Multiple tracers for dis-connectivity of shallow aquifers, alluvium, and coal seam gas wells in the Great Artesian Basin
J. K. Pearce A B * , S. D. Golding B , K. A. Baublys B , H. Hofmann B , D. I. Cendón C , St. J. Herbert D and P. J. Hayes AA Centre for Natural Gas, University of Queensland, Qld, Australia.
B School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Qld, Australia.
C ANSTO, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia.
D Arrow Energy, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 62 S480-S486 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21082
Accepted: 24 February 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
The potential for connectivity between water supply aquifers and gas reservoirs raises community, government, and scientific concerns. Methane can occur naturally, making it difficult to determine whether water bore methane levels are being influenced by nearby gas operations. This poses a challenge in the Surat Basin, where coal seam gas production operates alongside groundwater using industries (including feedlots, agriculture, mines). Water and gas samples were taken from water bores and coal seam gas (CSG) wells in the Walloon Coal Measures and from overlying aquifers (nominally, the Springbok, Gubberamunda, Orallo, and Mooga sandstones) and the Condamine Alluvium, for stable isotopes of gases, groundwater and dissolved inorganic carbon, as well as strontium isotopes. Most of the sampled water bores had isotopic signatures distinct from CSG wells, though a minority from gassy Springbok Sandstone and Walloon Coal Measure water bores could not be distinguished from CSG wells. In those few cases, neither connectivity or dis-connectivity could be confirmed. Alluvium and shallow aquifer samples have higher R36Cl values distinct from the older CSG production waters, as is the case with most 14C measurements. Waters from the Condamine River indicate potential surface water connectivity with the alluvium. The use of multiple tracers has shown that groundwater in some aquifers can be differentiated from groundwater in the coal seam gas reservoir and hence are useful tools in identifying where groundwater connectivity occurs. Understanding this connectivity forms another line of evidence to improve impact prediction models on a regional scale as well as providing information on connectivity in local groundwater investigations.
Keywords: coal seam gas, Condamine Alluvium, Great Artesian Basin, groundwater, isotopic tracers, methane, Springbok Sandstone, Surat Basin, Walloon Coal Measures.
Dr Julie Pearce is a geochemist with international experience in the UK, Japan, and Australia on interdisciplinary projects. She is currently a Research Fellow with the University of Queensland Centre for Natural Gas, and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Pearce is an expert on gas–water–rock interactions with a focus on the Surat Basin, QLD, Australia, and geochemical processes in gas and oil shales. She is currently working on field monitoring techniques for measurement of gases and waters, and understanding processes through geochemical and isotopic techniques. She has collaborated in research projects with the gas and CCS industries, and provided expert opinion to the Queensland Government. |
Suzanne (Sue) Golding is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Queensland (UQ), where she conducts research on carbon sequestration and coal seam and shale gas. Golding has published more than 200 academic articles and book chapters and edited a pioneering text on coal seam gas titled ‘Coalbed Methane: Scientific, Environmental and Economic Evaluation’. She was previously Director of UQ’s Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) and has considerable expertise in the application of stable and radiogenic isotope technologies in mineral and hydrocarbon exploration. Previously, Golding worked in exploration and production in the minerals and coal industries in Australia and South Africa. She holds BSc (Hons) and PhD degrees from the University of Queensland in geology and geochemistry. |
Kim Baublys is the manager of the UQ Stable Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory that provides specialised analyses to the research and industry sectors. She has recently completed a PhD at UQ titled ‘Hydrogeological and microbial influence on the geochemical composition of coal seam gases and production waters of the Walloon Subgroup of the Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia’. Her current research includes applying stable and radiogenic isotope techniques to describe large sedimentary basin hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. |
Harald Hofmann has a PhD in hydrogeology and is currently a Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Queensland. He has 16 years of experience across industry, government and the academic sector with a special focus on major ion, stable isotope, and cosmogenic isotope hydrogeochemisty in regional groundwater systems. |
Dr Dioni I. Cendón is a principal researcher at ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation). He has broad interests in hydrogeochemistry including: shallow groundwater hydrochemistry and interaction with surface waters in dryland rivers, paleorecharge reconstruction of groundwater systems, paleohydrology of hyper saline environments, and groundwater characterisation in mining and/or contaminated sites. Dioni has over 25 years’ experience and has authored over 190 scientific publications including 70 peer reviewed journal publications. Dioni was awarded his PhD in 1999 from the University of Barcelona (UB). |
St.John Herbert has more than 30 years of experience in geological and hydrogeological investigations and management in the mining, consulting, and coal seam gas industries working both across Australia and internationally. With a broad management and technical skill set, he has led successful teams in opening new mining plays, delivering environmental assessments, and risk management for industrial and resource industries. He has held groundwater roles with Arrow Energy since 2010 including the groundwater modelling and presentation of impact predictions to regulators and the public. St.John holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Geology Hons) from the University of New England and a Master of Science from University of Technology Sydney and is a member of IAH and NGWA. |
Dr Phil Hayes is a researcher, hydrogeologist, and specialist groundwater modeller with 26 years’ experience. He is Associate Professor of Water Resources at The University of Queensland where his research interests include: the interface between groundwater modelling for impact analysis and reservoir modelling of gas production; the Great Artesian Basin; carbon capture and storage; migration of gas in the shallow subsurface; and geomechanical impacts and ground motion due to groundwater and gas extraction. Phil has worked in Chile, the UK, and Australia and he holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics (Manchester, UK) and a PhD in Groundwater Modelling (Birmingham, UK). |
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