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The majority of the world's energy comes from fossil fuels. In New Zealand, Australasia and Asia, oil and gas are derived ultimately from coal and coal-bearing strata. Therefore, any exploration of oil and gas must be well founded in a basic understanding of coal geology. The use of coal and other carbon-based energy sources presents many challenges, not only in exploration but also in the downstream environmental effects. Today's geologists need to understand those consequences and risks.
The Coal Geo-science course will include information on coal quality analysis procedures and the interpretation and implications of this data in relation to New Zealand coals. Seminars include material on a selection of current coal related research topics or resource developments that are occurring in New Zealand or internationally. Specifically, material on, new mining operations in New Zealand, gasification processes, CO2 Sequestration and others. In addition we will focus on environmental issues related to mining and current research within New Zealand to mitigate the impact of mining on drainages.
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
Time and placeTo be centrally timetabled. Seminars will start in week 5 on the week of 6 Aug. One 6-day field trip will occur during Sept break from 25 – 30 Aug.
Kari Bassett
James Pope (Adjunct Fellow) and Tim Moore (Adjunct Associate Professor)
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Lecture Programme (James Pope & Dave Trumm) – starts week 5 (6 Aug)Lecture 1 Coal Characteristics and Analysis• Commonly measured properties• Methods• Utilisation• NZ coal propertiesLecture 2 Coal Seam Gas and its Exploration• Measurement of coal seam gas• Geology of Coal Seam Gas exploration• Integration of geological, hydrogeological, analytical dataLecture 3 Current Developments in NZ• New mines – Escarpment Redevelopment• Underground Coal Gasification• Gasification – syngas as an industrial feedstock• Future resource utilisationLecture 4 Coal utilisation and the Environment• CO2 – NZ production• NZ sequestration research• International sequestration research• Other environmental issues Lecture 5 Coal Mine Drainage Geochemistry• Formation of Acid Mine Drainage• Factors that control mine drainage chemistry• Coal mine drainages compared to other mine drainages• Mine drainage in NZLecture 6 Methods for prediction of mine drainage chemistry• Acid base accounting tests• Long term – kinetic testing of mine wastes• Mine drainage management and minimisationOrAqueous Trace Elements in the Environment• Measurement• Dynamic aqueous environment source - transport - trap model• Adsorption and desorption – important substrates• Partitioning of trace elements in sedimentsLecture 7 Mine Drainage Remediation• Active systems – geochemistry• Passive systems – design parameters• Can coal be mined without water quality impacts?Field Work (Tim Moore)Date Day Time Topic25-Aug Sat pm Drive to Westport Accomodation26-Aug Sun am Lecture: Introduction to Terrigenous hydrocarbon bearing sediments/Core examination am Exercise: Rock classification pm Exercise: Applied correlations of logs and their interpretations (due by 6pm same day)27-Aug Mon am Field: Paparoa coal measures, section measurement, description (Low tide 12 mile beach 4pm) pm Lecture: Deposition environments, facies, and modern analogs evening Group dinner, Readings28-Aug Tue am Field: Examine and then measure coal bearing section pm Lecture: The macro- and microscopic components of coal evening Write up field report (format will be given; due by 8am the next day)29-Aug Wed am Lecture: Coal composition, maturation pathways, the oil window and concept of uncertainty pm Excercise: Economic basin analysis and interpretation (due same day by 5pm)30-Aug Thur am Lecture & discussion: Biogenesis of gas hydrocarbons from coal pm Seminar on readings; then return to Christchurch pm Arrive in Chch, End
Domestic fee $873.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Geological Sciences .