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https://reneweconomy.com.au/fracking-failures-hidden-amid-claims-gas-companies-being-given-free-rein-in-top-end/>
"The Northern Territory government attempted to cover up a fracking company’s
failure to comply with its environmental management plan when drilling between
two underground aquifers, an environmental group says.
On Thursday the Department of Land, Planning and Environment (DLPE) responded
to a Question on Notice from Greens MLC Kat McNamara about the activity of
Imperial Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Empire Energy, during the process of
drilling a well in the Beetaloo Basin.
Referring to reports by the NT Independent in May this year, McNamara sought to
clarify with DLPE claims that Imperial had encountered three “incidents” during
drilling in 2022. The department had previously reported information about the
first two, but details of the third were left unspecified.
In its reply the department said “there was no incident,” but went on to
confirm the company had failed to comply with its environmental management plan
(EMP) and had previously been recommended for prosecution by DPLE.
The breach occurred when the company was drilling the Carpentaria 3H well in
2022 where it failed to isolate two underground aquifers, Anthony Lagoon and
Gum Ridge, as required under regulations in force at the time.
DLPE said it became aware of the breach in December 2022 when it was asked by
another department about the “naming conventions of the aquifers referenced in
Imperial’s Well Barrier Integrity Validation (WBIV) report”.
“Through this process the Petroleum Regulations Unit within DLPE, became aware
the aquifers for Carpentaria 3H had not been isolated as required under the
EMP,” it said.
Companies attempting to drill through overlapping or adjacent underground
aquifers are required to isolate the bodies of water to stop one from flowing
into the other.
Where they are allowed to flow freely, water sources may become contaminated by
hyper-saline water or other pollutants, natural processes can become disrupted
and there can be profound changes to aboveground ecosystems that draw upon
them.
DLPE said it had previously “investigated the non-compliance and recommended
prosecution be pursued by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change”, a
reference to Kate Worden in the previous Labor NT government.
“The minister did not agree to pursue this prosecution,” it said.
Following this the matter was referred to the Department of Mines and Energy
which did not pursue the matter."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
