On ninemsn news site!Bores free of chemicals, miner saysTest...

On ninemsn news site!

Bores free of chemicals, miner says

Test results show bore water in southwest Queensland is clear of unsafe levels of cancer-causing chemicals, mining giant Australia Pacific LNG says.

Benzene, toluene, ethylene and xylene (BTEX) was reported on October 19 in eight exploration wells run by the company in the Surat Basin, west of Brisbane.

Work was suspended at the sites and the Queensland government ordered independent testing of the chemicals.

The testing revealed on Friday that up to two of the bores tested contain BTEX but it has been found to be at safe levels, a spokeswomen for the company told AAP.

"Sampling has been conducted at the bores of landowners on whose property traces of BTEX were found in exploration wells," the company said in a statement.

"The analysis of these samples did not identify unsafe levels of any of these chemicals.

"Due to the physical separation between the water bores and the fracture stimulated well, Australia Pacific LNG is confident the fracture stimulation operations undertaken on its exploration wells have not had any impact on landholder water bores."

Landholders, the government, Western Downs Regional Council and Maranoa Regional Council have been given the results.

The state government regulator, the Department of Environment and Resource Management, has reviewed the analysis and has not raised any issues with this conclusion.

Work will remain suspended at the wells until the source of BTEX is found.

More independent tests have been ordered.

The Queensland government on October 5 proposed new laws banning the use of BTEX in the industry.

The legislation is before parliament.

BTEX is used in the coal seam gas industry to help fracture rock seams and to extract gas.

Australia Pacific LNG insists it does not use BTEX in its fracture fluids.

"Australia Pacific LNG does not use BTEX in its fracture fluids and the supplier has confirmed that the fluids do not contain BTEX," Australia Pacific LNG said in a statement.