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Instinct Energy to drill initial CBM wells in Nambia

World Coal,


Australian energy company, Instinct Energy, plans to reveal the results of its initial CBM well operation in Namibia at the Unconventional Gas Aberdeen 2012 conference. It is one of the first to venture into onshore drilling for CBM in Namibia and is claims there is a promising opportunity for extracting gas from coal seams in the Huab Basin near the country’s northwest coast.

Executive chairman of Instinct Energy, Ian Tchacos, will present results and findings at the event in Aberdeen on 27 and 28 November. He said: “We are a frontrunner in CBM exploration being among the first to be awarded a CBM license in Namibia. Our permit covers an 11,582 km2 area in the Huab where we intend to undertake exploration drilling activities this summer. We firmly believe there is a growing appetite for unconventional energy and we are developing strong stakeholder relationships in the region. The conference in Aberdeen will be an excellent platform to share results and lessons learned so far.”

Instinct Energy was set up in 2010 by a board of directors with private equity funding specifically to pursue opportunities in Namibia after geologists realised the potential for coal seams to provide a much-needed source of energy. The coal basins have not been previously mined due to their depths and basalt cover, which has adverse cost implications in the case of coal extraction. Namibia suffers from energy security issues with around 60% of electricity being imported and it is hoped unconventional gas will help to provide a stable indigenous energy source that will enable continued economic growth.

The company’s 1913B and 2013A permit areas host the Late Carboniferous to Late Permian (Karoo) sediments of the Huab basin, overlain by younger Cretaceous sediments and volcanics. The Huab basin is a thermal sag basin and encompasses nearly 16000 km2 within its onshore portion. It is believed to have formed during the release of heat after rifting in eastern Africa from the Late Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic period. Numerous NW-SE and N-S trending faults that traverse the permit areas have been mapped using outcrop information, aerial photography and airborne magnetics. They have the potential to act as hydrocarbon traps and/or conduits, and to promote fracture permeability in coal seams and conventional reservoirs.

Instinct is also exploring opportunities in the Mid Zambeze basin and has been awarded permits in the Caprivi area. Tchacos added: “Namibia is a new frontier territory and our operation is drawing skills and expertise from contractors in Scotland, Poland and Australia. We are using existing mineral drilling equipment and employing local people where possible to support our activities.”

The second Unconventional Gas Aberdeen Conference at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre will see global operators, governments and technology specialists gather to debate the issues around maximising recovery from shale, tight gas and CBM.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/cbm/22082012/initial_cbm_wells_to_be_drilled_in_namibia_and_results_presented_at_unconventional_gas_abeerdeen-/

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