'Bubbling gas' in Condamine River remains a mystery

26/06/2012 - Queensland government gas experts are still trying to determine why parts of the Condamine River are bubbling like a spa bath.

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The mystery came to attention last month when the Lock the Gate Alliance, a group opposing coal seam gas (CSG) mining, filmed the bubbles and showed a hand-held gas detector going off.

It sparked concern that coal seam gas mining in the area was causing gas to seep into the river, but CSG company Origin Energy and the state government said at the time of the discovery the gas was most likely naturally occurring.

Investigators from various state government agencies are taking gas samples from the river, local water bores and CSG industry infrastructure.

Samples will be subject to laboratory analysis, a Natural Resources and Mines Department spokesman told reporters.

He said extensive mapping and a search for the source of the gas were also under way.

The investigation is expected to take several months.

Origin Energy is also developing a long-term plan to study gas seepage in the river.

Source: AAP

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