Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 25 February 2011:

In regard to the extraction of coal seam gas:

(1) What is the average amount of methane released in such operations.

(2) What is the estimated maximum for methane release.

(3) How is such a release measured.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Methane emissions from the extraction of coal seam gas are estimated and reported within the National Greenhouse Accounts, as part of the fugitive emissions from natural gas production and processing, venting and flaring. It is not possible to separately identify the emissions associated with the extraction of coal seam gas. According to the National Greenhouse Accounts, fugitive methane emissions from natural gas production and processing (leakage and venting) for Australia in 2008 were 33,335 tonnes.

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008 (the Determination) provides methods and criteria for calculating greenhouse gas emissions and energy data under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. Methodologies for determining the fugitive methane emissions from the extraction of coal seam gas are provided in the Determination under Divisions 3.3.6 and 3.3.9 for natural gas production and processing.