Eng.monash.edu.au/enveng Dr Gavin M. Mudd Environmental Engineering ([email protected]) What the...

eng.monash.edu.au/enveng

Dr Gavin M. MuddDr Gavin M. MuddEnvironmental EngineeringEnvironmental Engineering ([email protected])([email protected])

What the ‘Frack’?What the ‘Frack’?Coal Seam Gas,Coal Seam Gas,

FrackingFracking & & GroundwaterGroundwater

DCQ-RAPAD Coal Seam Gas Forum, DCQ-RAPAD Coal Seam Gas Forum, 2121stst-22-22ndnd April 2012 April 2012

DCQ-RAPAD Coal Seam Gas Forum: Fracking, Coal Seam Gas & Groundwater21-22 April 2012 / 2

Courtesy: W. Miller


Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

• What is Coal Seam Gas (brief !)What is Coal Seam Gas (brief !)

• Common Environmental ConcernsCommon Environmental Concerns

• Groundwater Risks and ImpactsGroundwater Risks and Impacts

• Need for Thorough Research & Need for Thorough Research & Evidence of Evidence of ‘NO HARM’‘NO HARM’


What is Coal Seam Gas ?What is Coal Seam Gas ?

• Coal can often contain significant amounts Coal can often contain significant amounts of methane – also called ‘natural gas’ – of methane – also called ‘natural gas’ – hence the name ‘coal seam gas’ (CSG)hence the name ‘coal seam gas’ (CSG)

• CSG is a major problem for coal mining – CSG is a major problem for coal mining – especially underground (CSG is the especially underground (CSG is the principal cause of coal mine accidents, & principal cause of coal mine accidents, & historically simply vented to the air)historically simply vented to the air)

• You can extract CSG before coal mining, or You can extract CSG before coal mining, or even separately through bores & pipeseven separately through bores & pipes



CSG Exploration or ‘Appraisal’ WellCSG Exploration or ‘Appraisal’ Well

Gladstone EIS,Gladstone EIS,Santos, 2009Santos, 2009


CSG Production WellCSG Production Well

Gladstone EIS, Santos, 2009Gladstone EIS, Santos, 2009


Common Environmental ConcernsCommon Environmental Concerns

• Major environmental issues with CSG Major environmental issues with CSG include:include:– compatibility of land use (eg. farming v CSG)compatibility of land use (eg. farming v CSG)– surface water impacts (toxics, erosion, floods, surface water impacts (toxics, erosion, floods,

…)…)– groundwater impacts – groundwater impacts – quantityquantity & & qualityquality– toxic pollutants released – accidents or toxic pollutants released – accidents or

ongoing operationsongoing operations

• The extent of scientific research The extent of scientific research documenting these risks is documenting these risks is MINIMALMINIMAL … …


CSG & Water IssuesCSG & Water Issues

• Water Water WATER WATER WATERWATER

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

0

3,000

6,000

9,000

12,000

15,000

18,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

CS

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(P

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ar);

M

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G W

ater

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du

ced

(M

L/y

ear)

CSG Water (ML) CSG (PJ)

Data: QDERM

Queensland CSG

ML/PJAverage: ~92 ML/PJ


Aerial view of a CSG Water PondAerial view of a CSG Water Pond


Salt storm from CSG Water PondSalt storm from CSG Water Pond


Case Study: Condamine Alluvium, QldCase Study: Condamine Alluvium, Qld

0.0

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.5

1.8

-21.5

-20.5

-19.5

-18.5

-17.5

-16.5

-15.5

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Annu

al W

ater

Ext

racti

on (G

L)

Gro

undw

ater

Dep

th fr

om su

rfac

e (m

)

42231177 4223127942231280 42231281Tipton West Water Extraction

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

-10.9

-10.8

-10.7

-10.6

-10.5

-10.4

-10.3

-10.2

1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009

Wat

er E

xtra

ction

dur

ing

6 M

onth

Pe

riods

(ML)

Gro

undw

ater

Dep

th fr

om S

urfa

ce (m

) Daandine Condamine Alluvium Bore

42230179 Water Level

Daandine and Kogan North Water Extraction

Daandine Water Extraction

Kogan North Water Extraction

Courtesy: A. Brown


Groundwater Concerns v CSGGroundwater Concerns v CSG

• Groundwater is a COMPLEX resource to Groundwater is a COMPLEX resource to assess & manage … Australia’s track record is assess & manage … Australia’s track record is widely acknowledged to be poorwidely acknowledged to be poor

• Major groundwater concerns vs CSG include:Major groundwater concerns vs CSG include:

1.1. Altering groundwater flow regimes, especially Altering groundwater flow regimes, especially deep to shallow aquifersdeep to shallow aquifers

2.2. Poor quality of CSG formation watersPoor quality of CSG formation waters

3.3. Potential for explosive buildup of methane Potential for explosive buildup of methane gasgas

4.4. Dependence of rural communities & industries Dependence of rural communities & industries on groundwateron groundwater


Duke Uni. – GW, Shale Gas & CHDuke Uni. – GW, Shale Gas & CH44

• Osborn et al., 2011, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.Osborn et al., 2011, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.• Study of CH4 in groundwaters of shale gas Study of CH4 in groundwaters of shale gas

extraction and background (non-gas) areasextraction and background (non-gas) areas– for shale gas areas, showed that CHfor shale gas areas, showed that CH44

concentrations in groundwater are concentrations in groundwater are significantly higher than background normssignificantly higher than background norms

– isotope fingerprinting clearly showed shale isotope fingerprinting clearly showed shale CHCH44 as the source as the source


Duke Uni. – GW, Shale Gas & CHDuke Uni. – GW, Shale Gas & CH44



Need for Need for MUCHMUCH Better Better MonitoringMonitoring … …

• CSG industry in Australia is closely related CSG industry in Australia is closely related to the use of fracking chemicalsto the use of fracking chemicals

• Yet we still do not understand the full Yet we still do not understand the full extent of groundwater risks – in space & extent of groundwater risks – in space & timetime

• Both industry & government have been too Both industry & government have been too lax in simply believing minimal impactslax in simply believing minimal impacts

• Need much greater monitoring & Need much greater monitoring & transparencytransparency

• Track record is poor on both fronts …Track record is poor on both fronts …


Summary & Choices …Summary & Choices …

• CSG is a technically viable way to CSG is a technically viable way to produce gas, often very profitable produce gas, often very profitable BUTBUT

• CSG has major issues around waterCSG has major issues around water– Often poor quality water extracted with CSGOften poor quality water extracted with CSG– Can be major impacts on groundwater Can be major impacts on groundwater

resources – still major uncertainty with extentresources – still major uncertainty with extent

• Whether CSG should muscle out Whether CSG should muscle out renewable energy is yet to be seenrenewable energy is yet to be seen


AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

• John Polglase (photo’s!)John Polglase (photo’s!)

• Andrew Brown (GW graphs!)Andrew Brown (GW graphs!)

• Many community groups in NSW and Many community groups in NSW and Qld working on CSG issuesQld working on CSG issues

• Any questions, please contact me:Any questions, please contact me:

[email protected]@monash.edu(Office 03 9905 1352 / Mobile 0419 117 494)(Office 03 9905 1352 / Mobile 0419 117 494)

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