Biogenic Natural Gas
IER's Natural Gas Resources
The deeper lignite seams in EL 4416, IER's wholly-owned exploration licence, that may not be mined economically, are prospective for huge amounts of biogenic natural gas ('BNG'). A 9-well drilling program during 2006 and 2007 demonstrated the presence of permeable, gas-bearing lignite. Preliminary analysis suggests that the potential gas-in-place could be in the range of 6 to 35 trillion cubic feet ('Tcf').
About Biogenic Natural Gas
Natural gas within coal seams, depending on how it is created, is either thermogenic or biogenic. Thermogenic natural gas is created by thermal cracking of organic matter during the coalification process, whereas biogenic natural gas is created by naturally-occuring methanogenic organisms that, over time, break down organic matter and create natural gas. The deeper lignite seams within EL 4416 contain biogenic natural gas.