"Naftogaz" Group has initiated research on the coal layers of the Lviv region. Its purpose is to work out the technology and production process of natural gas extraction in this area, the company said.
"Ukraine has one of the highest values of methane content per ton of coal (an average of 2.5 m3/t in Canada and up to 25 m3/t in Ukraine) and the 7th place in the world in terms of coal reserves. Therefore, this technology has significant prospects for us. Research work is currently underway on the site chosen jointly with Lviv Coal State Enterprise, and at the end of 2023, in the case of successful research results, we plan to fully launch the project and start drilling," - Oleksii Chernyshov, Chairman of the Board of "Naftogaz" said.
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The company says that the initiative is based on the experience of using technologies for extracting methane from coal, which was studied by "Naftogaz" Group specialists at production sites in the USA, China, and Canada.
"This technology has been used in the world for a long time. For example, coalbed methane production in the USA exceeds 60 billion cubic meters. m per year, which is almost three times more than the annual gas consumption in Ukraine. We also have significant prospects and we should use them," Oleksii Chernyshov noted.
In addition to an additional contribution to strengthening Ukraine's energy independence, the technology will help make coal mining safer. For hundreds of years, coalbed methane has been considered exclusively as an "enemy of miners", a source of explosions and sudden releases of coal and rock in mines. This activity will help Ukraine improve its compliance with EU directives on reducing emissions of harmful gases. Extraction will also give an impetus to the development of the regions where it will be carried out, because these are additional jobs and taxes for the local budget. The research is being implemented in cooperation between Naftogaz Group and state enterprise "Lvivvuhillya" within the framework of the state program for strengthening Ukraine's energy independence.
Translated by Vitalii Holich
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