❓ A parliamentary question regarding the number and details of fracking wells in Western Australia. The government confirms fracking has occurred but cannot provide comprehensive historical data due to inconsistent reporting requirements.
AnsweredQoN 1467Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
According to Steadman Ellis, of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, in a letter to the Editor of the Geraldton Guardian , 21 July 2014, over 700 wells have been fracked in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) is the above statement correct; (b) will
the Minister identify each of the wells that have been fracked, including: (i) the date of each frack; (ii) the
depth of each frack; (iii) the
pressure used in each frack; (iv) were chemicals used and, if so, please provide a list of chemicals used in each frack; (v) the volume of water used in each frack; (vi) the volume of fluids used in each frack; (vii) the amount of solid material used in
each frack; (viii) where the water or fluids used in
each frack were obtained from; (ix) which aquifers were intersected by each
frack and how many per frack; (x) if directional drilling was used in each
frack; (xi) if horizontal drilling was used in each
frack; and (xii) if horizontal fracking was used in each
frack; and (c) if no to (b), why not?
the Minister identify each of the wells that have been fracked, including: (i) the date of each frack; (ii) the
depth of each frack; (iii) the
pressure used in each frack; (iv) were chemicals used and, if so, please provide a list of chemicals used in each frack; (v) the volume of water used in each frack; (vi) the volume of fluids used in each frack; (vii) the amount of solid material used in
each frack; (viii) where the water or fluids used in
each frack were obtained from; (ix) which aquifers were intersected by each
frack and how many per frack; (x) if directional drilling was used in each
frack; (xi) if horizontal drilling was used in each
frack; and (xii) if horizontal fracking was used in each
frack; and (c) if no to (b), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 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 advises:
(a)
Yes
(b)
(i)-(xii)
No
(c)
Since the middle of the last century when hydraulic fracturing first occurred in this state, the industry that has been subjected to variety of reporting requirements and jurisdictional arrangements by successive State Governments. This has resulted in only some of the requested information being available.
Information which the Department does possess is publicly available from the Department of Mines and Petroleum's website and the Western Australian Petroleum Information Management System (WAPIMS) online system.
The Liberal-National Government has thoroughly reviewed the regulatory framework around petroleum activities in Western Australia and has implemented a range of new regulations which ensure that this type of information is now reported. Of particular note is the introduction of a requirement for full public disclosure of all chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
(a)
Yes
(b)
(i)-(xii)
No
(c)
Since the middle of the last century when hydraulic fracturing first occurred in this state, the industry that has been subjected to variety of reporting requirements and jurisdictional arrangements by successive State Governments. This has resulted in only some of the requested information being available.
Information which the Department does possess is publicly available from the Department of Mines and Petroleum's website and the Western Australian Petroleum Information Management System (WAPIMS) online system.
The Liberal-National Government has thoroughly reviewed the regulatory framework around petroleum activities in Western Australia and has implemented a range of new regulations which ensure that this type of information is now reported. Of particular note is the introduction of a requirement for full public disclosure of all chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
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