Beach and Great Artesian study Cool gas plant

Beach Petroleum, Great Artesian Oil and Gas and Cool Energy have signed a....

  Beach Petroleum, Great Artesian Oil and Gas and Cool Energy have signed a feasibility study agreement to investigate the development of a gas processing plant and associated infrastructure in PEL 106 for Cooper Basin gas.The project would be the first commercial scale use of Cool Energy’s CryoCell cryogenic gas processing technology to capture and allow cost effective storage of carbon dioxide. This would enable efficient carbon geosequestration, providing a clean product while potentially realising a value for carbon capture of CO2 contained in Cooper Basin natural gas.Great Artesian Managing Director, Andy Carroll said: “Initial screening studies by our consultants indicate the plant is economically viable. The feasibility study should be completed this month and a plant could be operating in 2009.”Subject to results of the feasibility study and adequacy of gas reserves, the three companies will consider building a 20 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (20 mmscfd) processing plant, which would produce sales gas, LPG and condensate for supply to market, as well as liquid CO2 that can be stored underground.Cool Energy’s technology has been proven in field trials over the past two years at ARC Energy’s Xyris Gas Field in the Perth Basin in Western Australia. Early laboratory work to develop the process at WA’s Curtin University of Technology was backed by Shell, which is now a shareholder in Cool Energy. Woodside Petroleum also has been involved in the field trials.Cool Energy Managing Director, Jessie Inman said the technology provides a strategic advantage for Australia to reduce CO2 emissions.