Flowback fluid monitoring results

For hydraulic fracturing, the interest holder must put in place a flowback fluid monitoring program. The monitoring program must meet the requirements of the Code.

The following are public reports from flowback fluid monitoring programs, conducted by interest holders in compliance with the Code in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin.

View all the Environment Management Plans

Flowback fluid monitoring reports

Report nameDescription Relevant approved EMP
Santos Tanumbirini 2H & 3H PDF (985.7 KB) This report about flowback fluid from hydraulic fracturing relates to the McArthur Basin Hydraulic Fracturing Program NT Exploration Permit (EP) 161 (revision) STO3-8, and is submitted as a
  • requirement under 37A of the regulations, and
  • requirement under Ministerial Condition 7.
The report includes discussion on aspects required under 37A of the regulations, analytical data and quantitative risk assessments (fauna and terrestrial soil) The wastewater was stored in an enclosed wastewater tank at Tanumbirini exploration wellsite during the wet season in accordance with the approval conditions.

Santos QNT Pty Ltd
Environment Management Plan - McArthur Basin Hydraulic Fracturing Program PDF (11.2 MB)

Approval date: 6 October 2021

Santos Tanumbirini_1 flowback fluid report PDF (4.4 MB) This report about flowback fluid from hydraulic fracturing is submitted as a requirement under 37A of the regulations. The report includes measurements of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) and the average values are below the ANZECC drinking water guideline values. The wastewater was stored in an enclosed wastewater tank at Tanumbirini exploration wellsite during the wet season in accordance with the approval conditions Santos QNT Pty Ltd
McArthur Basin Hydraulic Fracturing 2019-20 Program Exploration Permit, EP161
Revision 4 PDF (25.3 MB)
Approval date: 23/10/2019
Santos Tanumbirini_1 wastewater risk assessment report
PDF (4.3 MB)

This report provides a risk assessment of the hydraulic fracturing (HF) flowback fluid wastewater from HF operations conducted by Santos on Tanumbirni_1 petroleum exploration well in November 2019 as a Ministerial Condition of Approval under the approved McArthur Basin 2019-2020 Hydraulic Fracturing Program EP161 Environmental Management Plan. The risk assessment report includes:

The risk assessment report includes:

  • assessment of testing requirements for potential degradants from the approved hydraulic fracturing chemicals that may be present in the Tanumbirini well flowback wastewater
  • avian risk assessment if wastewater was ingested
  • terrestrial soil exposure assessment in the event of a spill or release
  • laboratory results of analytes in accordance with the Code of Practice

The wastewater was stored in an enclosed wastewater tank at Tanumbirini exploration wellsite in accordance with the Approval Conditions.

Santos QNT Pty Ltd
McArthur Basin Hydraulic Fracturing 2019-20 Program
Exploration Permit, EP161
Revision 4 PDF (25.3 MB)
Approval date: 23/10/2019
Amungee HF report
PDF (504.8 KB)

This report discusses the water quality monitoring program at Amungee NW 1-H exploration well from 2015 to 2018.

The data includes water quality from two sources:

  • the groundwater monitoring bore that intersects the Gum Ridge aquifer at the Amungee NW 1-H well site
  • the hydraulic fracture stimulation and flowback water at the exploration well.

The data in this report is useful to compare 2015 baseline monitoring bore data with subsequent years following hydraulic fracturing activities. The data indicates there are no significant changes in groundwater quality to date.

Origin Energy Resources Ltd
2016 Hydraulic Stimulation and Well Testing EP Summary Amungee NW‑1H PDF (524.0 KB)
CDN/ID NT-2050-35-PH-0018
17 August 2016
Approval date: 23/08/2016

Shenandoah HF water quality monitoring data
PDF (769.6 KB)

The report discusses the 2011 water quality monitoring results from the Shenandoah-1 Petroleum Well. The data includes water quality from two sources:

  • four groundwater monitoring bores near the Shenandoah Well site that intersect the Gum Ridge aquifer
  • the flowback water at the exploration well head prior to flaring and discharge into the holding tank.

Further monitoring will be undertaken at this bore.

 No current EMP

Last updated: 17 August 2022

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