A parliamentary question seeks information on the number of unconventional gas exploration wells and the chemicals used in fraccing in Western Australia. The Minister provides the number of wells but cites confidentiality regarding specific chemicals, referencing the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS) and environmental management plan assessments.

AnsweredQoN 820Legislative Council
Asked
27 September 2011
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

FRACCING PRACTICE — CHEMICAL USE
I refer to the practice of hydraulic stimulation commonly referred to as fraccing. (1) How many exploration wells have been drilled and tested for unconventional gas in Western Australia? (2) What chemicals are allowed to be used in fraccing practices in Western Australia? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Six wells have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas since 1998. (2) As previously stated in response to question on notice 4448, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has an obligation of confidentiality in relation to this information and cannot disclose it. The Australian government maintains the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances approved for use in Australia as part of the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme. All chemicals approved by DMP are chemicals listed on the AICS. DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.
(1) How many exploration wells have been drilled and tested for unconventional gas in Western Australia? (2) What chemicals are allowed to be used in fraccing practices in Western Australia? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Six wells have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas since 1998. (2) As previously stated in response to question on notice 4448, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has an obligation of confidentiality in relation to this information and cannot disclose it. The Australian government maintains the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances approved for use in Australia as part of the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme. All chemicals approved by DMP are chemicals listed on the AICS. DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.
(2) What chemicals are allowed to be used in fraccing practices in Western Australia? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Six wells have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas since 1998. (2) As previously stated in response to question on notice 4448, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has an obligation of confidentiality in relation to this information and cannot disclose it. The Australian government maintains the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances approved for use in Australia as part of the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme. All chemicals approved by DMP are chemicals listed on the AICS. DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Six wells have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas since 1998. (2) As previously stated in response to question on notice 4448, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has an obligation of confidentiality in relation to this information and cannot disclose it. The Australian government maintains the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances approved for use in Australia as part of the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme. All chemicals approved by DMP are chemicals listed on the AICS. DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Six wells have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas since 1998. (2) As previously stated in response to question on notice 4448, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has an obligation of confidentiality in relation to this information and cannot disclose it. The Australian government maintains the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances approved for use in Australia as part of the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme. All chemicals approved by DMP are chemicals listed on the AICS. DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.
(1) Six wells have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas since 1998. (2) As previously stated in response to question on notice 4448, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has an obligation of confidentiality in relation to this information and cannot disclose it. The Australian government maintains the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances approved for use in Australia as part of the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme. All chemicals approved by DMP are chemicals listed on the AICS. DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.
(2) As previously stated in response to question on notice 4448, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has an obligation of confidentiality in relation to this information and cannot disclose it. The Australian government maintains the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances approved for use in Australia as part of the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme. All chemicals approved by DMP are chemicals listed on the AICS. DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.
DMP further assesses the acceptability of proposed chemicals as part of an application to drill a petroleum well and any associated hydraulic fracturing. This involves the assessment of an environmental management plan that includes information regarding the ecotoxicity of any proposed chemicals.

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