Industry operations

Australia’s economy relies on the production, distribution and consumption of natural gas, including coal seam gas.

More than 95% of gas used in Queensland is coal seam gas. In fact, about a third of the gas used across the eastern Australian gas market (which includes South Australia) comes from coal seams.

Queensland’s gasfields are mostly in the Western Downs and Maranoa regions, centred on the towns of Chinchilla and Roma. Toowoomba has developed into a major service hub. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects are being built in Gladstone. And many coal seam gas companies have large offices in Brisbane.

Without gas, many industries would lack power and a vital ingredient in some of their chemical processes. In addition, electricity production would produce more emissions and would be more expensive and less reliable.

To make natural gas available for use, companies must first explore for, produce and distribute the gas.

Drilling rigs, wells and pipelines are vital to our modern way of life.

Natural gas exploration, drilling, production and pipelines are highly regulated and rely on technologies that have been developed over more than a century.