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Australia is facing fresh pressure to address methane pollution from its coal industry after alarming leaks were detected from abandoned boreholes in Queensland. Conservation groups and researchers are calling on the state government to carry out a comprehensive audit of more than 130,000 boreholes, warning that unchecked emissions could be far greater than previously thought. The discoveries follow recent findings that a single borehole in the Surat Basin was leaking methane at levels equivalent to the annual emissions of about 10,000 cars. Scientists say these are not isolated cases and could represent a much broader problem that requires immediate attention.
Methane Leaks and Their Climate Impact
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Over a 20-year timeframe, it is about 80 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. While it breaks down faster than CO₂, its near-term warming effect makes tackling methane emissions one of the most effective ways to slow climate change.
Associate professor Phil Hayes, co-author of the study, explained that the borehole had been in place for around twenty years. However, he noted it was not possible to determine precisely how long it had been releasing methane or the precise rate of the leak. He added that factors such as the local geology and groundwater extraction in nearby areas can affect underground pressure, which in turn may influence how much methane escapes.
Researchers from the University of Queensland recently confirmed two separate leaks from boreholes in the Surat Basin. One of them was powerful enough to push groundwater to the surface, creating a geyser-like eruption. Experts argue that addressing these sources could deliver a relatively quick win for cutting Australia’s short-term climate pollution.
Calls for a Statewide Audit
The Queensland Conservation Council described the problem as the “tip of the methane iceberg.” With more than 130,000 boreholes drilled during decades of coal exploration in Queensland, the group estimates that even if just 5% of them were leaking at similar levels, the emissions could match those produced by 65 million cars.
Advocates say the solution begins with a full audit to identify which sites are releasing methane. They also suggest that funding should come from coal royalties and levies on current operators, especially in cases where the companies that originally drilled the holes no longer exist. Without a dedicated program, the legacy of old boreholes could remain an unmonitored and costly burden.
Extending the Concern Beyond Queensland
While Queensland has the most significant number of coal boreholes, the issue does not end there. New South Wales has more than 9,000 documented exploration boreholes. Although some testing has been conducted and has shown relatively low emissions, experts caution that the scale of potential leaks across the state is still largely unknown.
The Queensland government has not yet committed to conducting the audit or disclosed its plan for managing the costs of sealing leaking boreholes. Campaigners argue that delaying action risks allowing a significant source of climate pollution to continue unchecked, even as the world races to cut methane emissions.
References:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-04/uq-research-finds-coal-borehole-leaking-methane/105730722
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725015657
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/background-review-bore-integrity.pdf
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