History
The Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) was formed in Sydney in 1837. It supplied gas for the first public lighting of a street lamp in Sydney in 1841 and was the second company to list on the Australian Stock Exchange.- In 1842 despite the recession of the time, the Australian Gaslight company was “ in a highly flourishing condition”.
- Still in the 1850’s, gas lighting allowed for late night shopping in nice department stores.
- In 1857 AGL introduced gas purification in Australia. This made it possible for gas to be used in private residences.
- In 1873, for the sum of 4 pounds, AGL imported the first gas cooking stove and installed it in their Darling harbour store.
- In the 1890’s gas stoves were advertised by the company in cookery books. You could rent a gas stove or buy one.
- In1893 in Haymarket, the original AGL energy shop was built as an all gas showroom. It showcased cooking, lighting and heating options, and conducted classes.
- By 1936, 59,000 housewives a year were taking gas cooking classes.
- In 1976 AGL introduced natural gas to Sydney. Not a national first. But it did involve the longest pipeline in the country – from outback South Australia to Sydney.
This was subsequently approved by the Federal Court of Australia on 9 October 2006, and AGL Energy began trading on the Australian Stock Exchange on 12 October 2006.
- In 2007 AGL was the first to join the Chicago Climate Exchange.
- In 2007 AGL was recognised for actions taken to address the issue of climate change by being listed as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the leading global ranking of sustainability. And we are the only Australian energy retailer to achieve this status.
- In 2008, AGL made Australia’s first carbon trade.
The GLOUCESTER Project
Overview
The Gloucester Gas Project (the Project) is a coal seam gas (CSG) project located in Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 285, which fully encompasses the Gloucester Geological Basin in New South Wales. The project is wholly owned and operated by AGL.Learn more about the Gloucester Gas Project.
In February 2011, the independent NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) approved the Gloucester Gas Project subject to AGL's meeting 70 stringent conditions in relation to the construction and operation of the project.
The Gloucester Gas Project includes:
- The Stage 1 Gas Field Development Area - including up to 110 gas wells and associated infrastructure including gas and water gathering lines;
- A Central Processing Facility for compression and processing of the extracted gas, and a water treatment plant;
- An up to 15MW gas fired electricity generating facility;
- A gas transmission pipeline between the central processing facility and the existing gas supply network at Hexham; and
- A delivery station at Hexham to connect the transported gas to the existing Sydney-Newcastle trunk pipeline.
The EPBC Act approval contains 36 conditions relating to protecting matters of national environmental significance, such as the Giant Barred Frog, Green and Golden Bell Frog and Small Flower Grevillea, as well as for the protection of groundwater. The EPBC Act approval is valid until 2062. View the media release for more information.
The proposed Project provides a means of commercially developing the Gas resources of the Gloucester Basin. The project includes:
- Drilling production wells in the development area;
- Building infrastructure such as roads and gas and water gathering lines;
- A central gas processing facility to treat the gas and water;
- A high pressure gas transmission pipeline to deliver the gas to the existing network at Hexham; and
- A Delivery Station at Hexham to transfer the gas from the pipeline to the Sydney Newcastle trunk pipeline.
- Supply energy to the Sydney and Hunter regions and NSW as a whole;
- Create employment opportunities, during construction and operation;
- Improve service;
- Develop NSW's natural resources in an environmentally sustainable manner;
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region; and
- Decrease reliance on power supplies outside of NSW.
The Gloucester Gas Project is an important source of future supply of natural gas for New South Wales. It could meet the gas demands of more than one million Australian homes. The first gas from Gloucester is expected to be available from mid-2016.
More about Coal Seam Gas can be found here.
Environmental Assessment
- Volume 1 (2MB)
- Volume 2a (5.3MB)
- Volume 2b (8.8MB)
- Volume 3a (8.1MB)
- Volume 3b (5.5MB)
- Volume 4a (11MB)
- Volume 4b (7.3MB)
History
In late 2008, AGL purchased PEL 285 from Lucas Energy Pty Limited and Molopo Australia Limited. In 1992, the Licence had been granted to Pacific Power under the Petroleum (Onshore) Act, 1991. Pacific Power operated the permit until Lucas (as operator) and Molopo purchased the licence in 2002.AGL has since been sole operator of the Project, which as of June 2011 has Proved
and Probable (2P) reserves of 669 PJ.
The region has a rich exploration history, with active searching for coal deposits occurring since the 1970s.
Drilling and Exploration
Key gas targets in the Gloucester Basin are the coals from the Upper Permian Gloucester Coal Measures. In 2009, AGL conducted a core hole drilling program. High gas contents have been confirmed in all 18 core holes that have been drilled.In the region's wells, AGL has found hydraulic fracturing to be a valuable method for increasing gas flow.
More can be learned about AGL's Gloucester hydraulic fracturing here.
In 2009, 2010, and 2012, AGL conducted seismic exploration. Seismic is an exploration method used to create a map of the structures beneath the Earth's surface. The method sends seismic waves, similar to very low frequency sound waves into the Earth, where the different rock formations then reflect the waves back to the surface, and they are recorded over a period of seconds.
What's next?
Work has begun on the Waukivory pilot well testing program at Forbesdale. In December 2012, and an aeromagnetic survey is scheduled for January 2013. This work will be undertaken to prepare for Stage 1 of the project. Further information about Stage 1 is provided on AGL’s Gloucester Gas Project website agl.com.au/gloucester.What is the Waukivory Pilot program?
AGL will drill four wells at Forbesdale to assess the natural gas potential of the area and to gather additional information about the surrounding hydrogeology.The independent expert who examined AGL’s surface water and groundwater studies, Dr Rick Evans, noted that the Waukivory flow testing program should proceed as soon as possible to build knowledge of the connectivity of the different groundwater systems across the area.
AGL Minutes 2013
Images @ Melopopzdropz Flickr
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