Saturday 12 January 2013

Is Metgasco ignoring the Clarence Valley total fire ban in its drive to sink an exploration well at Glenugie?

 
According to the NSW Rural Fire Service; For public safety, a Total Fire Ban is declared for days when fires are likely to escape and be difficult to contain. This is caused by a combination of dry vegetation and hot, dry, windy weather.
 
Such weather conditions were occurring in the Clarence Valley the day before yesterday, yesterday and again today and, total fire bans have been in place.   

As responsible citizens and caring members of our community the vast majority of Northern Rivers residents take note of these fire bans and limit our outdoor activities appropriately.
 
However, mining companies do not have to obey the same rules as local residents if they do not wish to do so and, on 10 January 2013 Metgasco began to drill an exploration well on farm land at Glenugie in the Clarence Valley.
 
 
If this drilling did encounter coal seam gas Metgasco may flare such gas on site despite the fire risk.
 
Flare line at Talma, Richmond Valley NSW
 
Excerpt from Metgasco Limited, 2010, REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, For proposed Exploration Drilling Program Clarence Moreton Basin, New South Wales.
(Petroleum Exploration Licence No 426) Grafton-Exploration Drilling Program:
 
At the sites, an area of up to 110 by 110 metres will be temporarily fenced for the period of drilling and testing activities and all such activities will be contained within the fenced area. Appropriate signage relating to restricted entry, fire hazards, protective clothing, etc. will be prominently displayed.
Equipment on site will include the drilling rig, air compressors, support vehicles and transportable buildings for drill equipment storage. There will be minimum physical disturbance at each site beyond the drilling of the well itself (including cellar). It is expected that the drilling operations will be zero release at the well site, and all drilling fluid will be contained within on-site tanks. However, if it is deemed necessary for safe drilling operations, up to three small sumps, (3m x 3m x 2m), two large sumps (10m x 10m x 2m) and a smaller flare pit at the end of the flare line may be dug on site. Sumps will be lined with high density polyethylene (HDPE) 200 μm poly liner. It may also be necessary to grade the area where the rig base will sit on the site…..
Because the proposed drilling comes under the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991, the wells may be fitted with blow out prevention (BOP) equipment which will be installed on casing cemented to at least 10% of the anticipated final depth.
Prior exploration suggests that the composition of the gas encountered may be predominately methane with minor nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Any methane gas produced on site will be flared if necessary, utilising a flare line and flare pit at a safe location away from the well so as to minimise
hazards. Although it is flammable, methane (the principal component of natural gas) is not poisonous. [my red bolding]
 
When I woke this morning there were still a number of bushfires listed as active in the Clarence Valley and this was part of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology predictive temperature mapping:
 

Click on map to enlarge
 

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