Sources and mobility of gas in formations below the Walloon Coal Measures in Qld

CSIRO scientists will collate existing data on the prevalence of gas in water supplies and water monitoring bores in aquifers underlying the Walloon Coal Measures, and will investigate the sources of gas to determine if they will be affected by
coal seam gas (CSG) activities.

This project will provide an evidence base to allow for the prediction of likely gas concentrations in water bores across the Surat Basin, and how that ‘gassiness’ may change over time – including as a result of CSG development.

Researchers will collate existing data on the prevalence of gas in water monitoring bores and water supplies (including stock, agricultural and town supplies) to determine the current state of the system.

Researchers will then investigate the sources of gas within them, and how they may be affected by non-CSG water extraction and CSG activities.

The outcomes of this research will allow for the establishment of a framework for future monitoring to validate whether the presence of gas in groundwater bores is increasing, what the source of any such gas is, and whether CSG activities are a contributing factor.