Greenhouse gases and air quality

Greenhouse gas (GHG) and air quality research aims to improve characterisation and management of gas industry greenhouse gas and air quality impacts.

Understanding the sources of methane emissions in the Surat Basin, Queensland

This project will determine the potential sources of methane in air samples collected in the Western Downs Region of Queensland by using innovative sampling and analytical methods developed by CSIRO.

Surveying emissions from coal seam gas water holding ponds in Queensland

CSIRO scientists will survey coal seam gas (CSG) water holding ponds in Queensland's Surat Basin to evaluate their methane emissions potential.

Controls and contributions to methane emissions from coal seam gas water holding ponds

CSIRO scientists are studying the various roles that methane-producing and methane-consuming microbes, algae, brine and sediment play in the methane emission contributions of water holding ponds in the Surat Basin, Queensland.

Methane contributions from coal seam gas holding ponds in Queensland

CSIRO scientists have completed a comprehensive desktop survey, evaluating the potential of Queensland’s coal seam gas (CSG) water holding ponds to act as a source of methane and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Understanding the lifecycle of hydraulic fracturing fluids

This project will improve understanding of the lifecycle of chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing processes in the Northern Territory.

Methane contributions from holding ponds

This fact sheet provides an overview of the CSIRO research project investigating the potential contribution of Queensland’s coal seam gas (CSG) holding ponds to methane emissions.

Offsets for greenhouse gas emissions of onshore gas in the Northern Territory

This fact sheet describes results of research project activities designed to explore feasible options to mitigate and offset lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with proposed production and consumption of onshore gas extracted from the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

Mitigating fugitive gas emissions from well casings

This project will review current industry practice and conduct experimental investigations to evaluate techniques and assess new materials designed to minimise fugitive methane emissions leaking from microfractures and gaps in gas well cement casing.

Methane emissions in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Sub-basin

This project measures baseline methane emissions from natural and human-derived sources in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

Assessing the ambient air quality in the Surat Basin

Research outcomes point to good air quality in the study region.

New South Wales coal seam gas research projects: Update summary

Progress summary of research by GISERA in regional NSW, September 2017.

Surat Basin regional air quality, Queensland

Coal seam gas (CSG) production has expanded rapidly in the Surat Basin in recent years, leading to an increase in the number of emission sources that may increase pollutant levels in the air. However limited information has been available about the levels of pollutants in the air, how these compare to other regions, and to air quality standards.

Fugitive methane emissions

A fact sheet that sets out what the science tells us about methane emission sources from CSG wells, pipelines, compressors and other infrastructure associated with CSG production, and their importance in warming the earth’s climate.

Fugitive methane emissions – an update

This updated fugitive emissions fact sheet sets out what the science tells us about methane emission sources from CSG wells, pipelines, compressors and other infrastructure associated with CSG production, and their importance in warming the earth’s climate.

Characteristics of methane seeps

The Surat Basin is one of Australia’s largest coal seam gas regions. Over the coming years, production of gas will increase as Lique ed Natural Gas (LNG) facilities come online. This study will develop a better understanding and characterise methane sources across the region. It is important to distinguish between methane sources that occur naturally and those that are referred to as anthropogenic, or occur after some kind of human involvement.

Methane seeps in the Condamine River

This fact sheet presents the current state of scientific knowledge on methane seeps in the Condamine River including natural and human causes, and the human and environmental health and safety impacts of methane escaping from underground. This fact sheet has been developed by CSIRO researchers with expertise in the hydrogeology, geology, ecology and biogeochemistry and from multiple sources to summarise what we currently know about these methane seeps.