Hon. Alison Xamon questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding the lack of seismic monitoring during the fraccing of the Arrowsmith-2 well, despite assurances to the community. The Minister defends the decision, stating alternative monitoring methods were sufficient.

AnsweredQoN 976Legislative Council
Asked
15 November 2012
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

ARROWSMITH–2 WELL — FRACCING
976. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I refer to the answer to my question without notice of 6
November in which the minister stated that seismic and micro-seismic monitoring
was not required during the fraccing of the Arrowsmith–2 well. I also
note that communities have repeatedly been reassured during information
sessions and workshops that seismic and micro-seismic monitoring will be
undertaken so that fractures can be mapped and the procedure can be stopped if
there are any problems. Why was this monitoring not required for this site?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
Fracture monitoring can be achieved in a number of ways,
including micro-seismic monitoring. The Arrowsmith–2 stimulation was monitored
using injection pressure and flow-back measuring methods that were deemed by
the Department of Mines and Petroleum as adequate to identify any technical
issues that indicate micro-seismic activity.

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