And so it begins11 Apr 2019 07:19
April 11 2019 - 1:00PM
So it begins, Santos first to ask for drilling approval -
Chris McLennan
Exploration drilling for onshore gas is about to begin in earnest.
The first application for shale gas exploration drilling has been made to the NT Government.
The exploration will include a limited fracking tests called a Diagnostic Fracture Injection.
Separate applications for permits will be need for full-blown fracking of the wells.
The public has 28 days to comment on the proposal by Santos, with comments accepted from tomorrow.
Origin Energy and Santos have already received NT Government approval to install groundwater monitoring bores near potential exploration sites in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin.
Their first targets for shale gas exploration are both east of Daly Waters.
The government has accepted the first Environment Management Plan for assessment since it controversially lifted the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing last year.
You can view the EMP process here.
Santos wants to build exploration petroleum wells at two spots about 350km south-east of Katherine in the Beetaloo sub-basin or 100km east is the McArthur River Mine site.
Temporary campsites will be built at the sites, Santos said.
The mining company said it had held two recent meetings with the Northern Land Council to update the council on its plans.
The EMP covers the proposed drilling program that would be undertaken over the dry season over 17 weeks including: vertical and horizontal drilling at two wells, well integrity monitoring evaluation, suspension or decommissioning, rehabilitation.
Santos said gas exploration targets shale sequences within the Beetaloo Sub-basin comprises a thick sequence of flat-lying mudstone and sandstone formations which is estimated to reach 5000 metres thick in the centre of the basin.
"The Beetaloo Sub-basin is an ancient Proterozoic sedimentary basin that has been relatively tectonically quiescent throughout its long history, as evidenced by the lack of significant structural deformation," Santos said.
"The principle exploration target within the basin is the Velkerri Formation, which is thought to have been deposited (plus or minus) 1.4 billion years ago.
"This comprises intervals of high organic content fine-grained rocks ("shales") contained within clay-rich and organically-lean layers.
"These clay rich, organically lean layers act as impermeable aquitards to fluid migration (as evidenced by the organic-enriched layers still containing gas hundreds of millions of years after it was generated).
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