Aquifer recharge to assist in the management of produced CSG water
C. Smitt A , D. Ife A , J. Vanderzalm B , P. Dillion B and S. Davidge CA URS Australia.
B CSIRO Land and Water.
C Santos Ltd.
The APPEA Journal 52(2) 692-692 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ11106
Published: 2012
Abstract
Santos is producing natural gas and expanding its CSG operations in the Surat and Bowen Basins, Queensland for the Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (GLNG) project. During the project, it has been estimated that a total of ∼340 GL of associated water could be produced from gas extraction in three CSG fields. Beneficial re-use of this water is a high priority and one option involves treating the water and re-injecting it into the water supply aquifers in the Great Artesian Basin.
In the past 100 years, groundwater pressures in the Gubberamunda Sandstone aquifer, Roma’s main town water supply, have declined more than 80 m and groundwater demand for the town water supply is now more than 5 ML/day. This demand, coupled with forecast droughts in modelled climate change scenarios, provides an impetus for the beneficial re-use of treated produced water.
To assess the feasibility of the aquifer for managed aquifer recharge (MAR), a risk-based framework consistent with the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managed Aquifer Recharge was applied. A series of assessment stages designed to protect human health and the environment were undertaken, each allowing a decision point for investment.
To date, a MAR well-field has been developed and numerous hydraulic tests have been undertaken along with laboratory/desktop evaluation of the geochemical compatibility of the injected water with the water and sediment of the target aquifer. An injection trial in Q4 2011 will evaluate the aquifer storage potential and confirm numerical/laboratory studies related to hydraulics and water quality compatibility.
Chris Smitt is a principal hydrogeologist at URS with 12 years of experience in both private and public sectors. He began his career as a meteorologist with the Weather Channel before becoming a hydrogeologist and hydroclimatologist at CSIRO Land and Water then at Hyder Consulting. His main areas of interest are hydrogeology, managed aquifer recharge, and climate change (including meteorology). Chris holds a BSc (hons) (hydrogeology and geophysics) from Flinders University a Certificate in Advanced GIS Analysis and Modelling (hydrology and groundwater modelling), GISCA from the University of Adelaide. Member: International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), National Ground Water Association (NGWA). |
David Ife is a senior principal hydrogeologist with URS. He has an MAppSc (hydrogeology) and has 38 years of groundwater experience. He has been with URS for the past 20 years, working in the areas of hydrogeological assessment, groundwater management, waste management, catchment management, and water resources. Most recently, he has been involved in providing hydrogeological services to the CSG industry. Prior to joining URS, he undertook specialist hydrogeological projects in Salalah, Oman, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He also has 15 years of experience as a hydrogeologist with the Rural Water Commission where he conducted numerous and extensive salinity and draining studies and water resource evaluations. Member: International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH). |
Joanne Vanderzalm is a research scientist at CSIRO Land and Water, undertaking research about water recycling and diversified supplies. Her research area is geochemical processes associated with water reuse and her interests include managed aquifer recharge, arsenic and iron mobility, aquifer treatment, and the application of environmental tracers to assess reaction processes. She holds a BAppSc (chemistry) and an MAppSc (chemistry)—both from Monash University—and a PhD (geochemistry) from Flinders University. Prior to joining CSIRO in 2003, she had been working for a number of years in industrial and environmental chemistry. Member: International Association of GeoChemistry (IAGC), Australian Water Association (AWA). |
Peter Dillon leads CSIRO research about water recycling and diversified supplies. He led the development of the MAR Guidelines within the water recycling guidelines of the National Water Quality Management Strategy. He and his research team have been developing a scientific basis for the safe use of aquifers for improving water security and water quality, particularly through the recharge of otherwise wasted water. Member: International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), Australian Water Association Special Interest Group, Institution of Engineers Australia. |
Shaun Davidge is the manager of water planning and resources for Santos’ Qld GLNG project. He has more than 30 years of experience in hydrogeology, water management, and water resources protection. He worked as a consultant for 27 years before joining Santos in 2008, and has worked on and managed projects in New Zealand, Australia, southeast Asia, the USA, and the Pacific Rim. Shaun now leads a team of more than 30 water professionals based in Brisbane. |
References
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