Camden

The small methane gas field at Camden, south of Sydney, was initially established by Woodside Petroleum Company. It was then sold to Sydney Gas Limited (SGL) and Australian Gas Limited (AGL). Sydney Gas Limited was a small gas exploration company that along with AGL developed the Camden coal bed methane gas field by producing gas from 68 wells. However, the partnership with AGL fell apart in 2009 when Sydney Gas Limited was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) when AGL acquired all Sydney Gas's outstanding shares. This
meant that AGL became the sole owner of the Camden coal seam gas field.

AGL has had a long history of supplying gas to the city of Sydney as its gas was used in 1841 to light Sydney's first gas street lamp. AGL takes pride in the fact it is now one of Australia's leading renewable energy companies.

The Camden Coal Bed Methane Gas Field has Been supplying Gas to Sydney Since 2001
The Camden coal seam gas field has been producing methane gas for the Sydney locality since 2001 and it presently produces around five percent of the gas needs of New South Wales. The Camden gas field employs about 60 full time workers with approximately 80 percent coming from the Macarthur Region. Local business supplies about 40 percent of the Camden gas project's needs.

The Camden gas field has grown from its original 68 wells to having 144 in 2013 with 95 of them currently producing gas through low pressure underground gas gathering lines that take it to the Rosalind Park Gas Plant.

New Gas Wells Grow the Camden Gas Field Resource
On December 9, 2006, the New South Wales Government approved another 24 coal seam methane gas wells. Fourteen on the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute property and another ten on the Razorback properties. These wells, that have been developed along with the necessary access roads and gas gathering lines, were drilled in 2007. Further expansion took place in 2008 following the Queensland government's approval to allow AGL to go ahead and develop the Menangle Park and Spring Farm Projects.

Camden Coal Seam Gas Created Over Millions of Years
Coal bed methane is a gas that was created at the same time as the creation of coal seams. The coal seams were formed by the burial of dense organic matter. This material is exposed to high temperatures and pressure for millions of years and during this time they gradually break down to form coal. During this proces methane gas is created and it slowly accumulates in the coal seam and becomes trapped owing to increasing pressure. It is held in place within the natural fracture system known as cleats.

AGL has a long history of supplying gas to the people of Sydney, besides that of the 1841 lighting of the first city gas lamp that proved so successful there were 165 such lamps in the city within the next two years. In the 1850's city department stores were using gas light to allow late night shopping to take place. Seven years later AGL introduced gas purification that allowed gas to be used in private households. This resulted in the first gas cooking stove being installed in AGL's Darling Harbour store in 1873.

AGL introduced natural gas to Sydney in 1976 a feat that involved the construction of a gas pipeline stretching from South Australia to Sydney. AGL celebrated its 175th year in Australia in 2012.
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