water and environment

Displaying 1 - 10 of 230

Investigating the unpublished EPA results for Pavillion, Wyoming

Centre for Coal Seam Gas (University of Queensland)
Bureau of Economic Geology (University of Texas at Austin)
Hydraulic fracturing (fraccing) is a technique used to enhance gas flow from CSG wells in areas where the coal seams have low permeability. It involves injecting a mix of water and sand (typically 99%) and 1%industrial chemicals into the coal seam under high pressure in order to create small fractures that allow the gas to flow more readily to the well. Media attention has focused on the potential impacts of fraccing and many community members have expressed concern that valuable...

Characterisation of Current Groundwater Uses in the Surat and Bowen Basins

Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry (University of Queensland)
CSG companies and the Queensland Government collect data about the volumes of various types of groundwater use. This data helps estimate groundwater extraction volumes used in groundwater models which inform decisions regarding the management of the industry and plan water allocations. For example, the Queensland Government model is used to identify which private water bores are likely to have declining groundwater levels as a result of CSG industry activities and compensation for water loss is negotiated between the companies and...

Interactions of Coal Seam Gas Development with Agriculture

School of Agriculture and Food Sciences (University of Queensland)
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Queensland Government)
The CSG industry has expanded rapidly in grazing and broadacre cropping land, and in agricultural communities, largely in the Western Downs and Maranoa. The development of the CSG industry in agricultural areas has raised many economic, technical, social and human issues. In particular, there is a large variation in landholder opinion regarding the presence of both agriculture and CSG industries in the region, ranging from rejection of co-existence to proactive investigation of co-existence opportunities. There is a strong need to...

Recharge estimation in the Surat Basin

Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry (University of Queensland)
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (University of Queensland)
The amount of water (flux) entering an aquifer as recharge is a critical factor in determining how water table levels change, the sustainable yields for groundwater extraction, and the impact of extractive industries on groundwater availability. However, the processes that govern this flux remain difficult to quantify, and are therefore considerable sources of uncertainty in modelling the groundwater balance and conducting impact assessments. Due to the geological complexity of the Surat and Bowen Basins, recharge can occur via multiple pathways...

Lessons and comparisons between US CBM and Australian CSG industries

Centre for Coal Seam Gas (University of Queensland)
Bureau of Economic Geology (University of Texas at Austin)
There continues to be a significant level of community concern regarding the potential environmental impacts of the developing CSG industry in Australia. While large-scale CSG development is a recent phenomenon in Australia, the industry has a long term history in both Canada and the USA (where CSG is known as coal bed methane or CBM). This project will review the literature on the environmental impact of coal seam gas development in Australia, Canada and the USA. The US CBM industry...

Bioregional Assessments Programme

CSIRO (Australian Government)
Geoscience Australia (Australian Government)
Bureau of Meteorology (Australian Government)
Department of the Environment (Australian Government)
The Australian Government is undertaking a programme of bioregional assessments in order to better understand the potential impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments on water resources and water-related assets. The science-based studies follow a methodology to develop multi-layered records of the natural environment in specific bioregions. The studies will analyse the ecology, hydrology, geology and hydrogeology of bioregions, with explicit assessment of potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts on water resources both above and below ground...

Modelling non-seismic geophysics for CSG monitoring

School of Earth Sciences (University of Queensland)
The CSG industry uses a range of technologies to monitor factors such as gas production, pressure and water quality. One method is by drilling monitoring wells that are costly, require land access and maintenance, and only provide information at one location. This research is seeking to identify monitoring technologies that are more cost effective, provide more geographic coverage and are also less disruptive for landholders. During 2014 the research team used modelling techniques to evaluate several different non-seismic geophysical techniques...

A Water Chemistry Atlas for CSG Fields: Discovering value beyond baseline monitoring (Phase 1)

Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry (University of Queensland)
School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (University of Queensland)
A technical feasibility study was completed to determine if there is sufficient groundwater quality data available to develop a Water Chemistry Atlas with the capability to address key technical questions regarding regional water quality trends and provide valuable information to government, industry and the community. Key steps included: Developing a test database structure for the Atlas and use of a subset of data from the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) water quality database for trial purposes. using a range...

Water treatment and Sydney Catchment - Discussion Paper for Office of NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer

Fell Consulting Pty Ltd
This paper overviews the storage and treatment processes used by the Sydney Catchment Authority and Sydney Water to provide drinking water for the 4.5 million citizens of Sydney. At the moment the treated water from Sydney Water comfortably meets Australian Drinking Water Health Guidelines. Fears have been expressed that if activities like long-wall coal mines and coal seam gas recovery proliferate within Special Areas and in catchments, surface water could become contaminated and pose a difficulty in ultimate water treatment...

The Promised Land: the Future of Coal Seam Gas in Victoria

School of Law (Deakin University)
On 6 November 2013, Deakin University's School of Law presented the first-ever conference at The Sofitel Hotel examining the future of Coal Seam Gas and Unconventional Gas Regulation in Victoria. Around 85 participants attended the Melbourne event, which included a series of discussion papers, presentations and a panel debate on the emergent regulatory issues relevant to coal seam gas and unconventional gas mining. It was a rigorous and thoughtful debate that opened the conversation around issues such as: Comparative regulatory...

Pages

Home › water and environment