Skip navigation 
Previous Page
25
Aug/Sept 2010 www.esb.ie/em 
ENERGY INTERNATIONAL
Shale Gas
– game changer or just another game player?
SCG update
In the recent edition of ESBI's Strategic Consultancy Group newsletter, Josh Taylor, Energy Analyst, discusses the role of shale gas in the energy industry.
SHALE GAS is a natural gas contained in commonly occurring rock, loosely called ‘shale’. Following improvements in horizontal drilling technology and successful production of shale gas from the Barnett field in Texas, gas market players are becoming excited by the possibility of a new and significant source of gas.
There are many different estimates on the reserves of shale gas in the US, Europe and throughout the world. There are important distinctions to be made between total existing reserves and what is technically and economically recoverable.
While production of shale gas to date has primarily been limited to the US, there is growing interest in Europe. Proponents of shale gas see it as a significant new source of low cost domestic gas, which some argue may be cheaper than LNG. However there are reasons to remain sceptical about some of these claims. Sceptics argue that reserves have been greatly overestimated and are far from economically recoverable, with production costs being very expensive and unreliable.
Whether shale gas will become a game changer or just another game player in the energy industry has yet to be proven, but with the support of large gas producers shale gas is certain to become a player in the gas game.
The Strategic Consultancy Group (SCG) is a multi-disciplinary team in ESBI Engineering Solutions providing techno-economic and commercial expertise to investors, developers and power utilities. For more information on the range of services provided by Strategic Consultancy Group, ESBI or to subscribe to the SCG newsletter, e-mail emma.silke@esbi.ie.
Peat Repository at Garvagh Glebe
brings environmental and community benefits
ESBI
GARVAGH GLEBE Windfarm in Co. Leitrim is a joint development between ESB and Coillte Teoranta, with ESBI providing procurement, engineering, construction and commissioning-services under a full turnkey contract.
With work on the 26MW windfarm now well underway, the construction of a road to the four remaining wind turbine locations in Garvagh Glebe South has begun. A key element of the road building is a peat repository/shale borrow pit that will provide both shale for the road and a permanent storage place for about 70,000m3 of excavated peat.
Back in January, a suitable site was identified in Garvagh Glebe North and work began on the repository. Unsuitable material was stripped out and a perimeter shale berm (ledge) built to ensure peat stability in the surrounding area. The on-site availability of rock has provided two major community and environmental benefits: it maximises the use of local materials and reduces traffic volumes by eliminating the need for rock to be transported from outside quarries.
The repository itself is made up of three internal cells divided by shale berms. The first cell is used to contain the unsuitable material from the footprint of the repository while the second cell, excavated to a depth of 40m below original ground level, is being used to store peat. The excavation of the third cell is almost complete. With the borrow pit lying at approximately the same depth as the 100MW boiler at Lough Ree Power, Co. Roscommon, the visual impact of works will be minimal after their completion.
Mediterranean Escape
Life, page 36
ESBI O&M Solutions hosts Operations & Technical Services Managers’ conference
ESBI
THE FIRST Operations and Technical Services Managers’ conference took place in Dublin earlier this year, hosted by ESBI O&M Solutions.
The conference, which aimed to facilitate knowledge-sharing and relationship-building, was attended by some 25 staff from ESBI O&M Solutions, including senior managers, operations and technical services managers and technical specialists from ESBI's national and international plants. Also in attendance were colleagues from three Generation Operations plants, Aghada (Cork), North Wall and Poolbeg (Dublin), which share the same technology as ESBI plants.
The conference was split into dedicated training, safety, operations and technical services modules. Each of the operations and technical services managers presented on the key safety, operations and technical services issues in their plants. Safety managers presented on the key safety initiatives for 2010, focusing particularly on the risks involved in switching operations. ESBI technical specialists presented on chemistry in newly built plants, as well as flexible operation, water washing and filtration and low-temperature failure modes.
There were interactive workshops on key lessons from the Piper Alpha incident, operations staff development, two-shift operations and performance monitoring, with outputs expected to enhance existing and future ESBI O&M policy and strategy.
ESB Energy International (ESBEI) Executive Director Pat O’Doherty highlighted the importance of sharing best practice between the ESBI O&M Solutions and the Generation Operations businesses. ESBI Engineering Solutions Manager Ollie Brogan also complimented the plants on their excellent performance and he reinforced the importance of maintaining this.
The conference received very positive feedback and is likely to be an ongoing feature in the future. An ESBEI Chemistry conference is currently being arranged for early November 2010.
