL have produced desk studies for several projects around the world. Some of these desk studies, such as some lignite deposits in Kazakhstan, have been relatively straight forward as it was clear from an early stage that these sites were not suitable. Other desk studies, such as our project in Turkey, were more complex, involving assessments of large amounts of data and requiring constant updating as more data were made available. Shaun Lavis, Marc Mostade and Paul Ahner are the primary authors of our desk studies.

Geological Assessment: CCL routinely assesses geological information, such as borehole logs, geophysics and structural data as part of our UCG site selection process. Our capabilities extend to 3D modelling on local and regional scales and the planning, design and implementation of site investigations. Shaun Lavis, Marc Mostade and both have experience in performing geological assessments for UCG projects. We have produced numerous 3D geological models for projects including for example our UK projects, and for the major coal-bearing formations in Turkey projects. This, together with other key data, such as topographic data, enable to identify suitable sites for UCG using advanced GIS techniques;

Hydro-geological Assessment: the importance of hydro-geology for a successful UCG project cannot be underestimated. CCL has assessed the hydrogeology of several potential UCG projects around the world and has capabilities in understanding the impact of UCG on hydrogeology and water resources. For desk studies, CCL can produce “conceptual site models”, which are non-quantitative, simplified representations of the key hydrogeological issues at a site. The conceptual site model forms the basis of all subsequent computer models and can be used to either confirm or deny that a site is suitable for UCG. For Phase 2, CCL will design any site investigations such that every borehole drilled is used for geological and hydro-geological purposes. CCL will design the boreholes to ensure they target key hydro-geological units and prepare a testing regime suited to the site. Paul Ahner has direct experience coordinating hydro-geological assessments for UCG projects in the US and Shaun Lavis has experience designing hydro-geological investigations for environmental purposes in the United Kingdom. Continuous hydro-geological testing and water sampling will be required throughout the project, Paul Ahner and Shaun Lavis have direct experience in interpreting hydro-geological regimes, groundwater chemistry and their impacts on UCG and the environment;

Environmental Assessment: CCL believes that the careful management of the environment in and around a UCG project is crucial to the success of any project. In previous projects, CCL has been proactive in establishing relationships with environmental regulators and fully informing them of the potential environmental impacts of UCG. CCL also has capabilities in assessing and mitigating risks to key aspects of the environment, including: groundwater, atmospheric emissions, noise, dust and visual impacts. CCL will identify any key environmental concerns at the desk study stage and design any subsequent site investigation to ensure that the environment is well characterised. Paul Ahner and Shaun Lavis both have direct experience in understanding the potential impacts of industrial activities on the ground and groundwater. Marc Mostade and Paul Ahner also have experience in managing atmospheric emissions from UCG and will ensure that engineered solutions (e.g. syngas incinerators for the pilot phase if required) to atmospheric emissions are considered at the earliest stages of the project;

Health and Safety (H&S): Similarly CCL has also been proactive in establishing relationships with health and safety regulators and, as with Environmental regulators has worked with them to produce draft guidelines. Further Marc Mostade, Paul Ahner and Henri Henquet have direct experience of H&S issues and management during their time managing European Projects (Marc Mostade and Henri Henquet) and during numerous trials in the US (Paul Ahner);

Economic Assessment: CCL has experience in identifying and assessing the syngas end-uses (e.g. electricity generation, chemical and fuel production) available to a project. CCL has developed a world-leading and unique process-financial model capable of assessing the economics of UCG projects related to specific coal resources and syngas end-uses. CCL have used this key decision-making tool on nearly every project considered. The model is used at the earliest stage of a project (usually the desk study), once details of the coal and coal seam are known, and constantly updated as more data become available. Catherine Bond and Shaun Lavis have used the tool to model several different scenarios at different project locations, for example they considered the economics of selling syngas to a nearby power station or converting the syngas to electricity on site for our project in Turkey;

UCG Technology: CCL has direct experience of process well design and installation, as well as the key surface plant specifications. This, together with a comprehensive network of potential contractors, allows CCL to quickly source the required materials to build the equipment necessary for a UCG project. Marc Mostade, Paul Ahner and Henri Henquet all have direct experience of the complex design considerations required to produce UCG process wells and the specifications for surface plant required for flow measurement, gas analysis, oxygen injection, water management and syngas flaring/incineration. Marc Mostade and especially Henri Henquet have direct experience of process well designs and material selection for deep UCG projects gained during work on the Thulin (Belgium) and El Tremedal (Spain) - trials and developed over recent years. Paul Ahner also has experience in well design and has recently advised the on going Chinchilla Project, Australia on well design, surface plant and process operation;

UCG Process Monitoring: Monitoring of UCG reactors and surrounding environment is fundamental in understanding UCG. CCL has developed several tools, exclusive to CCL, to monitor the underground processes associated with UCG and so better manage the design of projects and the commercial exploitation of the valuable coal resource. Marc Mostade and Henri Henquet managed the complete monitoring package, from early design through to installation, for the Thulin and El Tremedal trials. This included using state of the art optical fibre reflectometry, which was built into the process well designs. Paul Ahner has also worked in this field during his work on the Chinchilla project and earlier US pilot tests; and

Contract Management: CCL has been involved in the development and agreement of several joint venture agreements, memoranda of understanding and other agreements relating to UCG projects with numerous organisations from around the world. Catherine Bond managed the JV between CCL and a major Turkish industrial conglomerate, two JVs with major international oil and gas companies in the US and with a state-own enterprise in China. CCL also maintains professional relationships with organisations, ranging from borehole equipment suppliers to large multinational oil and gas service companies, and have significant capabilities in Intellectual Property management.