Scott Adam, CRCMining programme leader for underground coal, stated that this is the first time that the technology has been deployed under the Petroleum and Gas Legislation, and is a significant milestone for TRD.

The TRD system drills using high-pressure water jets connected to the surface via a flexible hose. It is deployed from a conventionally drilled vertical well to create a series of lateral, horizontal boreholes in coal seams. These boreholes then allow the gases that are trapped in the seam to be drained.

This technology can be used for the commercial production of coal bed methane as well as for seam drainage ahead of coal mining operations.

According to CRCMining, trials have proven TRD provides greater cost savings than other surface to in-seam techniques as it is more effective in capturing fugitive carbon emissions with lower production risks.

TRD also enables low-cost, targeted de-gassing in difficult drain areas, as well as remote operation and the elimination of rod handling during drilling.

In 2013, TRD trials commenced at BHP's SouthWalker Creek mine located 40km west of Nebo in Queensland's Bowen Basin.

These trials were aimed at validating comparative modelling between medium radius (surface to in-seam) drilling (MRD) with TRD techniques. The research body noted that modelling data showed the TRD system significantly outperformed traditional drilling techniques and results indicated TRD enables higher productivity and more efficient gas extraction.

In 2014, CRCMining conducted a technology trial of the TRD system at the Bowen Basin plant. CRCMining said the objectives successfully met were to demonstrate that the TRD system could be effectively deployed under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (Qld); to assess the TRD system at >400m of laterals in coal (preferable eight laterals at 50m or longer); and to assess gas productivity improvement using the TRD system