Unconventionally produced gas (coalbed methane, shale gas, tight gas etc) will become increasingly important in the world’s energy mix. The success of the shale gas plays in North America only reinforces just how economically important these deposits are both on continental as well as global scales. But, despite its success, there are large unknowns surrounding […]
Considering the impact that coal has on the world, there are surprisingly few technical books dedicated to the subject. Romeo Flores, recently retired from the US Geological Survey (but still a Cipher Associate [see: https://www.ciphercoal.com/the-team/dr-romeo-m-flores/ ]), has gone some way to remedy this situation. His book “Coal and Coalbed Gas: Fueling the Future” has just […]
In June of this year, Gas Specialist Chris Nelson was in Botswana overseeing desorption testing and sample collection as part of Cipher’s services to Exxaro Resources. The Late Permian coal measures in the Kalihari area of Botswana are being investigated for coalbed methane (CBM) potential. The coal deposits of both South Africa and Botswana (and, […]
Tim Moore and Chris Nelson traveled for Cipher to South Africa and Botswana this month to begin work on a CBM play in Botswana. In May this year Cipher won a substantial contract to provide consulting services to Exxaro Resources, which is a large South African-based coal company. As is well known, the Karoo and […]
It’s always surprising to be caught out by an assumption. In this case I was writing a first draft of a paper on the effects of rank change (that is, change in organic maturation) on a coalbed methane reservoir. The study area, known locally as the Pinang Dome, is located in Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia. […]
In 2015 The Society for Organic Petrology (TSOP) will hold its annual conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This is great news as it will help highlight and educate the international science community on Indonesia’s extensive and varied hydrocarbon resources. The conference organizers are Dr Tim A. Moore (Cipher & University of Canterbury, Christchurch), Dr Chairul Nas […]
Cipher has just finished helping another client with the process of certification of its reserves and resources. Certification is needed in most cases to raise funds from investors. Cipher acts as the liaison between the client and the 3rd party certification company to insure maximization of those resources and reserves, which of course translates into […]
Dr Tim A. Moore (Cipher) and Dr Joan S. Esterle (School of Earth Science, University of Queensland) were invited to give a workshop by a major coalbed methane (CBM) explorer in Indonesia last week. There were a total of 11 participants, including one from BPMigas (the Indonesian government regulating body for petroleum exploration). The course […]
Drilling has begun in South Sumatra and Cipher is there. We are working with local partners Sucofindo and Mantra Energy Services. Cipher is providing the expert management for gas desorption testing for an 11 well coalbed methane exploration program being conducted by Dart Energy Ltd along with their partners Medco Energy, P.T. Bukit Asam and […]
Tim Moore of Cipher, was recently in Beijing presenting a paper* at the annual meeting of The Society for Organic Petrology (TSOP). The society is one of only two internationally recognized organizations dedicated to understanding coal and organic rich rocks and petroleum (the other organization being the International Committee on Coal and Organic Petrology [ICCP]). […]