❓ A parliamentary question scrutinizes the proposed AWE Limited fracking operation 'Drover 1' regarding potential risks to nearby old well Gairdner 1 and water resources. The response provides some assurances but withholds key documents pending legal advice.
AnsweredQoN 1411Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the proposed AWE Limited fracking operation in the
Mid West known as 'Drover 1', and ask: (a) when
is the actual fracking operation expected to be undertaken; (b) is
the Minister aware that there is an old petroleum well called Gairdner 1 near
to the Drover 1 well; (c) how
close is this well to Drover 1, and when was it closed down; (d) has
the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) recently assessed this well to ascertain its integrity; (e) if no to (d), why not; (f) if
yes to (d), when was the assessment conducted and what was the DMP assessment
of the integrity of this old well; (g) has
the DMP conducted a risk assessment to ascertain whether the planned
fracking of Drover 1 could compromise the integrity of the Gairdner well; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) if
yes to (g), will the Minister release the risk assessment; (j) if no to (i), why not; (k) is
the Minister concerned that this old well could become a pathway through which
fracking chemicals and other contaminants could move vertically up from the
Drover 1 frack to reach and pollute surface or near surface aquifers including
drinking water supply aquifers; (l) will
groundwater and surface water monitoring be conducted by the DMP at
Drover 1; (m) if no to (l), why not; (n) will
this monitoring include baseline monitoring; (o) if no to (n), why not; (p) when
will the results of any monitoring be released to the public; (q) will
the Minister release the Well Integrity Plan prepared by AWE Limited for the Drover 1
fracking operation; (r) if no to (q), why not; (s) will
the Minister release the water monitoring plan or plans for the Drover 1
fracking operation; and (t) if no to (s), why not?
Mid West known as 'Drover 1', and ask: (a) when
is the actual fracking operation expected to be undertaken; (b) is
the Minister aware that there is an old petroleum well called Gairdner 1 near
to the Drover 1 well; (c) how
close is this well to Drover 1, and when was it closed down; (d) has
the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) recently assessed this well to ascertain its integrity; (e) if no to (d), why not; (f) if
yes to (d), when was the assessment conducted and what was the DMP assessment
of the integrity of this old well; (g) has
the DMP conducted a risk assessment to ascertain whether the planned
fracking of Drover 1 could compromise the integrity of the Gairdner well; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) if
yes to (g), will the Minister release the risk assessment; (j) if no to (i), why not; (k) is
the Minister concerned that this old well could become a pathway through which
fracking chemicals and other contaminants could move vertically up from the
Drover 1 frack to reach and pollute surface or near surface aquifers including
drinking water supply aquifers; (l) will
groundwater and surface water monitoring be conducted by the DMP at
Drover 1; (m) if no to (l), why not; (n) will
this monitoring include baseline monitoring; (o) if no to (n), why not; (p) when
will the results of any monitoring be released to the public; (q) will
the Minister release the Well Integrity Plan prepared by AWE Limited for the Drover 1
fracking operation; (r) if no to (q), why not; (s) will
the Minister release the water monitoring plan or plans for the Drover 1
fracking operation; and (t) if no to (s), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
35 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) advises:
(a)
Timing of hydraulic fracture stimulation depends on equipment availability and analysis of the cores; therefore a precise date for the hydraulic fracture stimulation cannot be provided at this time.
(b)
Yes
(c)
The Gairdner 1 well is located approximately 800 metres from the Drover 1 well; DMP records indicate that the Gairdner 1well was completed in November 1990.
(d)
Yes
(e)
Not applicable
(f)
The Gairdner 1 has been permanently decommissioned according to international standards.
Details of the Gairdner 1 well are available in the Well Completion Report from DMP's website.
(g)
Yes
(h)
Not applicable
(i)
No
(j)
See response to (f).
(k)
No
(l)
No
(m)
DMP will audit compliance against the operator's approved monitoring program.
(n)
Yes
(o)
Not applicable
(p)
Unknown.
DMP is waiting upon legal advice from the State Solicitor's Office to determine if it is legally able to release this information.
(q)
No
(r)
The environmental plan summary for Drover 1 is available from DMP's website.
(s)
No
(t)
See response to (r).
(a)
Timing of hydraulic fracture stimulation depends on equipment availability and analysis of the cores; therefore a precise date for the hydraulic fracture stimulation cannot be provided at this time.
(b)
Yes
(c)
The Gairdner 1 well is located approximately 800 metres from the Drover 1 well; DMP records indicate that the Gairdner 1well was completed in November 1990.
(d)
Yes
(e)
Not applicable
(f)
The Gairdner 1 has been permanently decommissioned according to international standards.
Details of the Gairdner 1 well are available in the Well Completion Report from DMP's website.
(g)
Yes
(h)
Not applicable
(i)
No
(j)
See response to (f).
(k)
No
(l)
No
(m)
DMP will audit compliance against the operator's approved monitoring program.
(n)
Yes
(o)
Not applicable
(p)
Unknown.
DMP is waiting upon legal advice from the State Solicitor's Office to determine if it is legally able to release this information.
(q)
No
(r)
The environmental plan summary for Drover 1 is available from DMP's website.
(s)
No
(t)
See response to (r).
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