QPM Energy will use $3 million in grant money to trial a groundbreaking pre-draining program to capture waste gas for energy in advance of longwall mining in the Moranbah coalfields.

The trial program of new wells will target the gas-rich Fort Cooper Coal Measures, situated above the coal seams subject to mining.

Rather than seeing this gas migrate down to the mining void as longwall systems advance, and having to be extracted through goaf gas drainage (flared) or through the air circulating activities (vented), QPM Energy aims to capture and extract it via these wells.

The company believes this could change the approach to gas extraction in coal mining, turning a safety and emissions issue into an economic asset.

If successful, the project also offers the potential for a significant increase in gas resources and reserves at QPM Energy’s Moranbah gas project.

“We are delighted to receive this funding support from the Queensland Government,” QPM chief executive officer David Wrench said.

“The grant will provide the funds to complete a new drilling technique which has the opportunity of not only increasing gas production from the Moranbah project but will also result in a significant reduction in carbon emissions from the Bowen Basin.

“If successful, it can result in increased economic gas resources which can be incorporated into QPM’s long-term field development plan.”