Environment
Produced water - quality and disposal method
Total volume of produced water decreased at the Camden Gas Project by 33% compared to FY22. This trend is consistent with previous years where the total volume has steadily declined year on year. The average Electrical Conductivity has increased compared to FY22. The produced water is disposed offsite via Cleanaway where it is recycled for beneficial reuse.
Project | Volume of produced water (kL) | Average EC (µS/cm) | Characterisation | Average TPH (µg/L) | Estimated TPH disposed (kg) | Disposal method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Camden Gas Project | 498 | 14,066 | Slightly saline quality (4800 - 10000 µS/cm) | <50 | 0.012438 | Offsite via Cleanaway |
Notes
TPH: Total petroleum hydrocarbons (Note- following NEPM 2013 update, ALS refers to TPH as TRH. TRH results have been used to calculate these values).
EC: Electrical conductivity (μs/cm).
Data relates only to the volume of water produced from coal seam gas wells. Data does not include water produced during the installation and use of groundwater monitoring bores. It is assumed that the water produced during installation and use of monitoring bores would have TPH = 0 mg/L.
Data shows a calculated mass of total petroleum hydrocarbons based on the volumes of water produced during FY23.
Water quality characteristics relate to the quality of the water as measured from the well, not at the point of disposal.
Characterisation is defined as follows:
Fresh water quality – water with a salinity <800 μS/cm.
Marginal water quality – water that is more saline than freshwater and generally water between 800 and 1,600 μS/cm.
Brackish quality – water that is more saline than freshwater and generally water between 1,600 and 4,800 μS/cm.
Slightly saline quality – water that is more saline than brackish water and generally water with a salinity between 4,800 and 10,000 μS/cm.
Moderately saline quality – water that is more saline than brackish water and generally water between 10,000 and 20,000 μS/cm.
Saline quality – water that is almost as saline as seawater and generally water with a salinity greater than 20,000 μS/cm.
Seawater quality – water that is generally around 55,000 μS/cm.