Environment
AGL and the environment
Protecting the environment is essential to the way AGL does business.
That's why a health, safety and environment approach is integrated into all business decisions and processes here at AGL.
Groundwater and surface water monitoring
AGL acknowledges that both surface and groundwater resource protection is a key issue for the Gloucester community. AGL believes it is critical to protect water resources as part of the sustainable development of coal seam gas.
A groundwater monitoring network has been installed across the Stage 1 Gloucester Gas Project area and as at November 2011 includes:
- Twenty two (22) groundwater monitoring bores installed with dataloggers to record water levels
- Three (3) stream gauges installed with dataloggers recording salinity and water levels (surface water)
- Two (2) shallow gas monitoring bores
- Two (2) seepage monitoring bores to assess potential seepage from the Tiedman produced water dams.
Groundwater investigations for the Gloucester Gas Project are well advanced. As at January 2012 the investigation studies comprise the following phases:
- Phase 1: (completed) A desktop study
- Phase 2: (completed) Detailed groundwater investigations
- Phase 3: (commenced) Numerical model
- Phase 4: (ongoing) Monitoring program
- Phase 5: (commenced) Project updates.
Phase 1 desktop study
The Phase 1 desktop study is a review of existing information to develop an initial understanding of the hydrogeological characteristics of the area.
Copies of the earlier Phase 1 reports can be found here:
- URS Hydrogeological Review Report (Desktop) Text
- URS Hydrogeological Review Report (Desktop) Appendices
- URS Hydrogeological Review Report (Desktop) Figures
- SRK Preliminary Groundwater Assessment (Desktop)
Phase 2 detailed groundwater investigations
AGL has been investigating groundwater and surface water conditions within the Stage 1 Gas Field Development Area since December 2010.
The studies involve geological appraisals, drilling, permeability testing, water level monitoring, water quality sampling, isotope studies, data collation, analysis and reporting.
In addition, the study was designed to help AGL and the community better understand the groundwater in the project area and what affects, if any, there might be on the groundwater from natural gas exploration.
A full copy of the report can be found here:
- PB Gloucester Groundwater Report (Phase 2) Text
- PB Gloucester Groundwater Report (Phase 2)Appendices A-D
- PB Gloucester Groundwater Report (Phase 2) Appendices E-P
The hydrogeological studies conducted to date have shown that there is no evidence of natural connectivity between shallow and deep groundwater systems.
A schematic showing the area, its groundwater and AGL's monitoring can be viewed here.
Produced CSG water
Before the gas from the coal seam will flow, the water from the coal seam must be extracted. This water is called produced water.
Currently, the produced water from the gas exploration wells is contained in fully lined storage ponds located on the Tiedman property. The produced water is just salty groundwater from the coal seams. Once the project goes into production, the produced water will be blended with other water or desalinated so that its salt content decreases, then used to irrigate suitable agricultural lands and crops.
More water facts can be read on the AGL's CSG website.
CSIRO Report
AGL Upstream Gas, as part of its CSG exploration and production programs in NSW and QLD, commissioned a desktop study on the occurrence of naturally occurring hydrocarbons in groundwater from Permian coals measures and associated sedimentary rocks. The report prepared by CSIRO and Earth Science and Resource Engineering - Petroleum and Geothermal Research Portfolio Group concluded that most of the detected total petroleum hydrocarbons, PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes) compounds appear to be naturally occurring. The complete report is available here.
A list of detailed reports on AGL's Environmental activities, including the EA, can be found below.
- Approvals
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Approval to conduct Seismic Exploration Activities on PEL285 - Nov 2011
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Approval to undertake drilling - Waukivory exploration and piezometer - Oct 2011
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Seismic Survey Approval - Oct 2009
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Approval to drill coal seam methane exploration boreholes - July 2009
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Approval to drill, test and fracture stimulate coal seam gas exploration wells - Dec 2008
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Approval to drill, test and fracture stimulate coal seam methane exploration wells - Nov 2008
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Approval to fracture stimulate coal seam methane exploration wells - Oct 2008
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Approval to relocate, drill and flow test coal seam methane exploration - Apr 2008
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Lucas Stratford Pilot - approval letter - July 2007
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Approval to Drill Exploration Bore holes - Mar 2007
- Review of environmental factors
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Review of Environmental Factors for Seismic Surveys - Nov 2011
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Review of Environmental Factors for Waukivory - Mar 2011
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AGL Gloucester Seismic Survey - Sept 2009
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Review of environmental factors for exploration boreholes - Apr 2009
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Review of environmental factors for exploration boreholes and production evaluation testing - Aug 2008
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Review of environmental factors for exploration boreholes - Jul 2008
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Review of environmental factors for stratford pilot project - Jun 2007
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Review of environmental factors for exploration boreholes - Mar 2007
AGL weather station
AGL monitors the weather so that we can manage environmental factors, such as noise, that may be associated with our activities. That is why we have the AGL Weather Station in Gloucester. We have added real time monitors to the weather station so that you can see the weather over Gloucester at regular intervals. You can access this data here:
