PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (Appea) has been tasked by the Council of Australian Government (COAG) Energy Council to produce a yearly unconventional gas activities report.

Appea CEO Malcolm Roberts said on Friday that the report would be a convenient source of information on industry developments across Australia.

“Access to clear and accurate information about the industry is critical to better community understanding of Australia’s gas industry,” Roberts said.

“Unconventional gas simply refers to natural gas produced from coal seams and shale rather than traditional sandstone reservoirs. These sources are more and more important to ensuring that Australian households and industry have safe, reliable gas supplies.”

He noted that about 40% of the gas produced on the east coast, and 90% of the gas resources on the east coast, were classified as ‘unconventional’.

“Unfortunately, activists opposed to gas development regularly peddle inaccurate or misleading information. The Unconventional Gas Activities Report will consolidate the vast amount of information already reported publicly by gas producers into an accessible document. 

“Unconventional gas is an increasingly important part of an Australian gas industry that provides jobs, clean energy and taxation revenues for governments.”

The first report would be presented to the Energy Council next year.

In its meeting this week, the COAG Energy Council conceded the role unconventional gas has played in the Australian energy sector, saying that the role of gas from unconventional reservoirs was set to grow.

“In the last 20 years, gas from ‘unconventional’ reservoirs, including coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas, has grown to become a critical supply source for Australia’s gas needs,” the COAG said.

The COAG said this week that its immediate focus would be on improving information on gas reserves and production potential, as well as the public availability and accessibility of science and factual information around the unconventional gas industry.

The council would also work to support leading practices in the industry by investing in exploration and development to supply gas into markets, and protecting the environment and maximising the benefits of the gas industry by eliminating or minimising adverse impacts on landholders and communities.

“It is heartening to see such a strong endorsement by commonwealth, state and territory Ministers that bringing more gas to market is fundamental “to solving our energy challenges,” Roberts said.

“The council’s focus on increasing supply and the number of suppliers in the energy market is welcome. Ministers rightly agreed that removing obstacles to new supply is fundamental.”