Monday 26th May, 2025.
Energy security is the cornerstone of Australia’s economic and environmental strategy, and with abundant gas resources, the country is a key player in the global energy market.
With gas supply at the centre of our everyday lives, the efficient management and development of these resources is crucial to ensure a reliable and affordable source of energy that meets domestic needs and fulfils international commitments.
Underpinning this fundamental need, Australia’s oil and gas sector is committed to reaching net zero across the economy by 2050, reaffirming the need for the industry to responsibly develop and deliver gas supply.
The industry takes these responsibilities very seriously, and amid increasing scrutiny to balance improved environmental standards and build business certainty at a time when bringing on new gas supply is so critical.
Improving environmental outcomes, particularly when it comes to methane emissions is a key focus for industry.
As an Australian Energy Producers member and east coast-based environmental technology services company Qteq is a major player in helping the oil and gas industry reduce methane emissions across the oil and gas lifecycle.
Qteq’s products help the responsible development, operation and abandonment of oil and gas wells. As a sponsor and Exhibitor at this week’s Australian Energy Producer’s conference in Brisbane, we’ll be launching our research paper ‘Scientific Verification of Plug & Abandonment Activities
Delivered by Andrew Clemence, showcasing real-world implementation with AGL using Ventbuster, onsite attendees can ‘meet the author’ at 12:45 PM – 2:00 PM on May 28TH.
Qteq will also be exhibiting in booth number 133, within the Net Zero Technology Hub with live demo’s of the Qanti-fi portfolio of solutions.
Data-driven insights & multi-facted approach. The foundation of responsible development is the meticulous tracking and analysis of data, Qteq Chief Commercial Officer & General Counsel Gareth Ashton says.
From monitoring extraction to managing emissions, data provides the insights required to make informed decisions that balance production needs with environmental preservation. The integration of advanced technologies in the gas supply chain allows for real-time monitoring and predictive analysis, leading to more effective management practices and the identification of opportunities for optimisation.
“In our quest to harness Australia’s abundant gas resources sustainably, data stands as the bedrock of our efforts. It is through precise data collection and analysis that we can not only optimize our operations but also significantly mitigate our environmental impact. Identifying, quantifying, and abating methane emissions is central to our mission,” Mr Ashton says.
Mr Ashton reinforces the need for an all-encompassing approach to detecting, quantifying, and remediating methane leaks, representing a comprehensive strategy which not only enhances the environmental performance of the energy sector but also contributes to operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
This methodology encompasses a variety of technologies and methodologies, ensuring that methane emissions are tackled effectively across different stages of the natural gas supply chain.
“In the complex landscape of detecting and quantifying methane emissions, it’s clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” Mr Ashton says.
“The diverse nature of methane sources and the varying conditions across different operational environments necessitate a multi-faceted approach.”
At the forefront of Qteq’s advancements towards more robust reporting, the company is deploying its Qanti-Fi® service, utilising state-of-the-art technology in Australia through aerial, ground-based and vent monitoring applications, supplied through its partnerships with Ventbuster®, Seekops® and Kuva®.
“This strategy enables us to pinpoint problem areas with precision and triage them appropriately, ensuring that mitigation efforts are both effective and efficient,” Mr Ashton says.
“We have at Qteq, adopted a suite of advanced technologies tailored to meet this diverse need. Our commitment to leveraging a comprehensive toolkit is fundamental to our mission of advancing responsible and sustainable energy production.”
The technology ensures robust, reliable data to eliminate the guesswork, enabling operators to confidently manage its operations while mitigating financial and environmental risks.
Qteq’s technologies form a tiered, comprehensive approach to methane detection and mitigation:
Mr Ashton explains these tools serve distinct but complementary roles, enabling data-driven decisions and tiered abatement strategies across complex operations.
“Together, they help oil and gas operators meet changing regulatory, stakeholder, and ESG expectations,” he says.
About Qteq
Qteq operates under the mantra that helping clients see the ‘bigger picture’ is just the start and the company helps its clients ‘picture bigger’.
The company operates across the entire oil and gas lifecycle — from exploration and integrity logging to groundwater monitoring and emissions compliance – enabling clients to safeguard communities, protect vital resources, and manage assets responsibly — even in the harshest environments.
Using specialist technologies and services Qteq captures reliable, high-quality data to inform critical decisions across resource development, environmental monitoring, and extreme weather resilience.
Guided by its unique 4M framework — Measure, Monitor, Manage, Mitigate — the company helps industries meet social, environmental, and regulatory obligations while optimising operations and reducing risk.
The company’s Qanti-Fi suite reflects the complexities of the challenge in methane emissions, deploying a multi-faceted detection and quantification approach employing a combination of drone-deployed sensors, continuous ground-based SWIR cameras, and vent monitoring flow meters, showcases the company’s innovative strategies in ensuring environmental integrity and operational efficiency.
“These technologies, complemented by Qteq’s commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management, underscore the crucial role of advanced solutions in the ongoing effort to mitigate methane emissions and protect our planet,” Mr Ashton says.
“Qteq is focussed on technologies and fit-for-purpose solutions that collect valuable, real-time data to optimise gas production and minimise environmental impacts. “
You can read more about Qteq here and its Qanti-Fi® service here.
Industry is acting on methane emissions
Australia’s rigorous policy framework for measurement and reporting methane emissions is considered world leading. However, Canada’s mandated approach to quantifying methane emissions, afford a level of benchmarking and qualitative approaches to reduction. This is the gold standard which other global operations needs to reach to achieve the goals outlined by the Oil and Gas Climate Initative (OGCI).
While the Australian oil and gas industry is globally recognised as one of the best performing for methane emissions intensity and contributes only five per cent of the country’s total methane emissions, the sector is committed to further reductions.
The oil and gas sector are deploying cutting-edge technologies to detect, measure, quantify and reduce methane emissions, while also advancing the next generation of satellite and drone monitoring techniques to deliver further improvements.
As a member of Australian Energy Producers’ Qteq supports a range of international methane commitments including the Methane Guiding Principles, the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter.
