❓ A parliamentary question regarding a gas leak at the Corybas frack well near Dongara, including details of drilling, fracking, leak detection, remediation, and departmental site visits. The response provides dates and actions taken.
AnsweredQoN 1205Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the gas frack well known
as Corybas near Dongara, and I
ask: (a) when was the site drilled and fracked; (b) was the well at the site leaking methane; (c) if yes to (b), when did it start leaking methane; (d) if yes to (b), when was the leak remediated; (e) if yes to (b), who brought the leak to the attention of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and on what date; (f) was the remediation checked by the DMP and found to be successful; (g) on how many times during the lead up to the frack, and subsequently to the current date, have departmental officers visited the site and on what dates; and (h) if none to (g), why have departmental officers not visited the site?
as Corybas near Dongara, and I
ask: (a) when was the site drilled and fracked; (b) was the well at the site leaking methane; (c) if yes to (b), when did it start leaking methane; (d) if yes to (b), when was the leak remediated; (e) if yes to (b), who brought the leak to the attention of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and on what date; (f) was the remediation checked by the DMP and found to be successful; (g) on how many times during the lead up to the frack, and subsequently to the current date, have departmental officers visited the site and on what dates; and (h) if none to (g), why have departmental officers not visited the site?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 June 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
49 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) advises:
(a)
Drilling by ARC Energy Limited of the Corybas 1 well commenced on 23 January 2005 and was completed on 7 March 2005.
In August 2008, ARC Energy Limited merged with Australian Worldwide Exploration Ltd (AWE).
Hydraulic fracture stimulation (also known as fracking) of the Corybas 1 well was conducted by AWE on 17 May 2009.
The well has been producing natural gas since April 2010.
(b) - (f)
Following a complaint by a member of the public to DMP, and a subsequent telephone call from DMP to AWE on 17 July 2012, AWE advised DMP it was aware of a minor gas leak which was identified in a routine inspection on 16 July 2012.
Later in the day on 17 July 2012, AWE advised DMP of the steps it had taken to successfully rectify the leak.
At that time, based on the minor nature of the leak and the successful intervention taken by AWE, DMP considered it was not necessary to conduct a site visit.
(g)
DMP was established on 1 January 2009 and therefore can only provide details of site visits after that date.
According to its records, DMP officers have visited the Corybas 1 well site six times from 17 May 2009 to the current date on:
·
29 July 2009;
·
14 January 2010;
·
15 March 2010;
·
6 May 2010;
·
2 November 2011; and
·
19 June 2012.
(h)
Not applicable
(a)
Drilling by ARC Energy Limited of the Corybas 1 well commenced on 23 January 2005 and was completed on 7 March 2005.
In August 2008, ARC Energy Limited merged with Australian Worldwide Exploration Ltd (AWE).
Hydraulic fracture stimulation (also known as fracking) of the Corybas 1 well was conducted by AWE on 17 May 2009.
The well has been producing natural gas since April 2010.
(b) - (f)
Following a complaint by a member of the public to DMP, and a subsequent telephone call from DMP to AWE on 17 July 2012, AWE advised DMP it was aware of a minor gas leak which was identified in a routine inspection on 16 July 2012.
Later in the day on 17 July 2012, AWE advised DMP of the steps it had taken to successfully rectify the leak.
At that time, based on the minor nature of the leak and the successful intervention taken by AWE, DMP considered it was not necessary to conduct a site visit.
(g)
DMP was established on 1 January 2009 and therefore can only provide details of site visits after that date.
According to its records, DMP officers have visited the Corybas 1 well site six times from 17 May 2009 to the current date on:
·
29 July 2009;
·
14 January 2010;
·
15 March 2010;
·
6 May 2010;
·
2 November 2011; and
·
19 June 2012.
(h)
Not applicable
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