Gas in Queensland
Gas is a vital energy source for Queensland's industrial and manufacturing sectors. It is also increasingly used in electricity generation throughout Queensland, and is a major new export industry, based on the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Queensland's gas resources.
The term 'gas' is used to describe natural gas, which is predominantly methane, a naturally occurring gas. Conventional natural gas is found and produced with other petroleum products such as oil. Coal seam gas (CSG) is found and produced from the cleats and fractures of coal seams. While the location and production method is different, natural gas produced from conventional gas fields and CSG gas fields is the same product. Commercial quantities of natural gas are produced from both conventional and CSG fields in Queensland.
Another form of gas used in households and industry is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). LPG is a mix of the gases propane and butane and is stored and transported in metal canisters (gas bottles) as a liquid. LPG is produced by collection of butane and propane produced with conventional natural gas, and also as a by-product from the oil refining process. Its most common use in Queensland is as a fuel for barbeques and stoves.
Initiatives such as the Queensland Gas Scheme have boosted the Queensland gas market and development and expansion of gas reserves and infrastructure.
This guide provides an overview of gas in Queensland.
