UK-based Cluff Natural Resources (CNR) has been awarded three Conditional Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) licenses, Options for Leases and non-exclusive Exploration Licenses for two offshore deep UCG prospects offshore Durham and Cumbria, in England.
The company, set up by oil industry veteren and entrepreneur Algy Cluff, now has eight UCG licenses in the UK, which it is now assessing in order to develop a demonstrator project.
Underground coal gasification is the conversion of in-situ coal into a mixture of gases often referred to as “syngas” which can be used for power generation or other purposes. It is a concept which dates back to more than a century ago but interest has recently been re-ignited in it. Another company, FiveQuarter Energy, based in Newcastle, is also investigating the concept and has developed a proprietory extraction method called Deep Gas Winning.
The latest licenses, offered by the UK's The Coal Authority, total 30,393 hectares (ha), comprising sites at Durham North (pictured), totalling 10,052 ha, Durham South totalling 10,338 ha, and Maryport, offshore Cumbria, totalling 10,003 ha. All three licences are in former coal mining areas with signficant historical datasets.
Cluff, who is chairman and CEO of CNR said: “It is well known that coal seams extend into the offshore waters around the UK and the technology now exists to develop the UK’s most abundant indigenous energy source. To this end we are in the process of commissioning the engineering and environmental studies required to support planning applications for our first demonstrator projects in the UK.”
Following a formal offer from The Coal Authority, sponsored by the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change, CNR has been awarded three Conditional UCG Licences, Options for Leases and non-exclusive Exploration Licences for two offshore areas off the coast of Durham and an offshore area off the Cumbrian coast adjacent to Maryport. CNR has a 100% working interest in each of these licences.
CNR's other licenses are in Carmarthernshire, Wales, the Dee Estuary, on the North Wales/Merseyside border, the Firth of Forth, Scotland, North Cumbria and Largo Bay, Scotland.
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