Santos’ Pilliga Gasfield Still Leaking

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) conducted an Optical Gas Imaging inspection in the Pilliga Forest in June 2024. This inspection was an opportunity to follow up on the work done in eastern New South Wales and Queensland by Clean Air Task Force and ACF in 2023.

Several pieces of equipment were found to be leaking or deliberately emitting gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide. Santos were quick to criticise the findings from the camera in 2023 instead of using the findings to improve their operations.

We call on Santos to institute technology to capture these emissions and place them back into the gathering network. Leaks from L2 controllers can be mitigated by more frequent maintenance.

See the story from last year here:

We posted on the 2023 inspection here:

Gas Leaks and Vents captured on Camera ‘Pouring Out’