South Wales Coal Field

The coals of the Carboniferous (Westphalian) South Wales Middle Coal Measures and Lower Coal Measures are considered to be the gassiest coals in the UK. Some CBM potential also exists within the coals of the Pennant Measures which overly the coal measures on PEDL211, although these are currently a secondary target and not yet appraised by drilling.

In January 2010, Composite Energy successfully completed a cored exploration well in PEDL211. The well reached a total depth of TD of 4,182' and recovered 1,595' of 3" diameter core with a core recovery greater than 99%.

A total of 39' of net coal from the South Wales Middle Coal Measures and Lower Coal Measures was recovered in the core. In addition, a number of coal seams encountered within the overlying Pennant Measures were not cored but may still have CBM potential. Maximum recorded seam thickness was 5.75' although completeable intervals up to 8' thick are present.

Dry ash free (DAF) gas contents for completeable coal seams range from around 590scf/ton to 681scf/ton. The maximum reported gas content in a single sample was 750scf/ton.

The gas contents in Wales are the highest encountered in the 2009 drilling campaign and Composite is considering its further exploration and pilot development options in this area.