❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the rehabilitation and disposal of water from unconventional gas fracking operations in the Perth Basin, focusing on containment ponds and potential surface disposal. The Minister provides details on rehabilitation processes, disposal methods, and conditions for approving surface disposal.
AnsweredQoN 5497Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to containment ponds for returned water from unconventional gas fracking operations in the Perth Basin, and I ask -
(1) When does the Minister anticipate that these ponds will be fully rehabilitated?
(2) By what means will these ponds be fully rehabilitated?
(3) When the ponds are fully rehabilitated, what means of disposal of any produced water remaining in the pond will be considered?
(4) Has the Minister ever approved surface disposal of this returned water?
(5) Will the Minister commit to never approving surface disposal of this returned water?
(1) When does the Minister anticipate that these ponds will be fully rehabilitated?
(2) By what means will these ponds be fully rehabilitated?
(3) When the ponds are fully rehabilitated, what means of disposal of any produced water remaining in the pond will be considered?
(4) Has the Minister ever approved surface disposal of this returned water?
(5) Will the Minister commit to never approving surface disposal of this returned water?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
(1) The operator is required to rehabilitate containment ponds as soon as reasonably practicable with a requirement for rehabilitation two years after plugging and abandonment.
(2)
On completion of drilling operations, the water is evaporated and the solids remaining in the evaporation pond are tested for contaminants. If any contamination is present, the solids are excavated and taken to a licensed waste facility for disposal. The excavation is then backfilled, recontoured and rehabilitated.
(3) If all produced water is not evaporated it can be trucked to a licensed waste facility for disposal.
(4) No. Approval to dispose water in natural drainage systems has not been given.
(5) Yes, with one exception, being that in a serious emergency situation approval may be given.
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(2)
On completion of drilling operations, the water is evaporated and the solids remaining in the evaporation pond are tested for contaminants. If any contamination is present, the solids are excavated and taken to a licensed waste facility for disposal. The excavation is then backfilled, recontoured and rehabilitated.
(3) If all produced water is not evaporated it can be trucked to a licensed waste facility for disposal.
(4) No. Approval to dispose water in natural drainage systems has not been given.
(5) Yes, with one exception, being that in a serious emergency situation approval may be given.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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