Arrow Energy is currently conducting a short duration coal seam gas (CSG) exploration campaign in the Beaudesert/Boonah region.
The campaign comprises drilling of two exploration wells and routine rehabilitation work on a number of pre-existing exploration wells. Arrow publically advertised details of this campaign in November last year in four local newspapers.
Work has commenced at three sites, including one site near Beaudesert. The campaign is expected to be completed by early February 2012, depending on summer rainfall.
Arrow Energy Vice President Exploration Tony Knight wanted to assure the community the curre two wells being drilled in the Beaudesert area were not gas production wells, nor would they be hydraulically fractured (fracced). These exploration wells are designed to obtain information aboi the geology of the area only, and are not able to be used to produce CSG or water to surface.
“ Arrow understands the importance of groundwater resources to local communities. We have prepared and had approved by the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) a baseline groundwater assessment program which is currently being implemented ,” he said.
“ Arrow also recently released an Underground Water Impact Report for the region, which concluded that our exploration activities had negligible to nil impact on groundwater in the region.
“ Furthermore, the results from this current drilling campaign will further improve our understanding of groundwater in the region .”
The drilling rig carrying out the works near Beaudesert arrived recently and on Tuesday it required minor repairs and was taken off-site to a workshop. It returned to the site to recommence work late Wednesday afternoon.
All activities Arrow has carried out have been conducted in compliance with strict regulatory requirements, including those set out in the relevant Environmental Authority for the exploration tenement, and in accordance with sound environmental and safety management measures.
The drilling of the exploration wells is in accordance with long established petroleum industry techniques and processes that result in the well being secure and isolated from overlying strata and aquifers. The integrity and isolation of the well is achieved by use of steel casing cemented securely into place.
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LNG World News Staff, January 12, 2012