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Gas Research

This page provides an overview of key research into natural gas in Australia as well as key research overseas.

Australian Gas Research

Future Fuels Cooperative Research Centre

Established in 2018, the Future Fuels CRC (FFCRC) supports Australia’s multibillion dollar energy sector to transition to low-carbon fuels. These fuels will be delivered through both new and repurposed infrastructure to meet the needs of the whole energy market – electricity, transport, agriculture, mining, building, industrial and residential sectors.

FFCRC will develop solutions for current infrastructure and equipment to use low carbon fuels today and well into the future. Collaborating with over 60 companies, 6 universities, the energy market operator and 2 regulators, low carbon fuels offer increasing potential to store and deliver reliable, clean, secure, and affordable energy to Australian consumers.
The Future Fuels CRC will be supported by $26m cash from the Commonwealth Government under the CRC program and about $65m of cash and in-kind funding from industry and universities over its 7 year life.

Future Fuels CRC

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
CSIRO is the Australian national science organisation and is an Australian Government corporate entity constituted to conduct scientific research under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949. In the Energy Business Unit, CSIRO pioneers low-emission technologies that create value for industry and households and provide the knowledge which will help Australia towards a smart, secure energy future. Under the category Gas, Oil and CO2 Storage CSIRO conducts research into onshore and offshore gas:
  • Offshore gas – focuses on understanding subsea geology and enabling the safe, efficient and sustainable development of Australia’s offshore gas resources. Work is undertaken with industry, government and academia (such as GISERA) and international organisations (such as Petronas, Malaysia).
  • Onshore gas – aim is that research helps Australians understand better the opportunities and risks of onshore gas as an energy source.
csiro.au
Gas Industry Research and Environmental Alliance (GISERA)
GISERA facilitates collaboration between CSIRO, state and commonwealth governments and industry to undertake publicly-reported independent research. The aims are to provide scientific research and information to communities living in gas development regions and to inform governments and policy-makers of key research outcomes. Focus is in NSW and QLD on social and environmental topics including ground and surface water, the marine environment and socio-economic impacts.
gisera.org.au
Centre for Coal Seam Gas (CCSG) at the University of Queensland
UQ conducts research and supports education in key discipline areas where onshore gas activity operates. Coordinates with industry and research organisations nationally such as with GISERA, and with international institutes such as University of Texas and Herriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Provides independent advice to industry and government. The core management team that oversees the operations are from four professional research chairs in geoscience, petroleum engineering, water and social performance.
Focus is in NSW and QLD for areas affected by gas development including the areas covered by the four research areas above plus economics, business and ecology. The aim is to convert strategic research into capabilities and technologies that support the development and efficient operations of the coal seam gas industry.
ccsg.centre.uq.edu.au

Other Research in Australia

Many other organisations conduct research into areas that include the gas industry (but do not focus entirely on gas) such as:
  • CO2CRC Carbon Dioxide Centre for Cooperative Research CO2CRC.com.au
  • NERA National Energy Resources Australia nera.org.au
Postgraduate research studies in the gas industry are available at many universities in Australia, the most prominent being:
  • Uni of Western Australia: Master of Engineering in Oil and Gas ecm.uwa.edu.wa
  • Uni of Western Australia Centre for Energy cfe.uwa.edu.au:
  • Uni of Western Australia Centre for Energy and Uni of Adelaide: PhD in LNG Processing (scholarships supported by Chevron and the Australian Research Council)
  • PhD in Gas Processing (scholarships supported by Chevron and WAERA)
  • Uni of Adelaide, Australian School of Petroleum: various scholarships for Masters and PhD research studies asp.adelaide.edu.au/scholarships

International Gas Research

  • International Gas Union (IGU) – high-level international work across whole gas value chain, please refer to the IGU page
  • German Gas and Water Association (DVGW) – standardisation body that conducts research into role of gas, in particular world leader in evaluating how gas use reduces carbon and enabling future energy systems through Power-to-Gas, hydrogen system and renewable biogas DVGW
  • The European Research Institute for Gas & Energy Innovation (ERIG) is a European R&D network that will guide gas in the transition process towards a future renewable based energy system. It is a non-profit network of 7 European country research institutes that cooperate in research and innovation in the field of sustainable and innovative gas technologies and the use of natural gas with renewable energies. ERIG
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