Greenhouse gas 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.

Methane and Volatile Organic Compound Emissions in New South Wales study

CSIRO Energy was commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency to undertaken a wide ranging study of fugitive methane emissions from some of the major land uses across NSW. The Methane and Volatile Organic Compound Emissions in New South Wales study measured atmospheric methane levels at 16 sites across the state from June 2014 to May 2016. These included coal seam gas, landfill, agricultural, coal mining, wastewater treatment sites and a forest and a wetland site. The report can be found here.

Methane seeps in the Condamine River fact sheet

CSIRO researchers with expertise in hydrogeology, geology, ecology and biogeochemistry have developed a Methane seeps in the Condamine River fact sheet to summarise what we currently know about these methane seeps in the Condamine River (Queensland) including natural and human causes, and the human and environmental by health and safety impacts of methane escaping from underground.

Fugitive methane emissions factsheet

An updated Fugitive methane emissions from unconventional gas factsheet has been developed which 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.

Projects

• Offsets for life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of onshore gas in the Northern Territory

  This project seeks feasible options to offset life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emitted in Australia associated with scenarios of new production and Australian consumption of onshore gas extracted from the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Sub-basin.

  Last updated: 8 July, 2020

• 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.

  Last updated: 10 June, 2020

• Baseline measurement and monitoring of methane emissions in the Beetaloo Sub-basin

  Providing a better understanding of the natural methane levels, over the various seasons, a baseline for accurately quantifying any future onshore gas impacts.

  Last updated: 3 February, 2020

• Regional methane emissions in NSW CSG basins

  Last updated: 15 March, 2018

• Ambient air quality in the Surat Basin

  Last updated: 23 July, 2019

• Whole of life cycle greenhouse gas assessment

  Last updated: 31 January, 2020

• Methane seepage in the Surat Basin

  Last updated: 5 March, 2020