Australia’s 130,000 hidden methane boreholes raise alarm

A legacy coal exploration hole lifting water and methane to the surface. Picture: The University of Queensland

A small hidden hole silently spewing as much methane as 10,000 cars has drawn attention to the state of some 130,000 abandoned exploration boreholes across one state alone.

The University of Queensland’s research highlights that many of these boreholes may never have been properly sealed.

Observers say the findings raise questions about potential impacts on farms, farmland management, and environmental monitoring, without suggesting direct health or housing risks.

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The portable Quantum Gas LiDAR system, towed on a trailer, with the borehole fenced off in the background. Picture: The University of Queensland

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