C O M P A N Y O V E R V I E W
Sigra:
Rock Solid Services
Sigra’s broad and deep experience allow complex challenges in the geological ser be quite successful. Written by: Kevin Smead
s
ws it to take on unique and vices industry—and
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Sigra is involved with all matters pertaining to the ground. From mining to groundwater, the company’s experience is both broad and deep. Using this extensive experience, Sigra “invents solutions” using its unique integrated approach. 151
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A Brief History Sigra was founded in 1994 in Brisbane, Australia, by Dr. Ian Grey. In its early days, the company supported the mining industry in a consulting role, as well as through research and development as part of the Australian Coal Industry Research Program.
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Along with its work on some other projects, Sigra built up its own technologies, which was vital to the economic success of the company. In 1996, the company developed its overcore stress measurement system (IST), which allowed for HQ coring at depths of 2000 m.
The company undertook further innovations, eventually working on field measurement projects. This led to the evolution of the tectonic strain theory that explained the varying stresses measured through sedimentary strata. Now, this process has been nearly universally sigra.com.au
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adopted by the mining industry. The company was even able to weather the coal recession in 2000 and come out on top. Sigra became a major force in the burgeoning coal seam gas industry. “Underpinned by the original work on the subject by Dr Ian Gray in the early 1980s, Sigra has developed its stress path analysis to determine how the effective stresses in coal seams and other adsorbative reservoirs change with the removal of fluids; in this case, water and
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gas, where the latter leads to shrinkage of the coal,” the company writes. “This is important because the permeability of coals is very dependent on the effective stress that they are subject to.” Sigra has continued to work with stresses in the coal and surrounding rocks—work that requires extensive knowledge and experience. “In 2012 Sigra built, tested and proved its Gas Content Without Coring System (GCWC),” the company explains. “This enables
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the gas content of strata to be determined while drilling an open hole under overbalanced conditions. This is a very important development as it is provides a means for determining the gas content of virtually all rocks that are not vuggy or hugely over pressured. It has been proven in coal bearing formations.” Sigra’s talents are not just available to Australia, either. The company is always prepared to do international work.
“Only by this broader perspective can the organisation progress through its expanding knowledge base,” Sigra writes. “We therefore have a commitment to continuing education within the organisation. We often find this approach means that we educate our clients, and the industries they represent, as well.” Having a team with diverse backgrounds is also very important to Sigra, as they believe it leads to more varied and intelligent solutions to problems. This also extends to Sigra’s commitment to cultural Guided by Principles diversity within its workforce, While Sigra’s scope of work is allowing for different perspectives extensive, it applies the same guiding on projects. principles to everything it does. At the end of the day, though, it all “Sigra’s guiding principle is to comes back to the balance between provide the best solutions possible science and art. to its clients,” the company writes. “Understanding the geology is the “This means that the solution must key to providing a solution to matters be feasible, sustainable, appropriate related to the ground,” the company and economically sound, within the explains. “Devising solutions to context of the best environmental engineering problems is an art form and health and safety objectives.” to which there are many possible The company works to provide its solutions. Finding the solution that staff with a greater understanding of works best depends on the skill of company operations, which allows the engineers and the palette of them better contextualize their work tools they have at their disposal. At and provide more effective service. Sigra we endeavor to provide the sigra.com.au
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“The compan variety of prob areas of a pro
broadest palette of engineering techniques possible, and one that is not restricted by current fashions of industry.” All of these factors lead to a more innovative team and allow Sigra to excel in all areas. Total Solutions And innovate Sigra has. The 155
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company offers total solutions to a wide variety of problems and is able to tackle specific areas of a problem if need be. Still, the company knows how challenging the work can be at times. “The complexity of coal s eams and their reservoir behavior is self evident,” Sigra explains. “The extraction of coal and gas requires
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Company Information
ny offers total solutions to a wide blems and is able to tackle specific oblem if need be.”
INDUSTRY
Energy HEADQUARTERS
Acacia Ridge, Queensland Australia FOUNDED
1994 PRODUCTS/
multi-disciplined engineering skills and expertise. Sigra excels at optimization of exploration and appraisal programs for the development of coal and gas resources and the design of their extraction.” This approach allows employees to think outside the box and provide the best service and engineering skills possible. For Sigra, innovation and forward-thinking isn’t something special: it’s what they do every day.
SERVICES Sigra delivers solutions to our clients in all matters related to the ground. We understand what we are dealing with, and we have the capability to examine and analyse it in detail. To do this we have a multidisciplinary team and a lot of the “geo” built into the names of what we do: Geology, geophysics, geomechanics, geotechnical, hydrogeology. Associated fields include: reservoir characterisation, rock mechanics, drilling. To do this work requires major capability in other areas, such as all the engineering disciplines: chemical, civil, electronic, mechanical, mining and software. We also have high level of mathematical skills.
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Sigra Address 93 Colebard Street West, Acacia Ridge, Queensland, Australia, 4110 Tel. +61 7 3216 6344 trevor@sigra.com.au Sigra.com.au