Welcome to our spunky new look newsletter! Same awesome content, just something a little easier for us to manage. Do let us know if you have any suggestions for it. Let’s get started shall we? *Sunday 27th May E-waste collection day at Lyne Park car park, Rose Bay, entry via Vickery Ave 9am-3pm.
The National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) in conjunction with the Australian Water Association is presenting a three-hour workshop to discuss the science underpinning coal seam gas.
Professor Craig Simmons, director of the NCGRT; Professor William L Fisher, Department of Geological Sciences – University of Texas; and Professor Peter G. Flood, Emeritus professor, retired Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of New England, will present followed by a panel session to answer questions from participants.
These scientists are among the world’s foremost experts on coal seam gas. They are responsible for setting the research agenda, and can authoritatively articulate the difficulties and opportunities in the field. This workshop will be of interest to anyone wanting to understand the current state of play of science in coal seam gas, both nationally and internationally.
DATE & LOCATIONS
Sydney Tuesday, 24 July 2012, 2-5pm followed by drinks and canapés, Aerial Room, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Melbourne Thursday, 26 July 2012, 9am -12pm followed by light lunch, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Brisbane Friday, 27 July 2012, 2-5pm followed by drinks and canapés (prior to QLD Gala Dinner and Awards Night), Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
AWA Member $300
Non Member $385
Student $150
http://www.awa.asn.au/CSG_Workshop/
News and Events and FAQ’s on Coal Seem Gas
What is Coal Seam Gas?
Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is a gas consisting of around 98% methane and is formed from the degradation of plant matter over millions of years. CSG is trapped by water and ground pressure against the surface of coal in underground coal seams and is also located within pores inside the coal. The spaces between the coal are known as fractures or cleats. Some of the fractures are interconnected and permeable which allows water and gas to move between the fractures.
How is Coal Seam Gas extracted?
CSG is extracted via CSG wells that are drilled into the coal seams to release the gas trapped within the coal. For economic extraction of CSG, coals seams in Australia are generally between 200metres – 1,000m metres deep. The CSG wells are cased with steel and cement. In situations where coal seams are very deep and of low permeability, the use of hydraulic fracturing or ‘fraccing’ may be employed to increase permeability. This process involves pumping fluid comprising water, sand and other additives such as BTEX (BTEX is an acronym for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene compounds) at high pressure down the cased CSG well and into the coal seam. This action fractures the coal seam and provides a pathway to facilitate gas flow through the coal.
News and Events and FAQ’s on Coal Seem Gas
What is Coal Seam Gas?
Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is a gas consisting of around 98% methane and is formed from the degradation of plant matter over millions of years. CSG is trapped by water and ground pressure against the surface of coal in underground coal seams and is also located within pores inside the coal. The spaces between the coal are known as fractures or cleats. Some of the fractures are interconnected and permeable which allows water and gas to move between the fractures.
How is Coal Seam Gas extracted?
CSG is extracted via CSG wells that are drilled into the coal seams to release the gas trapped within the coal. For economic extraction of CSG, coals seams in Australia are generally between 200metres – 1,000m metres deep. The CSG wells are cased with steel and cement. In situations where coal seams are very deep and of low permeability, the use of hydraulic fracturing or ‘fraccing’ may be employed to increase permeability. This process involves pumping fluid comprising water, sand and other additives such as BTEX (BTEX is an acronym for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene compounds) at high pressure down the cased CSG well and into the coal seam. This action fractures the coal seam and provides a pathway to facilitate gas flow through the coal.
Date: Saturday, 2 June. Time: 9 am–11 am
Presenters: Kim Strong and Brigette Sharp from WIRES.
Place: Randwick Community Organic Garden, Paine Reserve, Corner Rainbow and Botany Streets, Randwick
RSVP by 31 May: Jessica Perini perini.jessica@gmail.com
Cost: Members of garden free. Friends of the garden $10. Non-members $20 to be paid on the day. Please bring correct change.
Topics: Introduction to WIRES • What native birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs live in urban environments? • Why should we protect native wildlife? • Types of habitat • Plants to attract wildlife • Wildlife solutions to issues in organic gardens (snails, rats, bountiful insects) • How to protect fruit trees (and native wildlife) • And so much more!
Yale will present a short overview of geoexchange heating and cooling systems and their various applications. He will include a series of local and international case studies that will range from residential applications through to commercial projects, including office buildings, Councils, universities etc.
Yale Carden has a First Class Honours degree in Environmental Science and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. Yale has been working in the sustainability sector for over fifteen years and has spent the past six years working with geoexchange systems. He is a member and certified installer with the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and has advised on Geoexchange systems across the Asia Pacific.
This year the University of Technology Sydney, TAFE NSW Ultimo College and ABC Ultimo are hosting a joint “Green Week” of activities during the week of 4-8 June. This week incorporates World Environment Day on Tuesday 5 June and World Oceans Day on Friday the 8th.
ATA has been invited to participate in Green Week by hosting a free stall on Monday 4 June to help promote environmental NGOs and their work to students and staff of UTS, TAFE and ABC. You are welcome to conduct fundraising activities and sign-up new members on the day.
Venue: concourse of UTS Tower Building 1
Date: Monday 4 June
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Cost: free
6.00 for 6.30 pm, Tuesday, 22 May 2012
University of Technology, Sydney
Ultimo campus, Room CB02.07.110
Main Speaker: Paul Dastoor (University of Newcastle)
Topic: The Potential for an Organic Solar PV Industry in Australia
Future Directions Speaker: James Cox (SIM Venture Securities)
To register and more information, click here or email nswbranch@auses.org.au.
ATA Sydney Central branch regularly receives invitations of interest to our branch members but we are careful to ensure we do not fill up your inbox. So that you do not miss we have started to post these items to Sustainability News Faceboo
ATA Sydney Central Branch – Treasurer
Contrary to all conventional rules – and despite annual average temperatures of 4.5 °C and an altitude of between 900m – 1400m – he has created an edible, paradisiacal landscape and caused quite a stir in so doing. In forty years of observing nature, of unrelenting joyful experimentation and fighting government agencies, he has succeeded in convincing his opponents of his way of farming, which means adhering to the laws of nature. Holzer states: “Variety instead of uniformity, for all plants and animals have a meaningful function“. He completely refrains from using pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. Sepp Holzer’s golden rule for achieving success in farming and the basic principles of permaculture: “Cooperate with nature instead of fighting it. Observe nature to determine which plants support one another.“
Since 1962 when he took over his father’s farm at the age of 19, Sepp Holzer and his wife have operated a perfectly functioning permaculture system without ever having heard the term “permaculture“ before.
Laid out in terraces, similar to rice fields in Asia, his 46-hectare farm greatly differs from the surrounding pine monocultures. Many things grow here not thought possible at an altitude of 1400m, ranging from cherries, apples, mushrooms and kiwis to lemons, pumpkins, potatoes and zucchinis. Nature is sprouting and thriving everywhere, along the paths, on the terraces, in the woods, on extremely steep inclines and even on rocky ground. Within the mixed cultivation there are ca. 45 water gardens, humid biotopes, ponds and three mountain lakes. It is here that the organic farmer breeds rare fish, toads, crustaceans and aquatic plants. His pigs plough the earth, harrow and fertilise it, and plants supply each other with moisture, nitrogen and fertiliser. In this way, Sepp Holzer has less work and more time to elucidate his mixed cultivation to interested visitors from all over the world.”
Global food security is a topic of interest to economists and agriculturists alike. Professor Chris Barrett discusses the challenges of planning to provide food security for an ever-growing population.
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm May 16 Cost: Free
Venue: Law School Foyer, The University of Sydney, Eastern Ave, University of Sydney, Camperdown
Enquiries: The University of Sydney sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/ (02) 9351 1935
via Sydney Talks – Talks This Month.
This will be a combined Transition Sydney bioregional meeting and skill-sharing workshop.
Skills workshops locked in so far –