WA:ERA commences Tight Gas project

Sep 22, 2010

A team of scientists from Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and CSIRO are working with Whicher Range Energy to study tight gas sands in the South Perth Basin.

The team will investigate and make recommendations for future tight gas exploration in WA.

“Although historically it has been too difficult and uneconomical to produce, as energy prices rise and a shift from coal to gas energy sources is experienced, tight gas is now being viewed as a resource with great potential,” key Curtin researcher Professor Reza Rezaee said.

Western Australia has numerous tight gas plays including Whicher Range Gas Field, which is a large gas resource located in the South West of Australia.  The gas reservoir is considered to be predominately tight, and it is thought that recent advances in tight gas technology may now unlock this resource.

Researchers from across WA:ERA research partners will review the geology, wireline logs geomechanics and drilling issues of the Whicher Range field with Whicher Range Energy, and perform petrophysical lab work associated with tight core.
 
The one-year project is funded by the WA State government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme and supported by Whicher Range Energy.  Curtin University is the lead research participant in this project managed through the WA Energy Research Alliance.
 
Further information:

Professor Reza Rezaee, Curtin University, r.rezaee@curtin.edu.au (08) 9266 7980

Mark Stickells, WA:ERA mark.stickells@waera.com.au,  mark.stickells@waera.com.au (08) 6436 8797

Peter Mills, Whicher Range Energy millsp@whicherenergy.com.au (08) 9327 3400.



Research Alliance Members

University of Western Australia Curtin University of Technology CSIRO

Industry Alliance Members

Woodside Chevron CGG Veritas