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New South Wales |
 | Map of Sydney region. |
| Coal bed methane |
| Department of State Development |
| Department of Mineral Resources |
| The Botany petrochemical complex formerly operated by Orica (formerly ICI Australia) producing polyethylene and ethoxylates. The polyethylene polymers are produced by Qenos and the ethoxylates by Huntsman Corporation. The complex, in the suburbs of south Sydney, since 1996 is underpinned by ethane from South Australia. A chloralkali unit produces chlorine for chlorine chemicals and caustic soda for the local market. |
| A polypropylene resin plant at the Shell oil refinery at Clyde operated by Basell. |
| An ammonia and ammonium nitrate plant at Newcastle operated by Incitec (ICI subsidiary). |
| A naphthalene plant at the BHP Newcastle steelworks, by Koppers. |
| An electrolytic manganese dioxide plant by Delta Electrical at Newcastle. |
| various small scale synthesis operations including peroxides by Solvay Interox. |
| Manufacture of polymers (phenolic, formaldehyde & urethane based) & paints (electrical insulating & specialised industrial) by Schenectady Australia Pty Ltd. |
| Manufacture of alkyd resins and specialty polymers by Nuplex Holdings (including AC Hatricks) |
| Specialty chemicals and additives for polymers and paints by APS (including the former Harcross Chemicals). |
| Formulators of paints, adhesives, cleaning, pesticides etc. |
| ICI Rhodes (former CSR Chemicals, now closed and of interest to company strategists). |
| Timbrol |
After three decades of banning the sale of gas from Bass Strait, Victoria has approved the construction of a gas line to near Sydney New South Wales. It will help reduce the cost of gas in the state.
The state has low cost electricity.
The Port Kembla Copper Smelter, due mid 1999, will at full capacity, produce 350 000 tonnes of sulfuric acid as co-product to production of 250 000 tonnes of copper..
Other raw materials include silica and magnesite.
In January 2001, Sterling Chemical Holdings of Houston USA plans a 60 000 tonnes per year of sodium chlorate costing US$55million planned to commence in early 2003. Aiming to be the lowest cost in the world, it will be located adjacent to the Bayswater Power Station some 200 km from Sydney. The chlorate will be sold to paper pulp plants in the Asia Pacific region.
Proposed silicon metal
project at
Lithgow. In July 2001, Quaestus Limited announced plans
to purchase the feasibility study from Portman Investments.
In
August 200, Duke energy completed its $450 million, 800 km Eastern Gas Pipeline from
Longford in Victoria to NSW. Initial capacity is 55 petajoules
increasing to 100 petajoules. BHP provides a baseload of 15 petajoules for Port Kembla steel works and
Smithfield cogeneration plant. The line initially conveys
100 terajoules of gas per day (36 petajoules per year). The gas is at a higher
cost (even before transmission costs) than gas from Moomba conveyed by the
Australian Pipeline Trust. Both sources of gas are distributed by Australian Gas
Light in Sydney. Coal industry specialists suggest up
to 5 petajoules of coal bed methane (98 per cent methane) is available
per square kilometre above the vast coal basins - equivalent to at least
400 000 petajoules (equivalent to 400 trillion cubic feet, though only one third
realistically recoverable ) over 600 km of easter seaboard.
Commercial evaluations are being undertaken though the viability of this
source of gas is sensitive to energy prices.
In February 1999, Sydney Gas Company (a purpose listed company) announced
plans for experimental wells to produce 250 gigajoules per day from from
five wells at Camden (on the Bulli coal seam). (Amoco has spent US$31 million
in the 1990s and sold the rights to Sydney Gas for royalties of 6.75%) In full production up to 5 to 10 million gigajoules may be produced
per day (a gigajoule is valued at around A$2.50). (Gas production is by
drilling, injecting water to fracture the seams, followed by sand to provide
a porous fracture and then extracting the water carrying the methane.).
In the US, about 7 to 10 per cent of domestic gas production is from coal-bed
methane where such wells can have a life of between 10 and 17 years.
In November 2000, Sydney Gas announced plans to produce 2 to 3 terajoules per
day with sales to AGL from a 50 sq km area near Camden just SW of Sydney.
A 10 km gas line being constructed (Feb 2001). In March 2001, the
federal government announced it will contribute A$4.1million on a dollar per
dollar basis to determine technology. Evaluation if horizontal drilling more
efficient than vertical drilling costing $300 000 per well as horizontal wells
are five times more efficient but can fracture coal seams. Sydney Basin is one
of the largest coal bed methane reserves in the world. The company indicates a
300 well program of three to four years to deliver 25 petajoules. More details
and up to date information is at
www.sydneygas.com In Queensland, Oil Company of Australia (85 per cent owned by Origin Energy)
is piping gas from Wandoan basin in central Queensland to Brisbane. It has
proven 80 petajoules at Peat and Moura fields. At peat it has drilled 27 holes
with 12 supplying AGL.
Other producers are Eastern Star Gas with $10m raised to develop CBM in NSW
and Victoria.
Queensland Gas Co. gas four wells at Surat, Wyalla-1 Argyle 1 and Avidon
Downs-1 and Pinelands-1.
Molopo Australia. Note: Some 50 wells are required to produce 10
million cubic feet of gas per day (ie. 5 wells produce 1 terajoule per day).
See also
Gas
NSW, is the only state in Australia which does not have its own gas reserves and uses 110 -120 petajoules of
gas (cf 215 in Victoria) purchased from South Australia and Queensland.Coal bed methane
See also national chemical
A
state by state comparison (five digit resolution available on
request).
| Western Australia |
| South Australia |
| New South Wales |
| Queensland |
Regional activities
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