Trimble GPS key to subsurface navigation in Scottish gas extraction test project.
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One Scottish project in particular, on the southern flood plain of the River Forth near the Kincardine Bridge, has the potential to extract a large supply of untapped natural gas (coal bed methane) from deep coal seams. If the preliminary investigations continue to prove successful, this test project could lead to the development of an indigenous gas field that would supply clean, natural gas directly to the local and national gas network providing energy for homes and industry.
Behind the scheme is Stirling-based Composite Energy, a new Scottish company that is working towards alleviating the UK's need for a long-term secure and diverse energy supply. With a number of coal bed methane (CBM) wells underway in its onshore licence area, Composite Energy is using its expertise to develop the CBM industry in the UK using its own drilling rigs. Working closely with the local communities and drawing staff from the local area, Composite Energy has already demonstrated that it can tap these deep gas sources with minimum disturbance to the communities in which drilling takes place.
Before drilling can commence, highly accurate surface positioning of the wellbores has to be carried out. Keith Lough, Chief Executive of Composite Energy explained, "In order to get at the coal bed methane, we have to drill around 900m down from the surface and horizontally about 500m. The emphasis we place on minimal local disturbance means that we have to get it right each time. It is therefore vital that we have a centimetre accurate position for each wellbore before we start and have no room for well location errors or subsurface horizontal navigation."
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