❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns regarding the Arrowsmith fracking well site, specifically focusing on the storage and potential leakage of fracking fluids, and the subsequent remediation efforts. The response provides details on the timeline of drilling and fracking, container storage, leakage, remediation, and site visits by the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
AnsweredQoN 1203Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Arrowsmith fracking well site and
photos at http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/Arrowsmith_fracking_containers.jpg
and http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/Arrowsmith_fracking_container_leak.jpg,
and I ask: (a) when was the site drilled and fracked; (b) was a stockpile of 40 full 1000 litre plastic
containers left at the site; (c) what did those plastic containers
contain; (d) were any of those containers leaking, if so, how many
and what was the material that was leaking; (e) when were the plastic containers removed; (f) was environmental remediation of the areas impacted by
the spills remediated; (g) was the remediation checked by the Department of Mines
and Petroleum (DMP) and found to be successful; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) was the basis of removal of those plastic containers
because of an alert by the community; (j) if yes to (i), when was that alert provided to the
DMP; (k) if yes to (i), who provided that alert; (l) how many times during the lead up to the frack and
subsequently to the current date have DMP officers visited the site and on what
days; and (m) if no dates were given in (l), why have the DMP officers not visited the site?
photos at http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/Arrowsmith_fracking_containers.jpg
and http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/Arrowsmith_fracking_container_leak.jpg,
and I ask: (a) when was the site drilled and fracked; (b) was a stockpile of 40 full 1000 litre plastic
containers left at the site; (c) what did those plastic containers
contain; (d) were any of those containers leaking, if so, how many
and what was the material that was leaking; (e) when were the plastic containers removed; (f) was environmental remediation of the areas impacted by
the spills remediated; (g) was the remediation checked by the Department of Mines
and Petroleum (DMP) and found to be successful; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) was the basis of removal of those plastic containers
because of an alert by the community; (j) if yes to (i), when was that alert provided to the
DMP; (k) if yes to (i), who provided that alert; (l) how many times during the lead up to the frack and
subsequently to the current date have DMP officers visited the site and on what
days; and (m) if no dates were given in (l), why have the DMP officers not visited the site?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 June 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
49 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises:
(a)
Drilling was undertaken from May to June 2011. Hydraulic fracture stimulation was undertaken from July to September 2012.
(b)
Yes, 44 x 1 000L containers, with one only partially filled were temporarily left on site for 20 days due to delays with the transportation company.
(c)
Oil/condensate recovered from the Arrowsmith 2 well.
(d)
Yes, one 1 000L container leaked onsite, resulting in one litre of oil/condensate being spilt onto the ground.
(e)
28 April 2014.
(f)
Yes, contaminated soil was removed from the site and disposed of at an appropriate waste disposal facility.
(g)
Photo evidence was received to confirm remediation that was completed to the Department of Mines and Petroleum's satisfaction.
(h)
Not applicable
(i)
No
(j)
Not applicable
(k)
Not applicable
(l)
Officers from the Department of Mines and Petroleum visited the site 10 times:
on 21 September 2011, 26 July 2012, 27 to 29 July 2012, 12 August 2012, 22 August 2012, 7 to 8 February 2013, 14 May 2013, 9 July 2013, 19 September 2013, and 18 September 2013.
(m)
Not applicable
(a)
Drilling was undertaken from May to June 2011. Hydraulic fracture stimulation was undertaken from July to September 2012.
(b)
Yes, 44 x 1 000L containers, with one only partially filled were temporarily left on site for 20 days due to delays with the transportation company.
(c)
Oil/condensate recovered from the Arrowsmith 2 well.
(d)
Yes, one 1 000L container leaked onsite, resulting in one litre of oil/condensate being spilt onto the ground.
(e)
28 April 2014.
(f)
Yes, contaminated soil was removed from the site and disposed of at an appropriate waste disposal facility.
(g)
Photo evidence was received to confirm remediation that was completed to the Department of Mines and Petroleum's satisfaction.
(h)
Not applicable
(i)
No
(j)
Not applicable
(k)
Not applicable
(l)
Officers from the Department of Mines and Petroleum visited the site 10 times:
on 21 September 2011, 26 July 2012, 27 to 29 July 2012, 12 August 2012, 22 August 2012, 7 to 8 February 2013, 14 May 2013, 9 July 2013, 19 September 2013, and 18 September 2013.
(m)
Not applicable
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