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267 Pages·2017·4.15 MB·English

Origin Energy
Submission #466
From: Close, David
To: fracking inquiry
Cc:
Subject: Submission: Independent risk assessment of Beetaloo hydraulic fracturing fluids (including flowback fluid)
Date: Tuesday, 12 September 2017 11:22:44 AM
Attachments: image001.png
Submission letter, Chem and HFS RA, 12 Sep 2017.pdf
170908 HFRA - Beetaloo Amungee NW-1H-FINAL.PDF
Dear Justice Pepper.
Please find attached correspondence regarding this submission of the hydraulic fracturing fluid risk
assessment referenced by Origin in our appearances before the Inquiry Panel and in our April 30
written submission.
Regards,
David
David Close Ph.D.
Unconventional Exploration Manager
Origin
Level 5, 135 Coronation Drive, Milton QLD 4064

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Origin Energy Resources Limited
08-Sep-2017

Beetaloo Project Hydraulic
Fracturing Risk Assessment
Amungee NW-1H

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Revision 0 – 08-Sep-2017
Prepared for – Origin Energy Resources Limited – ABN: 66007845338
AECOM Beetaloo Project Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Assessment
Beetaloo Project Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Assessment
Amungee NW-1H

Client: Origin Energy Resources Limited
ABN: 66007845338

Prepared by
AECOM Australia Pty Ltd
Level 8, 540 Wickham Street, PO Box 1307, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia
T [phone] F [phone] www.aecom.com
ABN 20 093 846 925

08-Sep-2017

Job No.: 60542121

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AECOM Beetaloo Project Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Assessment
Quality Information
Document Beetaloo Project Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Assessment
Ref 60542121
Date 08-Sep-2017
Prepared by Cindy Cheung, Tony Jong, Hayden Seear
Reviewed by Mark Chapman, Mark Stewart

Revision History
Authorised
Rev Revision Date Details
Name/Position Signature
0 08-Sep-2017 Final Hayden Seear
Project Manager

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AECOM Beetaloo Project Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Assessment
Table of Contents
Executive Summary i
1.0 Introduction 8
1.1 Background 8
1.2 Regulatory Considerations 8
1.3 Risk Assessment Process 8
1.4 Overall Approach 9
1.5 Structure of the Risk Assessment 10
2.0 Conceptual Site Model and Issue Identification 12
2.1 Conceptual Site Model 12
2.2 Issue Identification 12
3.0 Human Health Risk Assessment 14
3.1 Exposure Assessment 14
3.1.1 Potential Exposure Pathways and Receptors 15
3.1.2 Quantification of Exposure 17
3.2 Derivation of Oral Reference Dose and Drinking Water Guideline Values 19
3.2.1 Oral Toxicity Reference Value derivation 19
3.2.2 Determination of drinking water guideline values 19
3.3 Identification of Human Health COPC in Flowback Water 20
3.3.1 Empirical Dataset 20
3.3.2 Theoretical Dataset 21
3.4 Toxicity Assessment 25
3.4.1 Selection of Toxicity Values 25
3.4.2 Summary of Toxicity Reviews 26
3.5 Human Health Risk Characterisation 30
3.5.1 Risks to Human Health 30
3.5.2 Summary of Risk 31
3.6 Conclusions 33
4.0 Environmental Risk Assessment 34
4.1 Persistence, Bioaccumulation and Environmental Toxicity Assessment 34
4.2 Exposure Assessment 43
4.2.1 Potential Exposure Pathways and Receptors 43
4.2.2 Quantification of Exposure 48
4.3 Toxicity Assessment 49
4.3.1 General 49
4.3.2 Concentration Based TRV 49
4.3.3 Calculation of PNEC for Freshwater 49
4.4 Environmental Risk Characterisation 52
4.4.1 Estimation of Risk 52
4.4.2 Summary of Risk 53
4.5 Interpretation of Environmental Significance 61
4.6 Direct Toxicity Assessments 61
4.7 Conclusions 62
5.0 Non-Chemical Risks Assessment 63
5.1 Noise and Vibration 63
5.2 Radiological Exposure 63
5.2.1 Recommendations 64
6.0 Uncertainty Assessment 65
6.1 Sampling and Analysis Uncertainties 65
6.2 Exposure Uncertainties 65
6.3 Toxicity Uncertainties 65
7.0 Conclusions 66
7.1 Summary of Assessed Risks and Mitigation Measures 66
7.2 Summary of Findings 73
8.0 References 75
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AECOM Beetaloo Project Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Assessment
Appendix A
Site Conceptual Model A
Appendix B
Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Mass Balance B
Appendix C
Risk Calculations C
Appendix D
Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Chemical Toxicological Assessments D
Appendix E
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Risk Assessment E

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AECOM Beetaloo Project Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Assessment i
Executive Summary
Origin Energy (Origin) commissioned AECOM Australia Pty Ltd (AECOM) to perform a Human Health
and Environmental Risk Assessment of hydraulic fracturing conducted for the Beetaloo shale gas
project, specifically the hydraulic fracturing operation that was performed at shale gas well Amungee
NW-1H.
Located approximately 650 km (by road) south-east of Darwin, the Amungee NW-1H well is within the
Beetaloo Project exploration permits, which comprise of 18,512 km2 of pastoral lease on the Sturt
Plain, part of the Barkly Tableland.
The risk assessment was conducted in accordance with the Australian guidelines for human health
and environmental risk assessments and Australian industry standard practice for hydraulic fracturing
risk assessments.
Specifically, this report includes a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the potential human
health and environmental risks associated with the injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into the shale
formations in the Beetaloo Basin and the management and storage of hydraulic fracturing fluid above
grade.
The approach taken to the assessment of human health risks is in accordance with guidelines/
protocols provided by enHealth (2012a) and Amended National Environment Protection (Assessment
of Site Contamination) Measure (NEPM) Schedule B4, Site-specific health risk assessment
methodology (NEPC 2013). The framework for an environmental risk assessment is similar to the one
adopted for the human health risk assessment and is consistent with guidance provided in the
Amended ASC NEPM Guideline on Environmental Risk Assessment”, Schedule B5, 2013 and in the
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC) 2000.
This approach provides for a review of the nature and extent of potential contamination, identification
of issues that may give rise to exposure, and identification of the key chemicals, exposure pathways
and receptors that may be relevant. In addition, the assessment utilises site-specific data with
exposure parameters and toxicity data (obtained from Australian sources where available) to enable
the quantification of risk to human and environmental health.
On the basis of the risk assessment undertaken, with consideration of the uncertainties inherent in the
assessment, the following is concluded:
The toxicity of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process has been assessed for
persistence, bioaccumulation and aquatic toxicity (PBT), terrestrial toxicity and human health toxicity.
Through this assessment methodology it has been determined that the chemicals used in hydraulic
fracturing fluid systems can be generally characterized as neither persistent, bioaccumulative or toxic
to aquatic and human receptors, however some chemicals (in undiluted form) have been associated
with potential risks to aquatic receptors. The chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process do not
contain benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) as
additives, compliant with the legislative requirements for hydraulic fracturing fluid.
The risk assessment evaluated the toxicity of the individual chemicals, and characterised the
cumulative risks of the total fluid mixture to human receptors and environmental terrestrial and aquatic
receptors. The methodology incorporated an assessment of potential exposures to human and
environmental receptors, with the following identified as the only potentially complete exposure
pathways:
 Incidental ingestion and dermal contact of flowback fluid by human trespassers at the flowback
fluid storage ponds; and
 Potential releases of flowback fluid to aquatic environments
Based on the risk mitigation measures Origin has in place, no potentially complete exposure pathway
was identified for hydraulic fracturing chemicals to impact groundwater that is used for beneficial use
in the project area.
The risk of chemical exposure to workers involved in the operation of hydraulic fracturing activities
(including the transportation of chemicals) was not quantitatively evaluated as this risk is addressed
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through the implementation of appropriate occupational health and safety procedures and
management plans.
Potential exposures to hydraulic fracturing chemicals were therefore assessed to be limited to the
above ground storage and handling of flowback water. Management of flowback water involves
temporary storage in above ground fluid holding ponds for evaporation or transport to an off-site water
treatment facility.
Exposure point concentrations (EPC) were developed for each of the hydraulic fracturing fluid systems
using theoretical calculations, where it was conservatively assumed that 100% of the mass of the
chemicals injected into the well will be present in the flowback water. Exposure point concentrations
were also based on empirical data obtained from laboratory analysis of flowback water from Amungee
NW-1H. Geogenic components were analysed as part of the empirical data set.
For the assessment of the overall potential for adverse human health effects posed by simultaneous
exposure to multiple chemicals, the actual uptake of Chemicals Of Potential Concern (COPC) by
ingestion and dermal contact were compared to acceptable risk based intakes to calculate an
individual hazard quotient (HQ) and then summed for all constituents into a hazard index (HI).
Similarly potentially environmental risks to aquatic receptors were estimated by comparing the EPC to
reference values to provide a HQ, which was summed for a total HI of the mixture.
Consistent with Australian risk assessment methodologies, if the HI is less than or equal to 1, then no
adverse health effects are likely associated with exposures. However, if the total HI is greater than 1,
adverse health effects may be likely but the evaluation requires further evaluation to define the risk
characterisation process.
On the basis of the risk evaluation, no unacceptable risk to human receptors (trespassers) was
identified. The contribution of risk via geognenic components measured in the flowback water was
considered insignificant, with the resultant risk several orders of magnitude below the threshold value
of 1. Conservative risk scenarios assessed included regular access to the uncovered holding ponds,
where swimming type activities could be undertaken, with exposures to high theoretical concentrations
of COPC in the flowback water.
The risk assessment identified potential impacts to aquatic receptors could occur if substantial (acute)
releases of flowback water occur and result in overland flow to impact upon adjacent surface water
bodies. This conservative assessment does not take into account ephemeral surface water dilution
that is expected to occur where flowback water is discharged to a surface water body in the event of a
significant spill or leak. In addition, processes such as sorption and biodegradation have not been
considered. During normal operation procedures there are no discharges to surface water bodies.
The likelihood that any of these chemicals may be discharged to an environment where any level of
exposure may occur is managed via the implementation of existing operational management
measures, which are understood to be consistent with API guidance and ‘Best Practice’ specifications
for the design and implementation of all hydraulic fracturing operations. Considering this, the identified
level of risk is effectively negligible or low.
The overall risk to human health and environment associated with the chemicals involved in hydraulic
fracturing is low. It is understood that Origin will further minimise the potential for exposures and risk
by implementing effective operational controls, including:
 All relevant Australian standards are met during the drilling the wells.
 Unless otherwise authorised under a specific Approval, petroleum activities that require
earthworks, vegetation clearing and/or placing fill, other than that associated with the construction
of linear infrastructure, is not permitted in or within a specified buffer distance from any wetland,
lake or spring and the high bank of any other watercourse. Typical buffer distance is 100 m.
 Implementation of spill containment procedures during operations to prevent migration of and
exposure to chemicals, and if a spill was to occur, rectification measures would be taken
immediately and notification to regulators of any unauthorised releases will be made.
 Engineered design of the fluid containment facility.
 Routine holding pond inspections to check for leakage of flowback fluid.
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 Freeboard buffer included above high fluid level automatic pump shut-off system, in the event of
heavy rainfall.
 Fencing and signage around the flowback storage ponds.
 Routine operational and security patrols to prevent trespassing.
The operational controls will be routinely evaluated by Origin and modifications and revisions made,
where necessary. These operational and management controls can be further supported by the
following recommendations:
 Maintain compliance with Origin’s Beetaloo Exploration Drilling Campaign 1 – Groundwater
Monitoring Plan (NT-2050-15-MP-0011), which has been designed to provide baseline information
about water level(s) and water quality across the area of the Permits.
 Maintain compliance with the Amungee NW-1H Hydraulic Stimulation and Well Testing
Environmental Plan (CDN/ID NT-2050-35-PH-0018), which has been designed to ensure the
environmental risks of conducting hydraulic fracturing on Amungee NW-1H are understood and
mitigated.

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