In this post, I will provide a summary of the key findings of APLNG’s EIS relating to the impact of groundwater level declines associated with CSG production in the Surat Basin.
As you’ll be well aware, significant volumes of water needs to be removed to depressurise the coal seams and promote the flow of gas. This will have significant impacts on groundwater levels in the coal seams as well as overlying aquifers (to varying degrees). APLNG developed a groundwater model to predict the drawdown that will result for each of the aquifers and quantify the likely impact to landholders.
Model results predict that landholders with bores sourcing groundwater from the Springbok aquifer within active CSG development areas can anticipate the water levels in their bores to fall by up to 15 metres. The Springbok aquifer directly overlies (without any significant intervening barrier) the Walloons Coal Seams and is likely to be highly impacted by CSG extraction. The following APLNG lease areas can expect drawdown of over 15 metres: Gilbert Gully, Ramyard, Carinya, Condabri South and Condabri Central.
As you’ll be well aware, significant volumes of water needs to be removed to depressurise the coal seams and promote the flow of gas. This will have significant impacts on groundwater levels in the coal seams as well as overlying aquifers (to varying degrees). APLNG developed a groundwater model to predict the drawdown that will result for each of the aquifers and quantify the likely impact to landholders.
Model results predict that landholders with bores sourcing groundwater from the Springbok aquifer within active CSG development areas can anticipate the water levels in their bores to fall by up to 15 metres. The Springbok aquifer directly overlies (without any significant intervening barrier) the Walloons Coal Seams and is likely to be highly impacted by CSG extraction. The following APLNG lease areas can expect drawdown of over 15 metres: Gilbert Gully, Ramyard, Carinya, Condabri South and Condabri Central.
Bores sourcing groundwater from Gubberamunda aquifer or the joint BMO (Bungil, Mooga and Orallo) aquifers can expect drawdown of between 3 and 8 metres. Finally, groundwater in the shallow, Condamine River Alluvium is expected to be drawn down by 2 metres with some discreet areas experiencing drawdown of between 5 and 7 metres.
So, anyone with a groundwater bore within an active APLNG lease area can expect their bore water levels to fall by between 2 and >15 metres. These predictions do not take into account the cumulative impact of multiple CSG operators extracting groundwater simultaneously.
Further details area available in the full APLNG EIS.
So, anyone with a groundwater bore within an active APLNG lease area can expect their bore water levels to fall by between 2 and >15 metres. These predictions do not take into account the cumulative impact of multiple CSG operators extracting groundwater simultaneously.
Further details area available in the full APLNG EIS.
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