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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.
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
Course meets in Room 315 (Level 3 von Haast building) from 10-12 Thursdays.
Kari Bassett
James Pope (Adjunct Fellow) and Tim Moore (Adjunct Associate Professor)
Class will meet on Thursdays 10.00–12.00, in Room 315 Level 3 von Haast building (unless otherwise notified). One 7-day field trip will occur during the mid-semester break. Seminars will start the week of 9 August.
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.Lecture Programme (James Pope) – starts week 5 (9 Aug)Lecture 1 Coal Characteristics and Analysis• Commonly measured properties• Methods• Utilisation• NZ coal propertiesLecture 2 Coal Seam Gas and its ExplorationDr Tennille Mares to attend• Measurement of coal seam gas• Geology of Coal Seam Gas exploration• Integration of geological, hydrogeological, analytical dataLecture 3 Current Developments in NZ• New mines – Pike River• Underground Coal Gasification• Gasification – syngas as an industrial feedstock• Future resource utilisationLecture 4 Coal utilisation and the EnvironmentDr Tennille Mares to attend• 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 minimisationLecture 7 Mine Drainage Remediation• Active systems – geochemistry• Passive systems – design parameters• Can coal be mined without water quality impacts?Lecture 8 Aqueous Trace Elements in the Environment• Measurement• Dynamic aqueous environment source - transport - trap model• Adsorption and desorption – important substrates• Partitioning of trace elements in sedimentsField Work (Tim Moore)Date Day Time Topic 28-Aug 1 pm Drive to Westport Accomodation 29-Aug 2 am Lecture: Introduction to Terrigenous hydrocarbon bearing sediments pm Field: Examine and then measure coal bearing section assessed 15% evening Write up field report 30-Aug 3 am Lecture: Deposition environments, facies, and modern analogs pm Exercise: Applied correlations of logs and their interpretations assessed 15% evening Group dinner, Readings 31-Aug 4 am Field: Brunner coal measures pm Field: Brunner coal measures evening Discussion: The day's field and previous day's readings 1-Sep 5 am Lecture: Coal composition, maturation pathways, the oil window and concept of uncertainty pm Excercise: Prediction of oil window and gas generation assessed 20% evening Free 2-Sep 6 am Lecture &discussion: Biogenesis of gas hydrocarbons from coal pm Field: Paparoa coal measures, section measurement, discription assessed 15% evening in Greymouth 3-Sep 7 am Field: drive to modern analog, Haast (stay in Haast) pm Field: in peat, measurements and discription evening Instructions for term paper to be turned in 6 wks later* assessed 35%4-Sep 8 am Return to Christchurch pm Arrive in Christchurch. End
Domestic fee $790.00
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 .