❓ A parliamentary question regarding Buru Energy's proposed fracking program in the Kimberley seeks details on the number of fracks, chemicals used, and potential environmental risks. The government provides some information and refers to publicly available documents.
AnsweredQoN 2853Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding Buru Energy's proposed fracking program at Yulleroo and Valhalla/Asgard in the Kimberley during 2015, I ask: (a) how many fracks are proposed in total and where will these occur; (b) how many litres of chemicals, excluding water and sand, are proposed to be used in total for each frack; (c) would the Minister please list which chemicals and how much of each chemical will be used for these fracks; (d) which of these chemicals are listed as 'harmful'; (e) which of these chemicals are derived from the food industry; (f) in what concentrations and methods of application are they considered safe; (g) has the Minister specifically investigated the properties of the chemical tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride (TTPC), and the risks it poses to the environment and human life if it gets into aquifers or streams: (i) if yes to (g), what were the findings of the investigation; and (ii) if no to (g), why not; and (h) what is a safe volume of acid per frack, and what is the volume of acid to be used per frack at Yulleroo and Valhalla/Asgard?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 April 2015
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
43 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises:
(a)
40 individual fracture stimulations across four sites have been approved.
This total
includes five fracture stimulations at Yulleroo 3, 13 at Yulleroo 4, seven at Valhalla North 1, and 11 at Asgard 1.
Each well will employ an initial diagnostic frac treatment.
(b)
The total volume of chemicals per fracture stimulation is approximately 3 529 litres.
This volume does not include water, sand or salt and represents less than one per cent of the total fluid.
(c)
Details of all approved chemicals used in these proposed activities are publicly
available in the TGS14 Environment Plan Summary accessible from the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) website and the operator's website, Buru Energy Ltd.
(d)
See response to (c).
(e)
See response to (c).
(f)
See response to (c).
(g)
No
(i)
Not applicable
(ii)
The Government relies on the expert advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority and DMP which have considered the proposal, and the TGS14 approved Environmental Plan Summary is on the DMP website.
(h)
Acid utilisation and safety is contingent upon the strength of the acid, the
concentration of acid and the receiving environment.
Details of the approved acid utilisation at the Yulleroo, Valhalla and Asgard wells is available in the TGS14 Environment Plan summary.
(a)
40 individual fracture stimulations across four sites have been approved.
This total
includes five fracture stimulations at Yulleroo 3, 13 at Yulleroo 4, seven at Valhalla North 1, and 11 at Asgard 1.
Each well will employ an initial diagnostic frac treatment.
(b)
The total volume of chemicals per fracture stimulation is approximately 3 529 litres.
This volume does not include water, sand or salt and represents less than one per cent of the total fluid.
(c)
Details of all approved chemicals used in these proposed activities are publicly
available in the TGS14 Environment Plan Summary accessible from the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) website and the operator's website, Buru Energy Ltd.
(d)
See response to (c).
(e)
See response to (c).
(f)
See response to (c).
(g)
No
(i)
Not applicable
(ii)
The Government relies on the expert advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority and DMP which have considered the proposal, and the TGS14 approved Environmental Plan Summary is on the DMP website.
(h)
Acid utilisation and safety is contingent upon the strength of the acid, the
concentration of acid and the receiving environment.
Details of the approved acid utilisation at the Yulleroo, Valhalla and Asgard wells is available in the TGS14 Environment Plan summary.
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