Methane leaks identified in Australia

A state-wide audit of the gas and oil industry in Queensland, Australia, has highlighted a number of methane leaks.

While results of the audit by the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate on almost 3,000 coal seam gas (CSG) wells across the state were mainly positive, it identified 34 that were leaking but officials have said they pose no health and safety risks to the community.

Of the 34 leaking site, five were found to be at a flammable level and the gas leaking out was comprised mostly of methane, with small amounts of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.

The report stressed that all methane leaks were at levels "well within public standards".

Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe hailed the results and said that while the flammable methane leaks posed "limited risks to workers and the community" action was immediately take to fix them.

He said that the remaining leaks were also fixed but stressed that they "posed very little to no safety and health risk to the community or CSG workers".