REX - Regional Express

resourcesspecial Water works With the right water management solutions in place, Australian gas producers can make water flow from a liability to an asset, writes Vaughan Pearce. Gas production from coal seams can be a controversial and politically volatile subject with the potential to divide communities. One particular area of concern is the possible impact on the surrounding environment of the water extracted in the process of producing gas. To limit this impact, a well-planned, sustainable water management strategy is critical. Water is the major by-product of the gas production process, often in large volumes. The extracted water will usually require some level of treatment and subsequent management to ensure there is minimal impact on the environment. The volume and quality of water will vary from location to location and will change over time from within individual gas wells, therefore a carefully considered management strategy that can take account of these variations is necessary. Coupled with high costs and the difficulties of obtaining approvals, establishing an effective, efficient and sustainable water management system is complex. In addition, a diverse range of stakeholders must be considered when planning how the water will be managed, including local, state and federal government agencies, surrounding businesses and local communities. It is very important that all key stakeholders are on side and are supportive of the water management strategy and associated infrastructure developments. Balancing these interests and gaining support is no easy task. MWH Global has been working with some of Australia's largest gas producers in the Surat Basin in Queensland for the past few years to provide solutions to the complex issues of water management. MWH is one of the world's largest engineering and consulting firms specialising in water-focused mining services. The company's work in the Surat Basin has assisted gas producers operating there to gain project approvals from regulators and build support from other key stakeholders to enable projects to proceed. This has involved in-depth feasibility studies, concept and detailed designs, and project management for beneficial associated water re-use projects. These projects utilise treated water in an array of disposal or re-use systems. The integrated nature of the re-use options allows for scenario changes in a range of key variables. These include regulatory compliance changes, varying weather conditions, changes in third-party user operations and changes in water quality and/or movements. Water management strategies for coal seam gas projects need to meet a range of regulatory obligations, social commitments and technical objectives. Given the necessary careful planning and technical expertise, this can be achieved, turning water from a liability into an asset. Vaughan Pearce is business development and strategy manager at MWH Global, Australia. "The extracted water will usually require some level of treatment and subsequent management to ensure there is minimal impact on the environment." 62

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