Wednesday 5 December 2007

Gas production increases amid drought

Age
December 2, 2007

Gas production on Australia's east coast has increased as water restrictions constrain output from major coal-fired and hydro power plants, according to advisory firm EnergyQuest. The firm's latest quarterly report indicatedthat east coast gas production during the three months to September 30 was a record 185 petajoules, 10.2 per cent higher than the previous quarter.

"This growth in such a short time is a remarkable achievement by the gas industry," EnergyQuest chief executive Graeme Bethune said. "Beating the previous peak by 10 percent is a real feat and one which significantly reduced the pressure on the east coast electricity system during winter."

EnergyQuest said demand for gas on the east coast was likely to remain strong amid continuing drought conditions and the landslip at the Yallourn power station in Victoria. Meanwhile, EnergyQuest said oil production fell sharply during the September quarter, down 18.1 per cent on the previous quarter due to natural field decline and various other disruptions.

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