Coal seam gas and coal mining may impact the quality and reliability of water supplies both during operation and long after decommissioning. Research projects into this area include mine site and gas field remediation, the long term impacts of mines and coal seam gas operations, contamination due to chemical use and salt and heavy metal management.
Twenty-eight projects were collated with the primary theme of quality and reliability of water supplies; however, it is recognised that there is significant overlap with Section 4.2 (disruption of surface water flow pathways) and Section 4.3 (co-produced/mine water).
4.7.1Australia
Table 4. Project : Opportunities and challenges to coal bed methane production in Australia
Project characteristics
|
Details
|
Project title
|
Opportunities and challenges to coal bed methane production in Australia
|
Project location
|
Australia
|
Principal investigator
|
Freij-Ayoub, Reem
|
Lead institution
|
Unknown
|
Project budget
|
Unknown
|
Source of funding
|
Unavailable
|
Project duration
|
Unknown- literature output 2012
|
Current status
|
Unknown- literature output 2012
|
Project summary
|
This paper highlights the factors controlling CBM production and focus on the opportunity and the challenges facing CBM production in Australia. In addition to a favourable government policy and gas market and the advancement in directional drilling technology, the paper analyses factors that impact CBM investment decisions.
|
Outputs
|
Freij-Ayoub. (2012). Opportunities and challenges to coal bed methane production in Australia.
https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/pub?list=BRO&pid=csiro:EP122343&sb=RECENT&n=2&rpp=25&page=67&tr=188568&dr=all
|
Key personnel
|
Freij-Ayoub, Reem
|
Research themes
|
Water supplies
|
Project information source
|
Literature
|
Table 4. Project : Toxicity and eco-toxicity testing for stimulation chemicals and flowback waters
Project characteristics
|
Details
|
Project title
|
Toxicity and eco-toxicity testing for stimulation chemicals and flowback waters
|
Project location
|
Australia
|
Principal investigator
|
Unknown
|
Lead institution
|
QGC
|
Project budget
|
Unknown
|
Source of funding
|
QGC
|
Project duration
|
2013
|
Current status
|
Unknown
|
Project summary
|
QGC is collaborating with other proponents on an industry-level total effluent toxicity test program to assess the comparative hazard of pre-stimulation coal seam groundwater and flowback waters. QGC is also doing extensive work on the toxicity and ecotoxicity of individual fracturing agents.
|
Outputs
|
Unknown
|
Research themes
|
Hydraulic fracturing, water supplies
|
Project information source
|
UQ CCSG Online Portal
|
Table 4. Project : Ecological assessment of areas requiring remediation and stabilisation within East Wolgan and Narrow Swamps at Angus Place and Springvale Coal Mines, Newnes Plateau
Project characteristics
|
Details
|
Project title
|
Ecological assessment of areas requiring remediation and stabilisation within East Wolgan and Narrow Swamps at Angus Place and Springvale Coal Mines, Newnes Plateau
|
Project location
|
Australia
|
Principal investigator
|
RPS
|
Lead institution
|
RPS
|
Project budget
|
Unknown
|
Source of funding
|
Unavailable
|
Project duration
|
Unknown- literature output 2012
|
Current status
|
Unknown- literature output 2012
|
Project summary
|
Unknown
|
Outputs
|
RPS. (2012). Ecological Assessment of Areas Requiring Remediation and Stabilisation within East Wolgan and Narrow Swamps at Angus Place and Springvale Coal Mines, Newnes Plateau. Prepared by RPS Australia East Pty Ltd for Centennial Springvale Pty Ltd. PR108767-1.
|
Key personnel
|
RPS
|
Research themes
|
Surface water, water supplies
|
Project information source
|
Literature
|
Table 4. Project : The potential impacts of coal seam gas on biodiversity
Project characteristics
|
Details
|
Project title
|
The potential impacts of coal seam gas on biodiversity
|
Project location
|
Australia
|
Principal investigator
|
Adams-Hosking, Christine; Erskine, Peter; McAlpine, Clive; Schoettker, Birte; Seabrook, Leonie; Williams, Elizabeth
|
Lead institution
|
School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management (University of Queensland)
|
Project budget
|
Unknown
|
Source of funding
|
University of Queensland, Santos, QGC, Arrow Energy
|
Project duration
|
Unknown- literature output 2013
|
Current status
|
Unknown- literature output 2013
|
Project summary
|
This scoping study investigated the potential impacts of CSG infrastructure and operations on terrestrial biodiversity through: 1) a review of scientific and industry literature, 2) eliciting expert opinion, and 3) by analysis of remote sensing data through a case study. Our assessment of these sources revealed knowledge gaps and suggested priorities for research.
|
Outputs
|
Adams-Hosking et al. (2013). The potential impacts of coal seam gas on biodiversity. School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management (University of Queensland).
|
Key personnel
|
Adams-Hosking, Christine; Erskine, Peter; McAlpine, Clive; Schoettker, Birte; Seabrook, Leonie; Williams, Elizabeth
|
Research themes
|
Water supplies
|
Project information source
|
Literature
|
Table 4. Project : The National Harmonised Regulatory Framework for natural gas from coal seams
Project characteristics
|
Details
|
Project title
|
The National Harmonised Regulatory Framework for natural gas from coal seams
|
Project location
|
Australia
|
Principal investigator
|
SCER
|
Lead institution
|
Standing Council on Energy and Resources
|
Project budget
|
Unknown
|
Source of funding
|
Standing Council on Energy and Resources
|
Project duration
|
Unknown- literature output 2013
|
Current status
|
Unknown- literature output 2013
|
Project summary
|
The Standing Council on Energy and Resources (SCER) has endorsed a National Harmonised Regulatory Framework for Natural Gas from Coal Seams (the Framework). The Framework delivers on a commitment by Australian governments to put in place a suite of leading practice principles, providing guidance to regulators in the management of natural gas from coals seams and ensuring regulatory regimes are robust, consistent and transparent across all Australian jurisdictions. The Framework focuses on four key areas of operations which cover the lifecycle of development: well integrity, water management and monitoring, hydraulic fracturing and chemical use. Through this focus, the Framework provides assurance for communities and farmers that concerns in relation to protecting and managing both underground and surface water resources in particular are taken seriously by government and are being effectively regulated. The Framework does acknowledge that natural gas from coals seams is, and will continue to be into the future, an important component of eastern Australia's domestic gas supply. It also acknowledges that as the Queensland Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects commence production from 2014-15; the industry will contribute substantial export income to Australia's economy and is already creating jobs and business opportunities in the rural and regional areas where development occurs. However, the Framework provides guidance in developing the regulatory tools required to ensure that this development is managed sustainably.
|
Outputs
|
SCER. (2013). The national harmonised regulatory framework for natural gas from coal seams. Standing Council on Energy and Resources,.
http://www.scer.gov.au/workstreams/land-access/coal-seam-gas/
|
Key personnel
|
SCER
|
Research themes
|
Co-produced/mine water, well integrity, hydraulic fracturing, water supplies
|
Project information source
|
Literature
|
Table 4. Project : Literature review: coal seam gas impacts on water resources
Project characteristics
|
Details
|
Project title
|
Literature review: coal seam gas impacts on water resources
|
Project location
|
Australia
|
Principal investigator
|
Sydney Catchment Authority
|
Lead institution
|
Sydney Catchment Authority
|
Project budget
|
Unknown
|
Source of funding
|
Unavailable
|
Project duration
|
Unknown- literature output 2012
|
Current status
|
Unknown- literature output 2012
|
Project summary
|
This literature review has been prepared to provide the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) with a comprehensive summary of the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) fundamentals (occurrence, exploration, fracture stimulation, produced water quantity and quality), highlight major differences between existing CSG projects in different geological environments of the Great Artesian Basin in Queensland (Surat Basin) and the Sydney Basin (Camden) and assess potential impacts of CSG exploration in the SCA Special Areas.
|
Outputs
|
Sydney Catchment Authority. (2012). Literature review: coal seam gas impacts on water resources.
http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/Water-management/Groundwater/Water-and-coal-seam-gas/Water-and-coal-seam-gas
|
Key personnel
|
Authority, Sydney Catchment
|
Contact
|
info@sca.nsw.gov.au
|
Research themes
|
Co-produced/mine water, water supplies
|
Project information source
|
Literature
|
Table 4. Project : Vulnerability of aquifers to coal seam gas water extraction
Project characteristics
|
Details
|
Project title
|
Vulnerability of aquifers to coal seam gas water extraction
|
Project location
|
Queensland, Australia
|
Principal investigator
|
WorleyParsons
|
Lead institution
|
Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management
|
Project budget
|
This project was Activity 5 of the Healthy HeadWaters Coal Seam Gas Water Feasibility Study, which had a budget of $5 million from the Australian Government and in-kind support from the Queensland Government
|
Source of funding
|
Australian Government Water for the Future initiative
|
Project duration
|
Unknown – literature output March 2013
|
Current status
|
Complete
|
Project summary
|
This activity assessed the vulnerability of the aquifers of the Surat and southern Bowen basins to CSG industry development in the Walloon, Bandana and Baralaba coal measures. Its aim was to provide a better understanding of which aquifers are most vulnerable to, and at greatest risk of impacts from, CSG water extraction.
Outputs of this activity are of value to the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment in the review of its groundwater flow model to assess impacts of CSG water extraction in the cumulative management areas.
|
Outputs
|
http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/water/catchments-planning/healthy-headwaters/coal-seam-gas-water-feasibility-study/activity-5
|
Research themes
|
Water supplies
|
Project information source
|
UQ CCSG Online Portal, Queensland Government website
|
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