Environmental Impact Of Gas Production Activities On Bonaparte Basin

Environmental Impact and Receptors

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Waggon Creek-1 gas field of the Bonaparte Basin have been screened for the exploitation of natural gas. It is important to conduct environmental assessment, therefore, the need to apply scoping, impact analysis and decision making which are most crucial EIA operating tools. 

The Waggon creek-1 gas field of the Bonaparte Basin has been indicated to cover 1,100 km2 and that 3,000 wells will be drilled over its lifespan at a density of four wells per 0.65 km. Also, the project is near an Ord irrigation scheme that is used to support agriculture and people near the Waggon Creek field. In order to acquire detailed geology of the field, it is crucial to carry out survey and seismic activities. The beginning of gas exploration involves clearing a site to create a well pad, pipelines and access routes (Davies 2014). Therefore, the building procedure can cause pollution of nearby rivers by minerals, dirt, and other harmful substances. Recent studies indicate that there are potential environmental effects resulting from hydraulic fracturing. This includes erosion and sedimentation, increased effect of aquatic contamination from chemical leakages, habitat destruction and decrease of surface waters resulting from decrease in ground water levels. These activities will have an effect on the socio-economic and cultural heritage of the people. In addition, atmospheric aquatic and terrestrial environment would be impacted.

The major cause of erosion, changes in drainage pattern and surface hydrology of the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basinwill are because of vegetation clearance, line cutting and construction of base camps. On the contrary, this activity could be beneficial as it would make the environment have a good landscape and beautification resulting from construction of infrastructure.Moreover, development of the project potentially contaminates surface waters through spillage and leakages of chemical substances, spills of diesel or other liquids from machines on-site and wastewater from storage tanks. Similar to ground water contamination, surface water contamination is mostly affected by land use, on and off-site chemical and wastewater use (Jiang 2014). In particular, the increased use of large amounts of water by hydraulic fracturing per well may replenish underground and surface water quantities especially in water-scarce regions. It is significant to note that the level of water used by hydraulic machine can be different because of the variances in formation geology, well building and the form of hydraulic fracturing procedure.

Survey and seismic activities are significant for any successful gas exploration. To control the effects of these activities at the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basin, local authorities have to be addressed to choose a site with less effect on vegetation clearance (Rivard 2014). 

Project Activities

Well development and construction of the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basin will involve the use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The creation of pathways from the surface to the shale deposit necessitates pad preparation for connecting pipelines and waste management. Chemicals and waste water from the development process will directly affect the biosphere and lithosphere. 

Well development and construction of the Waggon creek will require deforestation and clearance of huge piece of land. This will expose the land to erosion should there be rains. Also, the eroded soil will cause contamination of the surface water as it will settle at the bottom thereby impacting the aquatic habitats. Gas contamination is mostly caused by inappropriately constructing wellbores that causes gas to leak from the well into underground water. Another cause of contamination is because of natural and artificial cracks in the ground, which could cause gas to leak directly between gas formation and ground water. Also, groundwater can be contaminated by fluids from the hydraulic machine. Cotton highlights that in most cases groundwater is contaminated from surface leakages and leaks of fracturing fluid. In addition, fracturing fluid can pass through abandoned wells, near inappropriately covered and built wells, through fractures or through damaged wastewater pit liners (Jiang 2014).

During the well construction and development at the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basin, the effect of hydraulic drilling and fracturing at the on underground water sources can be controlled if proper guidelines are implemented. Environmental agency (EA) and Department of Energy and Climate Change should check the casing leak and well blowout being the main cause of contamination of fresh water sources. Additionally, proper waste management and treatment should be enhanced by EA before approval is offered for gas development to prevent contamination of surface water and its effect on marine ecosystem. Davies suggests that new technologies have been introduced to decrease the leakages of methane, but using this technology would need new investments and policies (Jenner & Lamadrid 2013).

Gathering systems and separation machines are important to natural gas development at the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basin. During production, methane, carbon dioxide and waste water are emitted. These emissions directly affect the five spheres of the environment (Rivard 2014).   

The burning of natural gas emits smaller amounts of particulates, mercury and sulfur than other fossil fuels. The combustion of natural gas can lead to production of nitrogen oxides, which is a component of smog, but at minimal rates than diesel and gasoline used in vehicles. Hence, minimizing these emissions will contribute to public health benefits, as these emissions have been associated with bronchitis, lung cancer, heart disease and asthma for most individuals in Australia.  Despite this health benefits, unconventional gas production can impact local and regional air quality.  In most regions where exploration occurs have been affected by the increase in quantity of hazardous air pollutants (Cordes 2016).

Irreversible Impact

 These pollutants have to be regulated by the relevant authorities because of adverse impacts on the environment and health. Studies indicate that exposure to high levels of this air pollutants can cause harmful health effects such as cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems. Researchers have discovered that individuals living within half a mile from natural gas production companies were more likely to have adverse health problems from air pollution as compared to those living farther from the companies (Jiang 2014).

The transportation and distribution of shale gas from the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basinwill involve the construction of trenches for installation of pipes. This will require a way which could pass through water bodies and vegetation which will claim farmlands and obstruct fishing activities. Also, bad seals and pipeline rapture can cause leakages from compressors and valves. This could contribute to the leakage of methane into the environment (Wang 2014). This is the main constituent of natural gas that is stronger than carbon dioxide at causing global warming over a long period of time. Researchers state that natural gas has a minimal life cycle global warming emissions as compared to oil and coal. However, this depends on the estimated leakage level, greenhouse effect of methane over particular period of time, and energy conversion efficiency. Recently, one study highlights that methane leakages must be maintained at a minimal level for natural gas power station in order to have a minimal life cycle discharges than coal companies over short period of time of 20 years or less. Therefore, methane leakages must be maintained at lower levels than gasoline and diesel fuel, if natural gas is used in vehicles for combustion.

The lithosphere and atmosphere around the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basin will be affected from the clearance of vegetation which will contribute to migration of animals and decrease in soil conductivity. Moreover, leakages of chemicals on the hydrosphere will cause a decrease of carbon dioxide in the water thereby causing the loss of fish and reduction in soil fertility.

The Pipeline installations at the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basin should be inspected by the DECC to prevent the likelihood of rupture. It is also important to ensure maintenance of the loading and discharging equipment. In addition, areas less affected should be chosen for the construction of pipelines (Stamford& Azapagic 2014). 

Gas exploration and extraction at the Waggon Creek-1 field of Bonaparte Basincan cause potential health risks to nearby homes through contaminating drinking water sources with dangerous chemicals. This occurs due to exploration of the wellbore, hydraulic fracturing of the well, production and processing the gas and disposing of waste substances. In addition, radioactive substances, underground gases and methane have often leaked to drinking water sources from inappropriately covered wellbores.  According to Stamford, methane is not linked to acute health impacts but in greater amounts may lead to flammability problems. Also, the large amounts of water used in the gas exploration process causes water-availability problems for some homes. Recent studies suggest that ground water near gas wells are contaminated by leaking fluids and gases such as methane and volatile organic substances. There are various state regulations that enable the management of waste from gas exploration and production activities. In particular, these wastes are categorized under the non-hazardous waste regulation subtitle C and applied state regulations. Moreover, most states have developed and updated regulations and legislation because of the increase in the use of hydraulic fracturing, including regulations associated to waste management. Most importantly, gas production activities carried out on federal lands is controlled by the jurisdiction of the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is important that the management of wastes should be done in a way that prevents the release of hazardous components to the environment, especially releases that may contaminate surface water and ground water resources. In addition, voluntary management for gas exploration and production will help prevent the release of hazardous wastes, including wastes generated from hydraulic fracturing. 

Reference List

Vengosh, A., Warner, N., Jackson, R. and Darrah, T., 2013. The effects of shale gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing on the quality of water resources in the United States. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 7, pp.863-866.

Stamford, L., & Azapagic, A. (2014). Life cycle environmental impacts of UK shale gas. Applied energy, 134, 506-518.

Rivard, C., Lavoie, D., Lefebvre, R., Sp, S., Lamontagne, C., ; Duchesne, M. (2014). An overview of Canadian shale gas production and environmental concerns. International Journal of Coal Geology, 126, 64-76.

Jenner, S., & Lamadrid, A. J. (2013). Shale gas vs. coal: Policy implications from environmental impact comparisons of shale gas, conventional gas, and coal on air, water, and land in the United States. Energy Policy, 53, 442-453.

Cordes, E. E., Jones, D. O., Schlacher, T. A., Amon, D. J., Bernardino, A. F., Brooke, S., Gates, A. R. (2016). Environmental impacts of the deep-water oil and gas industry: a review to guide management strategies. Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Michalski, R., & Ficek, A. (2016). Environmental pollution by chemical substances used in the shale gas extraction review. Desalination and water treatment, 57(3), 1336-1343.

Vandecasteele, I., Rivero, I. M., Sala, S., Baranzelli, C., Barranco, R., Batelaan, O., & Lavalle, C. (2015). Impact of shale gas development on water resources: A case study in Northern Poland. Environmental management, 55(6), 1285-1299.

Wang, Q., Chen, X., Jha, A. N., & Rogers, H. (2014). Natural gas from shale formation–the evolution, evidences and challenges of shale gas revolution in United States. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 30, 1-28. 

Jiang, M., Hendrickson, C. T., & VanBriesen, J. M. (2014). Life cycle water consumption and wastewater generation impacts of a Marcellus shale gas well. Environmental science & technology, 48(3), 1911-1920. 

Davies, R. J., Almond, S., Ward, R. S., Jackson, R. B., Adams, C., Worrall, F.,& Whitehead, M. A. (2014). Oil and gas wells and their integrity: Implications for shale and unconventional resource exploitation. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 56, 239-254.

Cotton, M., Rattle, I., & Van Alstine, J. (2014). Shale gas policy in the United Kingdom: An argumentative discourse analysis. Energy Policy, 73, 427-438.

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