❓ A parliamentary question regarding water usage, disposal, and hydrocarbon plume management related to fracking on Barrow Island. The response indicates limited historical reporting requirements and current regulatory oversight by DMP and DER.
AnsweredQoN 2859Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the usage of water on Barrow Island for the purpose of fracking, and ask: (a) where does the water come from, and how is it transported; (b) where is the water disposed to, and how; (c) please explain the process for the tracking, transportation and biodegradation of the hydrocarbon plume; (d) are reports provided to the Minister from Chevron Australia; (e) if yes to (d), will the Minister table the reports; and (f) if no to (e), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 April 2015
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) advises:
(a)
DMP cannot find any records on the water source used or how this water was
transported for hydraulic fracturing on Barrow Island. Generally, injection water on Barrow Island has been supplied by two water wells and transported via a distribution piping network. However, since 2012, the introduction of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources (Environment) Regulations 2012 has ensured comprehensive reporting is undertaken for all environmental impacts.
DMP is currently not assessing any proposals for hydraulic fracturing on
Barrow Island.
(b)
Water is disposed via the produced water disposal facility into deep water disposal
wells on Barrow Island.
Water disposal is managed by the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986,
licence L4467.
(c)
The terms 'hydrocarbon plume' and 'tracking' are typically used in relation to a
hydrocarbon leak from a surface facility (such as a service station or storage tank that
are administered by DER in accordance with the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003)
and not hydraulic fracturing.
(d)
DMP does not have a historic catalogue of reports relating specifically to hydraulic
fracturing on Barrow Island.
This is because hydraulic fracturing has occurred on Barrow Island since 1965 and at that time there were no legislative requirements around environmental reporting.
More recently various environmental reports are submitted to DMP and DER in
accordance with the above licence and the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
and the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003
.
However, none of these reports are specific to hydraulic fracturing.
Chevron has a very good record in meeting its reporting requirements under relevant
legislation through the long history of activities on Barrow Island.
(e)
No
(f)
See response to (d).
(a)
DMP cannot find any records on the water source used or how this water was
transported for hydraulic fracturing on Barrow Island. Generally, injection water on Barrow Island has been supplied by two water wells and transported via a distribution piping network. However, since 2012, the introduction of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources (Environment) Regulations 2012 has ensured comprehensive reporting is undertaken for all environmental impacts.
DMP is currently not assessing any proposals for hydraulic fracturing on
Barrow Island.
(b)
Water is disposed via the produced water disposal facility into deep water disposal
wells on Barrow Island.
Water disposal is managed by the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986,
licence L4467.
(c)
The terms 'hydrocarbon plume' and 'tracking' are typically used in relation to a
hydrocarbon leak from a surface facility (such as a service station or storage tank that
are administered by DER in accordance with the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003)
and not hydraulic fracturing.
(d)
DMP does not have a historic catalogue of reports relating specifically to hydraulic
fracturing on Barrow Island.
This is because hydraulic fracturing has occurred on Barrow Island since 1965 and at that time there were no legislative requirements around environmental reporting.
More recently various environmental reports are submitted to DMP and DER in
accordance with the above licence and the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
and the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003
.
However, none of these reports are specific to hydraulic fracturing.
Chevron has a very good record in meeting its reporting requirements under relevant
legislation through the long history of activities on Barrow Island.
(e)
No
(f)
See response to (d).
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