Coal Seam Gas in Australia

Coal seam gas extraction is fairly new in Australia  It has been mined in the United States for a number of years evidenced in Josh Foxes film Gaslands.

 Csg mining involves releasing gas from coal seams deep under the ground.  If the gas does not come up easily for extraction it is injected with high pressurized water and chemicals  straight into the coal seams to shake the gas free.
CSG mining processes extract masses of water and this water is known as used water and it is radioactive and salty.
CSG mining is unconventional gas extraction.   Shale gas offers another avenue of gas supply.
Here is Australia Csg Mining has exploded for want of a better description. 
Australia has experienced growth never before seen since gold rush days in the area of CSG mining.  There are exploration and production licences covering much of the continent.
Figures show that in the five years leading up to 2008, Csg production in Australia increased by 32 per cent a year

 One of the major  and most serious risks of Csg mining is the contamination of the surface water and and  the deep groundwaters in the various artesian basins located under Australia. Csg mining has been linked to issues that  have  been associated with the Great Artesian Basin, one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world, covering about 22 per cent of Australia’s land mass.
 Another serious risk is Earthquake frequencies and there is some evidence from monitoring radon as it could reveal whether coal seam gas extraction is messing with the soil’s structure.
 Jeremy Buckingham
Two recent peer reviewed studies on opposite sides of the globe have shed light on how monitoring of earthquakes and determining greenhouse gas emissions from the coal seam gas (CSG) industry may be connected.
Predicting earthquakes has been a major scientific challenge, and so far considered impossible. In a recent case, Italian scientists were jailed for underplaying the likelihood of a major earthquake with the case sending shockwaves through the scientific community.

Not much is known about the chemicals these drilling companies use and just how much of the chemical mixtures that are used during the mining process. These are secretive and known as proprietary chemicals (don't have to be divulged - ie Colonel Sanders KFC)
While they keep all this secret it is hard to  measure the  impacts on  health and the ecocide to the environment.
It is known that a number of the chemicals typically used in CSG extraction have been associated with hormonal disruption, fertility and reproductive effects, and the development of some cancers.

While some evidence exists from US operations of environmental contamination, there is relatively limited evidence so far regarding the actual health effects of CSG in Australia according to certain health practitioners.  This is because there were no baseline studied down on health and the environment.  The studies that were done were all funded by mining companies and it is clear that this is corruption on all levels.  This is highly unethical because they are siding with large mining companies

In 2012, an inquiry completed by the  NSW parliamentary committee who looked into the environmental, economic and social impacts of CSG activities.
With reguards to  health the health impacts, the inquiry concluded:

1. The federal government can only step in where there is serious risk of environmental damage.  Other than that this is a State Government issue.  
2.  Coal Seam Gas companies are suspected that they may not be meeting all of their obligations.
3. More data is needed on the impact of Coal Seam Gas on contamination or depletion of water resources.

A joint statement made by the coalition made note of the risks to health from "Energy and Resources policies" were not well thought through and this is reflected in current policy decisions. The statement called for a precautionary approach.  To look at long term studies that could effect generations to come.  The science is just not there for this process.  There is a need for caution.Opponents to this industry come from all walks of life,  Mothers, Farmers, Indigenous and typical greenies all with a common goal of protecting the water. 

Environmental groups, such as Lock the Gate Alliance Inc, are fiercely opposed to CSG reduction. Their opposition is based on possible harm to the environment, even though their assessment may lack scientific backup. They believe that even the possibility of environmental damage is sufficient grounds to restrict CSG production.
I don't share that ideology as I want to see it completely banned in all countries.  It is banned in a few countries but I am holding on for this decision in Australia.

Communities, farming areas, and tourist sites near CSG production sites are concerned  about the  damage to their land and their farming income and the value of their properties.  Properties in the vicinity of a mine are worthless now.  The people are concerned in the country because they moved there for a sea change and are now confronted with this nightmare that runs 24/7 under flood lights with no respite from the noise.

More information re the pros and cons to this industry can be found here.
http://harounkola.com/coal-seam-gas-controversy-in-australia-explained/
Images @ Melonpopzdropz  Flickr

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