Who is the NSW chief scientist?
Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte
The NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, consults widely with academia, industry and government to ensure scientific knowledge and research can be adapted and used to benefit the people, environment, industry and economy of NSW.
Where is coal seam gas found in NSW?
Coal seam gas production in Australia Significant reserves of coal seam gas are known in the Bowen and Surat basins in Queensland. In New South Wales reserves have been proven in the Sydney, Gunnedah, Clarence-Moreton and Gloucester basins.
Where is coal seam gas extracted in Australia?
Australia’s major coal seam gas resources are found onshore in eastern Australia. Currently the largest known proven reserves are in Queensland’s Bowen and Surat basins. CSG has been produced from these areas since the mid 1990s. Until recently, the bulk of supply has been derived from the Bowen Basin.
Why is coal seam gas a problem?
Possible environmental effects: environmental groups have raised concerns that CSG development might cause environmental damage through release of untreated production water at the surface; damage to, and contamination of underground aquifers by hydraulic fracturing; damage to wildlife habitat in sensitive areas and …
How many CSG wells are in Australia?
Did you know: it is estimated there will be 40,000 coal seam gas wells in Australia.
Is CSG fracking?
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt says a new CSIRO report into the impact on the environment from fracking should pave the way for further investment in gas exploration and development across Australia.
Is CSG renewable?
Coal seam gas is a non-renewable energy resource that is a by-product of coal. It is a ‘pure’ and ‘non-toxic’ gas and for this reason has attracted a lot of commercial interest. During the process of coal formation, biogenic and thermogenic methane gas forms.
Where is fracking banned in Australia?
Despite this, many Australian states still allow fracking in 2021. This includes Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. On the other hand, state governments in Tasmania and Victoria have banned fracking.
Is coal seam gas clean energy?
Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is not a ‘clean transition’ fuel because of the potential for substantial fugitive methane emissions associated with extraction and distribution. CSG may prove to be more damaging to the climate than coal.
How is coal seam gas extracted?
Coal seam gas is extracted by drilling a well vertically through rock strata until reaching the coal seam, at which point the well may also be drilled out horizontally to increase access to the methane gas. Coal seams contain both water and gas.
Is fracking worse than drilling?
Getting a fractured well going is more intense than for conventional oil and gas drilling, with potential health threats arising from increases in volatile organic compounds and air toxics.
Is fracking legal in NSW?
There are moratoriums on fracking in Tasmania and Western Australia, while New South Wales has applied certain restrictions on fracking. The new South Australian Liberal government is planning a 10-year ban on fracking in much of the state’s south-east.
What is coal seam gas?
What is coal seam gas? Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is a natural gas that is extracted from coal seams deep underground. It is predominantly methane, which is odourless and colourless. At the end of the production cycle, the gas is chilled into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for use in electricity production.
Does coal seam pollution affect drinking water quality in the gbmwha?
In particular, the impact of contaminated coal seam water entering both groundwater and surface water systems in the GBMWHA, and the effect on drinking water quality in these areas, is of specific concern.
What are the environmental impacts of coal seam mining?
Essentially, bore holes placed within the coal seam have to be de-watered continuously and it is the environmental impacts from dewatering that are of the greatest concern, including the quality of water extracted and the disposal of such water. There are many websites that explore the impacts of CSG on the environment and communities.
Does coal extraction affect the gbmwha?
It is also worth noting that, given the requirement for dewatering of coal seams, it is likely that extraction, even outside the area, would have an impact in the GBMWHA given the inter-connecting and complex nature of groundwater aquifers. Where do CSG leases exist?