Assurance given over fraccing

TAG Oil categorically stated that it would not use fraccing in drilling more wells at the Cheal A and B sites.

This stems from concerns raised by resident Sarah Roberts that all has not been revealed in TAG Oil's application to drill more wells at the Ngaere sites, and that the cost to the environment and residents might amount to a Pike River scenario.

``We believe the crux is the systematic failure of the regulatory councils' consenting, compliance and monitoring to safeguard our water for our families and our livelihoods,'' she says, speaking for her family who lives adjacent to the area.

``We believe that the oil industry is one of New Zealand's main industries. However, there is potential adverse risk to another main industry, dairying.''

Her concern is about the chemicals stored on site and the highly toxic chemicals used in the fraccing (hydraulic fracturing - HF) process where water, sand and chemicals are blasted at high pressure into a well to allow gas to

flow freely, as well as a previous occasion where chemicals have leaked from the well.

The company is  applying for the wells to be more than doubled at Cheal A (six to 16) and Cheal B (from six to 14). This will make 30 wells within a kilometre of Sarah's family property, their neighbours, a local school and SH3.

``We should tread very carefully,'' she told the Stratford Press.

She says the assurance that HF will not be used might  stand for the present time; however, she believes at the TAG Oil site visit, chief operating officer Drew Cadenhead referred to fraccing at deeper depths later on, and that they are fraccing at Cheal C.

My Cadenhead says they will not necessarily drill all wells.

``We simply applied for the maximum number of wells that we can fit on the single existing pad site to avoid applying for a number of new pad sites in the future.

``Our immediate plans are to drill only one more well off A and one more off B, beyond what our existing consents allow.

``Over the course of the next few years we may drill another well or two off each site, but we need to see the results of the upcoming wells and how they perform over a longer term. We will not be drilling consecutively, well after well.

``None of the new wells include fraccing programs. TAG will not be fraccing these wells,'' he said.

He said they do keep hazardous substances on site, as many industries do, but that they are accountable for precautions taken to protect the environment.

Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) director of resource management Fred McLay confirmed  the consent application to increase the number of wells does not include provision for HF.

From August 1  TRC requires a resource consent application for HF discharges at depth.

Whether  consent should be required for the discharge of hydraulic fracturing fluids to deep petroleum hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Taranaki region is a matter of varied opinion. TRC has recently obtained a legal

opinion specifically on this matter. In summary, it says the situation is complex, but the council could require resource consent for the activity of fracturing.

He added that  TRC has commissioned a study of hydro- geological risk of past HF between 2000 and mid 2011. The results of this will be presented to the November 22 TRC meeting. The report, independently peer reviewed by Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS) a crown owned research enterprise, has not found any evidence of related environmental problems.

Sarah is concerned about this as her family believes there has been no water testing for any of the fraccing chemicals used at the sites.

 Stratford District Council (SDC) will have a hearing, open to the public, on November 11 at 9am.

The SDC deals with light, noise, zoning, earthworks, traffic and visual impact.

Planning and regulatory manager Mike Avery says there is nothing unusual about the application and nothing to suggest anything out of the ordinary.

However, Sarah and her family believe this is not correct.

``As an example, we have raised on a number of occasions our concerns  there has been no hazard plan for Cheal A for years.

``Heated pressurised oil tankers are driving through our town. These hazards are considered moderate and

significant.

``We believe both the TRC and SDC guidelines state anything over minor should be publicly notified.''