K Rudd's global warming policy - an indulgence too far ...

See - the Australian - An indulgence too far.

QWC's Nosworthy comes out from behind the pillar to confront Toowoomba water users ...

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce luncheon:

Friday, 1st August 2008

With local dam levels dipping down perilously close to the level of mud, water security is more important for the Toowoomba region than ever before. Who more topical then, than our special lunch speaker, Elizabeth Nosworthy, Chair of the Queensland Water Commission.

Enjoy a two course lunch at Picnic Point Function Centre, Toowoomba.

Time: 11.45am for 12noom to 2.00pm.

Cost - members $50, non-members $55.

See - Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce - Nosworthy grilling.

NSW and Qld parliamentarians - world's laziest ...

A comparison of sitting days shows that even politicians in war-torn African countries sit more days than our politicians.
...

A comparison of the state jurisdictions showed NSW was the lowest in the country, when comparing sitting days for both Houses of Parliament.

NSW will sit for 48 days in 2008, while Mr Piccoli claimed Victoria sat for 66 days a year, South Australia for 58, Western Australia 57, Tasmania 53 and Queensland 50.

The UK's Parliament sits 146 days of the year, South Africa 104, Kenya 88, Canada 135, US Congress 150 and India 81.

See - Daily Telegraph - Are NSW politicians the world's laziest?

Bow Energy drilling SW Qld potential coal seam gas area ...

Excerpt from Bow Energy press release:

30 July 2008

The highlights of the Canaway Ridge CSG Project are:

• Shallow CSG potential in Cretaceous aged Winton Coals (280-600m depth below surface)

• Good coal permeability inferred from a water bore which recovered gas consisting of over 94% methane and very low CO2.

• A giant 446km2 4-way closed structure interpreted which has the potential to contain a recoverable gas resource of 451 PJ (369 PJ net to Bow) within the structural closure.

Bow plans to dedicate a portion of the Canaway Ridge CSG Project gas deposit, once proven, as feedstock for an additional proposed small scale domestic LNG plant which could be built in the vicinity. Building of a second LNG plant would greatly increase the Bow’s geographic domestic LNG market spread to cover the majority of Southern Queensland as illustrated in the presentation.

Bow looks forward to drilling the Canaway Ridge CSG Project, which is currently planned to commence in September. Pending positive results, Bow could be developing the Canaway Ridge CSG Project in conjunction with its 55% owned Don Juan CSG Project located north of Roma.

See - Bow Energy - Canaway Ridge CSG Project.

Qld government finally admits 40% dam levels passed ...

... eases water restrictions for Brisbane.

See - Courier Mail - Tough water rules scrapped.

The online global warming debate ...

See - ABC Lateline - Bloggers join the climate change debate.

Federal government funds Tasmanian water recycling for irrigators ...

See - Stock and Land - Wong funds Tas water recycling for irrigators.

Toowoomba votes - 29 July 2006 ...

Toowoomba knocks back recycled water plan ...

... Mayor Thorley concedes defeat.

From ABC News:

Toowoomba knocks back recycled water plan

29 July 2006

The Mayor of Toowoomba, Queensland's biggest inland city, has conceded defeat over a proposal to add recycled water to drinking supplies.

Toowoomba residents were asked to approve a plan to draw 25 per cent of the city's water from recycled effluent.

With 32,000 of 60,000 votes counted, 62 per cent of residents have voted against the proposal.

Lyle Shelton is one of three councillors who campaigned against the proposal and is encouraged by the early result.

"That's probably about what the 'no' case was expecting," he said.

A short time ago, Mayor Di Thorley conceded the city would not be drinking recycled water.

"At the end of the day, we still don't have a water project," she said.

She says it is now up to the Queensland Government to drought-proof the city.

Source - ABC News - NO case wins.

SEQ water grid farce - workers out of control ...

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

28 July 2008

Nine workers have been sacked after they allegedly used a contractor's heavy machinery to build an earth ramp over which they jumped one of the worker's vehicles.

The worker's Toyota Hilux was then crushed by an excavator and bulldozer before being carted off.

The destruction on July 17 at a work site on a key section of the Queensland Government's water grid known as the northern pipeline interconnector was filmed on a worker's mobile phone.

The workers allegedly first used a contractor's excavator and bulldozer to build an earth ramp.

They then drove a 1980s model Toyota Hilux at speed over the ramp in a spectacular jump.

Three workers were in the Hilux when it took the jump at a pipeline work site land adjacent to Walton Road, Beerwah.

The utility truck was then crushed by the excavator and the bulldozer.

A crane used on the pipeline was allegedly used to place the wrecked vehicle onto a flatbed truck for removal.

The pipeline is part of the $9 billion water grid being installed across southeast Queensland by the Southern Regional Water Pipeline Alliance (SRWPA).

See - Courier Mail - Nine sacked for Toyota Hilux demolition derby.

Global warming hits SEQ ...

See - Courier Mail - Big freeze to hit Brisbane as dams continue to rise.

4350water blog - recent search terms ...

1. ian macfarlane minister resignation

2. toowoomba chronicle "houses for sale "

3. toowoomba poowoomba

4. hodgson vale coal

5. toowoomba city council peter taylor

6. toowoomba water lobby group

7. ro water treatment in spring gully gas project

8. "gas water" toowoomba

9. harold shand qc criminal

10. how much water is needed to make coal seam gas

11. will coal fuel kill you

12. water in toowoomba causing health problems

13. newater shipped overseas

14. qgc csg

15. australian rain corporation

16. purchase of hawker 800xp jet by queensland government

17. hold your blue gold my innovative strategy to reduce, reuse and recycle water

18. queensland government issued shower hourglass

19. origin gas reverse osmosis spring gully commissioned

20. one plant many tankers in dubai

21. csg water qld wallace

22. recycled water joke

23. coag water working group csg

24. meat works toowoomba

25. coal works hodgsonvale

26. energy for piping water from wivenhoe to toowoomba

27. recycled water diagram toowoomba

28. hold your blue gold!my innovative strategy reduce,reuse and recycle water

29. toowoomba cloud seeding

30. michele alroe

31. australian rain meter

32. www.toowoombawater.com.au/introduction/supporterscomments.htm

33. hydro electricity with recycled water

34. info toowoomba pipeline

35. toowoomba snakes

36. michael horan and mark udall

37. ray brown mayor dalby profile

38. moonie to brisbane oil pipeline decommission

39. queensland gas company water quality

40. qld government press secretary bligh

41. coal seams in the dalby region

42. coal seam gas "carbon dioxide"

43. toowoomba water dam levels

44. water worries for the hodgson vale coal mining

45. effects of newater

Siemens To Develop Innovative Seawater Desalination Technology ...

Excerpt from Water Online:

Siemens To Develop Innovative Seawater Desalination Technology

24 June 2008

Singapore - Siemens Water Technologies will develop an innovative seawater desalination technology, which could cut energy consumption by at least 50 percent compared to existing desalination technologies. The development of advanced desalination technology has been awarded a four million SGD research grant from Singapore's Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI).

"We truly consider this developing technology a breakthrough in the desalination market — with significant global implications on water resource management and the wider use of desalination in the future," said Chuck Gordon, CEO of Siemens Water Technologies.

Siemens will use the research grant to develop the technology at the company's Singapore-based global R&D center. EWI's challenge required demonstration of energy consumption of 1.5 kWh per cubic meter, which is about half of what has been demonstrated with the best available technology. In comparison to most of the actual operating desalination plants which consume as much as 10kWh per cubic meter the reduction could even be much higher. The reduction in power usage is critical to greater application of seawater desalination worldwide to reduce the CO2 footprint in the environment.

Siemens's technology is based on the innovative concept of removing salts from seawater in an electric field. The project awarded under this Challenge RFP will investigate a process that integrates electrodialysis, ion exchange softening, and a final desalting step using a novel continuous electrodeionization process to drive salt separation with minimum energy demand.

"By setting the bar high, EWI challenged innovators to creatively apply science and engineering to the reduction of energy consumption — one of the main issues with current desalination technology," said Gordon. "We are grateful to the Singapore government for their continuing support of water-related research and leadership in the world water community."

The ground-breaking research and development will be carried out by the company's global Research and Development Center in Singapore, which opened in late 2007. About 75 percent of the technical personnel for this effort will be based in Singapore, working in conjunction with R&D colleagues from the United States. The first demonstration of the new technology will be in Singapore.

"Proper management of our water resources is critical to meet the demands of population growth and industry," said Gordon. "There is no one, perfect solution for water resource management. But, today, this industry-advancing research and development effort will point the way forward to more efficiently manage this valuable natural resource."

See - Siemens To Develop Innovative Seawater Desalination Technology.

Former Toowoomba Mayor caught in property downturn ...

Relocated to Tasmania but still no takers for her house - reduced to $600,000.

See - LJ Hooker - Former Mayor's residence still for sale.

Originally advertised for $750,000 ...

Anna Bligh's water pipe contractors cause Qld communications meltdown ...

... and Anna tries to shift blame to Optus.

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

15 July 2008

A water contractor laying pipes as part of the water grid is believed to have triggered today's communication meltdown across southeast Queensland when he sliced through a cable on the Optus network at Molendinar on the Gold Coast this morning.

See - Courier Mail - Anna Bligh's communication meltdown.

CSG water - war over liquid goldmine ...

Excerpt from Sunday Mail:

War over liquid goldmine

12 July 2008

A plentiful supply of water is the fodder of sweet dreams for farmers and graziers in Queensland's drought-stricken west.

So news that a neighbour has more than 4 million litres of the liquid gold to share each day seems like an answer to their prayers.

Energy giant Origin recently built a reverse-osmosis treatment plant at its gas field in western Queensland. It desalinates and treats the "waste" water generated from coal seam gas extraction.

The $20 million plant at Spring Gully, about 80km north of Roma, produces enough water to supply a city of 50,000 people and Origin expects the output to more than double in coming years.

It's a lot of water and Origin doesn't know what to do with it. At the moment it's being pumped into a creek.

But in these parched times it's a valuable resource and the energy company recognises this. In a move that's believed to be an Australian first, Origin has called for expressions of interest for the water.

It could drought-proof much of the region's agricultural enterprises and, given that it's a byproduct of the company's activity, some have suggested it be given away.

But Origin has sent a clear message to farmers and graziers in the district: pay up or miss out.

As the gas giant's Australian and New Zealand exploration and production division general manager, Paul Zealand, puts it: "Clearly, we're now in the water business. In today's market, water has a value. I've got water for sale.

"We've taken a leap of faith and built a reverse-osmosis unit for $20 million. We need to be able to offset those costs.

"At the end of the day, we have to make a return for our shareholders. We want to be good neighbours but it can't always be give, give, give."

Mr Zealand said he expected local agriculturalists to compete with submissions from local councils, feedlot operators and coal mine companies for the water supply.

But local farmers say it's easy to pick the poor cousin in the group of bidders, and how much the water is worth is anyone's guess.

Peter Thompson's grain property, Echo Hills, borders Spring Gully and for decades gas companies operating at the site have drilled wells on his land. Although his grazing and cultivation property is freehold land, legislation gives mining companies the rights to the resources underground and access rights to his property to remove them.

Mr Thompson said he, like neighbouring landowners, would like to secure a water supply as a form of compensation.

"We've got 220ha we could irrigate pretty much straight away, without building too much infrastructure," he said.

"It would basically drought-proof us in the sense that we could be guaranteed to produce (crops) each year. This means we could secure bigger contracts with feedlots and companies like Sanitarium."

While he knows farmers and graziers can't compete dollar-for-dollar with big business bidding for the water, Mr Thompson is hopeful.

"Right from Day One I've seen this water coming out with the gas. Even though it was salty, I thought we'd be able to use it one day."

The potential of the water supply from Origin isn't lost on the local council. Origin could supply the region's drinking water, allowing the council to turn off bores pumping from depleted underground aquifers, said Roma Region Mayor Robert Loughnan.

But he said the council "probably wouldn't" make a submission for the water because of the cost of building the required pipelines.

"I'd like to see some of the cockies (graziers) out there benefit from this. You can't put a price on how it could help them."

Expressions of interest will close on Friday.

See - War over Liquid Goldmine.

Aqua Guardian's AquaArmour ...

AquaArmour helps prevent evaporation and reduces algal growth for major water storages and dams.

Evaporation on exposed water storages can be enormous, a water loss as high as 4 metres in depth per year across a water body surface depending on the location and conditions.

AquaArmour is designed to be deployed in exposed conditions on major water storages and reuires minimal infrastructure and maintenance. It is simple to deploy and is highly cost efficient in capturing and securing the precious resource of water.

See - AquaArmour.

Qld Coalition plans recycled water-free Wivenhoe-Cressbrook pipeline ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Wivenhoe-Toowoomba pipeline 'overdue'

9 July 2008

The Member for Toowoomba South says the construction of a pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Toowoomba is welcome but long overdue.

The underground pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Lake Cressbrook will cost $187 million and is expected to secure the future water needs of Toowoomba, in the state's south.

MP Mike Horan says the Queensland Government was warned in 2004 that Toowoomba could run out of water within six years and the city's low dam levels and reliance on bores meant something had to be done.

Mr Horan says the Coalition's south-east Queensland water policy had previously expressed support for construction of a Wivehoe Dam to Toowoomba pipeline.

"We warned about this in 2004 and were criticised for that warning," he said.

"We have in place a water policy that will provide additional water through desalination using renewable energy for the south-east Queensland water grid and that will free up water from Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam to be used for Toowoomba without the necessary addition of treated effluent."

A former Toowoomba mayor and prominent anti-recycled water campaigner says the pipeline decision is ridiculous.

Clive Berghofer says some time ago farmers from Norwin in the Darling Downs were prepared to sell their water allocation rather than use it for cotton.

Mr Berghofer says their water could be moved more easily across the Darling Downs, compared to pumping water uphill from Wivenhoe to Toowoomba and generating greenhouse gases.

"It's a typical bureaucracy decision. They're pumping water, but we could have got it off the Darling Downs for a quarter of the price, for a quarter of the cost, and a quarter of the time, but unfortunately the bureaucrat didn't want to listen," he said.

See - Qld coalition plans recycled water-free Wivenhoe-Cressbrook pipeline.

Qld Coalition Media Release:

Toowoomba pipeline funds welcome but long overdue

8 July 2008

State Government funding for a pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Toowoomba is welcome but long overdue, the State Opposition said today.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said Toowoomba desperately needed water security and local residents would be pleased the State Labor Government was finally providing funding towards building a pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam.

"Toowoomba is yet another city that has had to suffer while the Beattie-Bligh Labor Government dithered over what to do," he said.

"The State Opposition warned in 2004 that Toowoomba faced critical water shortages within six years and we were attacked at the time by the Labor Government for being ‘alarmist’ and ‘beating up this issue’.

"Then Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson even went as far as to say there was ‘no danger Toowoomba’s water supply will exhaust within six years’ (Media Release, 23 June 2004) when defending his Labor Government’s failure to act.

"With the Deputy Premier finally acknowledging Toowoomba’s dams could run dry by 2010, Toowoomba residents will be wondering why the State Government didn’t do something years ago, instead of waiting until a crisis hit."

Mr Springborg said the Deputy Premier’s claim the Wivenhoe to Toowoomba pipeline was being ‘fast tracked’ was laughable given the State Labor Government first committed to the project in December 2006, yet were only now backing up their words with some real dollars.

"With Toowoomba’s combined dam levels at less than 11 per cent and the city relying on bores, the Bligh Labor Government will need to ensure this pipeline from Wivenhoe is built quickly and not subjected to the usual budget blowouts and project delays," he said.

The Opposition’s South-East Queensland water policy, released earlier this year, expressed support for the Wivenhoe to Toowoomba pipeline. However, under the Opposition plan, recycled water was to be used for industry, power stations and agriculture and only placed into drinking supplies as a last resort.

See - Qld Coalition media release.

Recycled water opponents respond on Wivenhoe-Cressbrook pipeline ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Opponents say 'damn'

9 July 2008

Two years ago, dam levels sunk to 22 per cent and six out of 10 Toowoomba residents rejected recycled sewage water as a solution to the city's future needs.

Yesterday, levels sat at 10.8% and the State Government's promised solution to take water from Wivenhoe Dam will bring recycled water to the city.

Citizens Against Drinking Sewage co-ordinator Rosemary Morley labelled the decision as "premature" after the Federal Government provided $5 million to investigate the viability of using coal seam gas (CSG) water for the region.

"In these times when governments are telling us that we need to consider the environment and the use of precious resources like water, it seems absurd that the State Government would want to ignore CSG water and force Toowoomba to drink processed sewage from Wivenhoe," Mrs Morley said.

Fellow "No" vote proponent Snow Manners said pushing 14 million tonnes of water up the hill is "madness".

"Toowoomba already voted and said no, and my understanding was the elected councillors were of the same view."

Mr Manners noted: "Nine of the 11 councillors don't live in Toowoomba and they don't appear to care about the city."

Qld government turns its back on CSG water for Toowoomba ...

Excerpt from State government media release:

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Water Secured for Toowoomba

The Bligh Government will build a $187 million underground pipeline to pump water to drought ravaged Toowoomba from Wivenhoe Dam.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Mr Paul Lucas and Attorney General Kerry Shine today announced $167 million to build the 40 km pipeline, on top of the $20 million committed earlier this year to fast track preliminary designs and investigations.

“The situation in Toowoomba remains critical and this pipeline is desperately needed to provide water for the estimated 120,000 people who rely on the Cooby, Perseverance and Cressbrook Dams,” said Mr Lucas.

“This pipeline will be able to supply up to 14,200 million litres of water a year if needed, that’s over 50% more than Toowoomba’s current demand.

“Time is of the essence after yet another terrible wet season, with Toowoomba’s combined dam levels now below 11 per cent.

“A compressed construction timeline will see this pipeline built in December 2009, before being commissioned and fully operational by the end of January 2010.

“We all hope Toowoomba’s luck will change with some rain over the next year and a half to bring the Garden City back to life.

“If that doesn’t happen, Toowoomba Regional Council’s modelling shows without this pipeline the dams would run dry by March 2010.

“That’s why the $11 million dollars the State Government has provided to the Toowoomba Regional Council to sink bores into the Great Artesian Basin remains vitally important.

“These bores are being drilled to take the strain off Toowoomba’s dams while the pipeline is being built.

“Two bores are now showing promising results and another three are due to be finished by early next year.

“If they perform as hoped Toowoomba will have months and perhaps even a year or more worth of extra water, beyond March 2010.

“The State Government will work with the Toowoomba Regional Council to monitor the progress of these bores and on any other contingency measures that may be required.”

Mr Shine announced the pipeline from Wivenhoe will be bigger than originally planned, with the capacity to provide water to cope with Toowoomba’s population growth for the next 25 to 40 years.

“With extra pumps added, it will be able to supply Toowoomba with 18,000 million litres a year,” said Mr Shine.

“That’s enough to cater for a 50% increase in the Toowoomba population, even without the extreme water restrictions now in place.”

Construction of the pipeline will be managed by the State Government’s bulk water transport authority, LinkWater, which has engaged an alliance of companies (Clough, Diversified and Maunsell) to design and build the pipeline.

Mr Shine said LinkWater and its alliance were working closely with the Somerset and Toowoomba Regional Councils as well as consulting with directly-impacted landowners.

“Construction activity will start in the third quarter of this year, after obtaining the necessary environmental approvals and consulting with landowners,” said Mr Shine.

“The pipeline will be an economic boost for the Esk township and its 1200 residents, with about 90 construction workers expected to start arriving at a local work camp from October.”

Mr Lucas said investigations are also continuing into water produced as a by-product from coal seam gas operations in the Surat Basin.

“We are very interested in this water in the longer term and if there is one thing we have learnt in the last few years it is that water is liquid gold, we cannot waste any of it,” said Mr Lucas.

“However there are still issues to resolve in terms of cost, treatment and transport over long distances.

“We cannot afford to wait any longer to provide a secure water supply for Toowoomba but Queensland Gas Company may be able to put it to good use for drinking, agriculture and industry in other areas.”

See - State government turns its back on CSG water for Toowoomba.

QGC - enough CSG water to meet Toowoomba's demand for 20 years ...

Excerpt from QGC advertisement, the Chronicle, 4 July 2008:

If we can provide water to Miles ... we can provide it to a town near you.

The water extracted by Queensland Gas Company from the coal seams in the Surat Basin is plentiful.

It is precious and at just one-tenth the salinity of sea water, it is far too good to let go to waste in evaporation ponds while our Surat Basin neighbours are experiencing severe drought.

That is why QGC is on the front foot, searching for sustainable ways to put this water to beneficial use in Queensland.

We are negotiating agreements to supply half a billion litres a year to the township of Miles. Right now, we have the capacity to produce 16 megalites of water a day - enough to fill 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools a day, every day of the year.

This is just the beginning.

As QGC gears up to supply gas to the Queensland Curtis LNG Project, we will be able to offer a lot more water - enough, we believe, to meet Toowoomba's total annual demand for at least 20 years.

QGC is working hard to stimulate public debate about the water. The debate should be based on fact and ensure stakeholders - residents, farmers, governments and gas producers - have a say. We remain committed to achieving positive outcomes so that the water from our world-class gasfields benefits those communities that need it most.

Because we are proud of our water and its vast potential, it is important to us that you rely on the facts to reach your own conclusion. There have been claims that the proposed coal seam gas developments will result in 50,000 hectares of evaporation ponds, millions of tonnes of salts and barren wastelands. There have been claims that the water extraction will have long-term ramifications on the groundwater aquifers. It has also been claimed that cattle cannot drink water with more than 2,000 parts per million (ppm) of salt.

Here are the facts:

QGC currently has about 190 hectares of ponds. We design and monitor the ponds carefully to ensure their integrity. We do not see the ponds as long-term solutions - but in the meantime we are sponsoring research by the University of Queensland to achieve leading-edge outcomes in pond design and rehabilitation.

QGC accepts responsibility for managing the salts in an environmentally sensible way. There will not be millions of tonnes, and we are investigating ways to harvest the salts as another valuable by-product, adding more value to the water. The water in QGC's gasfields is produced from the porosity in the coals, meaning that the extraction of the water has no impact on underground aquifers.

Finally, official Australian guidelines recommend that drinking water for cattle can contain up to 5,000 ppm. This is more than double the QGC average.

At QGC, we understand that there is still a lot of work to do - and more money to be spent - before the full potential of the precious water from the coal seams is realised.

Be sure of one thing - we will continue to look for the most sustainable solutions.

Richard Cottee
Managing Director
Queensland Gas Company

end.

Big Cat Energy Corp - ARID device for reinjecting water into coal seams ...

Big Cat Energy Corporation has the patent rights to a new technology called Aquifer Recharge Injection Device (ARID) which allows Coal Bed Methane (CBM) operators to re-inject produced water at a fraction of the cost of current technology. This technology will be used by Big Cat Energy Corporation on a number of wells in Wyoming.

The ARID tool uses the existing well bore to move water from the target coal seam to a shallower depleted aquifer of similar water quality. With the ARID tool and process in use, the production well will not require the discharge of any produced water, or the use of a separate re-injection well for any of the produced water. The produced water never leaves the well bore as it is redirected into different aquifer zones.

See - Big Cat Energy - ARID Device.

Qld government plans mandatory solar power for large houses ...

Toowoomba Regional Council lets cat out of the bag.

Set out in the agenda for the Council's meetings this week is an interesting item - State Government Discussion Paper - Improving Sustainable Housing in Queensland (Item 6 - Page 17).

It contemplates - [requiring] photovoltaic (solar) energy to be installed on large houses.

So while the Federal government is busy dismantling the rebate scheme for solar power, the Qld government is contemplating making it mandatory for new 'large' houses.

Another interesting point in the discussion paper is the plan to require owners of existing homes and units [to] complete a sustainability declaration at point of sale and point of lease (rent).

So when you sell or lease your property, the government will make you declare the sustainability of the premises.

The next likely step is to require owners to upgrade their existing homes before being allowed to sell or lease them.

Welcome to the world of carbon madness ...

Flat screen TV gas worse than coal ...

Excerpt from The Age:

TV screen gas 'worse than coal'

4 July 2008

The rising demand for flat-screen televisions may have a greater impact on global warming than the world's largest coal-fired power stations, a leading environmental scientist has warned.

Manufacturers use a greenhouse gas called nitrogen trifluoride to make the televisions. As the sets have become more popular, annual production of the gas has risen to about 4000 tonnes.

As a driver of global warming, nitrogen trifluoride is 17,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide, yet no one knows how much of it is being released into the atmosphere by the industry, said Michael Prather, director of the environment institute at the University of California.
...

Unlike common greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), emissions of the gas are not restricted by the Kyoto Protocol or similar agreements.
...

See - The Age - TV screen gas 'worse than coal'.

QGC investigates CSG water options ...

Excerpt from ABN Newswire:

Queensland Gas Limited Announce LNG Project Is Awarded "Significant Project" Status

4 July 2008
...

The project will investigate options for water, produced as a by-product of coal seam gas production, which might benefit drought-affected communities in southern Queensland.

See - QGC - Investigating CSG water options.

QGC welcomes $5 million grant for coal seam water study ...

QGC media release:

QGC WELCOMES $5 MILLION GRANT FOR COAL SEAM WATER STUDY

4 July 2008

Queensland Gas Company Managing Director Richard Cottee has welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of a $5 million grant for a feasibility study into the use of water produced from coal seam gas (CSG) extraction.

“This is a far-sighted and timely allocation of funds to benefit all Queenslanders who use water,” Mr Cottee said today.

Premier Anna Bligh announced the grant following the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Sydney yesterday.

Ms Bligh said Queensland’s $510 million share of Federal funding would go toward the purchase of water entitlements and improving water efficiency in the Queensland section of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Some $5 million was set aside for a detailed feasibility study to examine the use of coal seam gas water.

Mr Cottee commended Ms Bligh and Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace on the announcement that their Government would undertake industry and community consultation in southern Queensland, where the Murray Darling headwaters originate.

Vast quantities of water are extracted daily from Surat Basin coal seams as part of the CSG production process.

Currently, this water is deemed a waste by-product and, as such, pumped into purpose-built evaporation ponds.

“The water is plentiful and there will be a lot more of it as the coal seam gas industry grows,” Mr Cottee said. “We are simply saying ‘look at this water.’ It is [a] fantastic opportunity for Queensland.”

QGC currently has the capacity to produce about 17 megalitres of water a day and is negotiating an agreement with the Dalby Regional Council to supply half a billion litres a year to the town of Miles.

With gas exploration and production stepping up to supply the Queensland Curtis LNG Project – today awarded State Government Significant Project status – the quantity of water produced will also rise substantially.

“Water extracted as a by-product of CSG production comes from the coal seams themselves, not underground aquifers,” Mr Cottee said.

“We have already produced potable water in our own reverse osmosis trials. Let’s use this plentiful resource – not let it slip through our fingers.”

Company Profile

Queensland Gas Company is a rapidly-evolving integrated energy business strategically positioned to meet rising demand for its abundant coal seam gas, cleaner power and ample water.

...

QGC invests in applications for large volumes of water yielded during the release of coal seam gas. The water has the potential to help drought-affected communities, towns and farms in the Surat Basin.

See - QGC welcomes $5 million grant for coal seam water study.

Federal government provides research funding for CSG water ...

Following on the heels of the US government, the Federal government has allocated $5 million in funding to examine the viability of using coal seam gas water as an alternate water resource.

A number of people have been advocating the use of CSG water for several years. It seems that the State and Federal governments might finally be listening.

The technology is there to deal with the salt by-product.

It's time for the CSG companies and the State and Federal governments to work together to harness this resource.

It's time to use this water resource and not let it evaporate.

Excerpt from the Australian:

$5m 'could solve water shortage'

4 July 2008

Billions of dollars were doled out at the Council of Australian Governments meeting but according to Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, a simple $5 million research grant may have the most far-reaching consequences.

Ms Bligh, who returned to Queensland with $500 million to buy out water rights and spend on improving the efficiency of water use, said she was delighted to win a $5 million grant for a feasibility study into the use of water produced from coal-seam methane gas extraction.

"The process of extracting coal-seam methane gas from coal reserves produces as a by-product massive amounts of water," Ms Bligh told The Australian after COAG.

"It's not potable water, and the feasibility study will look at treatment costs and transmissions costs. If this study demonstrates that this water is viable, then it can be a substitute for water currently coming out of river systems for agriculture, industry and, potentially, domestic purposes."

Ms Bligh said that while $5 million was a tiny part of a $3.7 billion water package, the grant could unlock technology that could provide real solutions to water shortages.

In May, Queensland Gas Company's managing director Richard Cottee told The Australian that within a decade, Queensland Gas would be producing 100 megalitres of water a day at its gas field near Condamine in southeast Queensland.

See - The Australian - $5m 'could solve water shortage'.

Also see - Stock and Land - COAG seals $3.7 billion deal for Murray Darling Basin.

Millions of litres of sewage spills into waterways ...

See - Courier Mail - Millions of litres of sewage spills into waterways.

CSG water - wastewater treatment technology on tap ...

Excerpt from Oil and Gas Product News:

Wastewater treatment technology on tap as gas/oil Water Recovery Bill passes in U.S.

May/June 2008

The United States Congress passage of the Water Recovery Bill on May 9 follows on the heels of the launch of an innovative new water treatment plant that does exactly what the bill seeks to accomplish.

Employing a zero-waste ion exchange technology, RG Global’s Catalyx Fluid Solutions (CFS) subsidiary makes groundwater reuse from certain types of energy production an immediately viable, environmentally friendly and economical option.

The new legislation was set forth to explore such usability options for ground-water pumped out during oil and gas production, and directs the U.S. Interior Department to assess the feasibility of recovering and cleaning up millions of gallons of water that are typically reinjected into the ground or otherwise disposed of during oil and gas development. This new bill authorizes federal fund-matching grants for pilot projects that would test technology to make the water usable for irrigation, industrial or municipal use.

RG Global CFS in April 2008 launched its first plant employing an innovative proprietary ion exchange technology to treat discharge water from coal bed methane (CBM) wells, making it suitable for reuse more cost efficiently and with less waste byproduct than other existing methods.

It effectively resolves the problem of disposing massive volumes of contaminated CBM produced water without depleting groundwater supplies or harming the surrounding environment or water bodies.

"CBM discharge water treated with our CFS ion exchange technology falls far below the 150 parts per million (ppm) of sodium maximums set by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and is completely safe for reuse in irrigation and many other applications," said Juzer Jangbarwala, CTO of RG Global.

"The treated water has 50 percent less sodium than Los Angeles tap water, clearly illustrating that sodium falls within acceptable levels for human and animal consumption. While the water would have to be further processed for human consumption, it can be used for irrigation and other applications with no further treatment."

CFS’s ion exchange technology is also adaptable for removal of various minerals and contaminants to enable the reuse of water from other contaminated ground-water and commercial applications such as: produced water from oilfields; arsenic, nitrate and perchlorate removal; and removal of heavy metal from rinses in metal finishing and semiconductor operations.

Jangbarwala stated, "We agree with Representative Mark Udall (D-Colorado), one of the water recovery bill’s sponsors, who said, ‘This bill will change an energy-industry problem into an opportunity, not just for oil and gas producers but for everyone else who would benefit from increased supplies of usable water.’ However, we believe RG Global already has one very important piece of the solution that benefits all parties and we’re very eager to work with the energy industry and other industries to help them economically produce energy and other products while preserving our precious water resources and the environment."

RG Global CFS’s multi-million dollar CBM water treatment plant near Gillette, Wyoming, is the first phase of three phases and part of a five-year, $20-22 million gross revenue build-own-and-operate contract with a major petroleum/CBM production company.

It currently is treating 1.2 million gallons of water per day, has the capacity to treat 30,000 barrels per day (BPD) of coal bed water and can be operated continuously at 120 percent of capacity.

Using a patent-pending ion exchange technology, the plant removes sodium, barium, iron and other inorganic contaminants present in the water that is extracted from underground coal beds with less than one percent waste byproduct.

Due to the catalyst and treatment used, the resulting waste is primarily sodium sulphate, which RG Global sells for use in various industrial manufacturing processes. CFS’s automated 24/7 monitoring system enables instantaneous adjustments in water treatment in response to changes in the water content to ensure that the final discharge water meets environmental standard requirements at all times.

See - Wastewater treatment technology on tap as gas/oil Water Recovery Bill passes in U.S.

Coal bed methane water treatment plant operational ...

Excerpt from Findarticles.com:

RG Global's First Coal Bed Methane Water Treatment Plant for Yates Petroleum Begins Production; Reduces Treatment Cost by 50%

30 April 2008

ANAHEIM, Calif. and GILLETTE, Wyo., April 30 - RG Global's Catalyx Fluid Solutions (CFS) division announced today that its first plant for Yates Petroleum Corp. to treat discharge water from coal bed methane (CBM) wells has begun water treatment production after successfully passing the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) water quality tests in the preceding weeks.

Located near Gillette, Wyoming, in the Powder River Basin, the plant employs Catalyx Fluid Solutions' innovative new proprietary ion exchange technology that cleans the water more cost efficiently and with less waste byproduct than other existing methods.

The multi-million dollar plant is the first phase of three phases and part of a five-year, $20-22 million gross revenue Build-Own-and-Operate contract with Yates. It currently has a capacity to treat 30,000 barrels per day (BPD) of coal bed water and can be operated continuously at 120% of capacity.

"The high level of sodium and other contaminants in the water discharged from CBM production is a major environmental issue that has stymied CBM production in many areas," said Juzer Jangbarwala, CTO of RG Global. "We are extremely pleased to report that the CFS water treatment plant is producing water which is completely safe for irrigation and discharge into nearby bodies of water."

The plant uses a patent pending technology to reduce treatment costs by more than 50%. Tests are being conducted on a crystallization process from the saturated waste to completely eliminate waste discharge from the plant, and produce a usable commodity (sodium sulfate) from the treatment system waste.

The plant removes sodium, barium, iron and other inorganic contaminants present in the water that is extracted from the coal beds underground. Its automated 24/7 monitoring system enables instantaneous adjustments in water treatment in response to changes in the water content to ensure that the final discharge water meets standard requirements at all times.

"We expect that the major cost reduction afforded by the CFS water treatment technology will help make it economically viable to harvest the vast clean burning CBM resources domestically and help reduce our dependence on foreign energy," Mr. Jangbarwala stated. "Additionally, we anticipate that the treated discharge water will come to be viewed as a valuable resource as it is put to use in a wide variety of applications."

Methane, the hydrocarbon resulting from CBM production, is the principal component of natural gas and an attractive fuel source. Compared to other hydrocarbons, methane combustion produces less carbon dioxide per each unit of heat released. As the simplest hydrocarbon, methane produces the most heat per unit mass than other more complex hydrocarbons.

About RG Global

RG Global Lifestyles, Inc. develops and markets innovative technologies for water purification and wastewater treatment.

Major energy production companies have selected RG's proven CFS technology to economically treat coal bed methane wastewater, making production of this plentiful, clean-burning gas more economically feasible and environmentally friendly.

RG manufactures OC Energy(TM) brand energy drinks that boast a proprietary energy pack, natural vitamins and low sugar levels to intensify alertness without the typical crash.

RG's Aquair(TM) atmospheric water generators produce purified water from air -- the ideal solution for military troops, disaster and drought-stricken areas and situations where drinkable water isn't easily accessible.

See - RG Global's First Coal Bed Methane Water Treatment Plant for Yates Petroleum Begins Production.

Newsweek - Rivers of Doubt ...

See - Newsweek - Rivers of Doubt - Minute quantities of everyday contaminants in our drinking supply could add up to big trouble.

US leads the way on CSG water - More Water, More Energy, Less Waste Act of 2007 passed ...

Excerpt from Dailycamera.com:

Bush approves water recovery bill
Associated Press
9 May 2008

DENVER - Federal legislation to explore putting groundwater pumped out during oil and gas production to use was signed into law Thursday.

The bill signed by President Bush directs the Interior Department to assess the feasibility of recovering and cleaning up the millions of gallons of water that are reinjected into the ground or disposed of during oil and gas development.

The water's fate has become contentious as natural gas development has increased in the Rockies. Large volumes of water are pumped out during coal-bed methane production. Pumping groundwater relieves the pressure that traps the gas in the coal seams.

"Every day, 2 million gallons of 'produced water' are wasted in this nation, unfit for any use," said Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Denver, one of the bill's sponsors.

New Mexico Sens. Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat, and Pete Domenici, a Republican, and Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., were the other sponsors.

The House version of the bill was approved last year.

"This bill will change an energy-industry problem into an opportunity, not just for oil and gas producers but for everyone else who would benefit from increased supplies of useable water," said Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, the bill's House sponsor.

The bill authorizes federal grants for pilot projects to test technology that could make the water usable for irrigation, industry or municipal use. It calls for providing federal funds, which would match up to 50 percent of the total cost, for at least one project each in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming with other projects possible in Arizona, California and Nevada.

A recent report by the Colorado Geological Survey found that coal-bed methane production in the southern part of the state was depleting area water by an estimated 2,500 acre feet a year. That amounted to roughly 815 million gallons of water that aren't returned to streams and rivers in the Raton Basin.

The agency has said the current total is likely quite a bit lower because of wells temporarily shut down in the northern part of the basin.

In Montana, state officials and landowners worry that Wyoming's coal-bed methane development is harming water quality and depleting streams and groundwater. The state of Wyoming and the energy industry are suing to overturn Montana's water-quality standards aimed at preventing pollution from Wyoming's natural gas production.

See - Bush approves water recovery bill.


Email this article to your Councillors and MPs so they are aware of what's happening with CSG water in the US ...

U.S. More Water, More Energy, Less Waste Act of 2007 ...

Read the More Water, More Energy, Less Waste Act of 2007 - here.

Sen. Salazar's Bill to Recover and Reuse "Produced Water" Signed Into Law ...

U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Press Release:

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 08, 2008

UPDATE: Sen. Salazar's Bill to Recover and Reuse "Produced Water" Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, DC – In the arid West, every drop of water counts. Recovering usable water from sources contaminated by oil and gas drilling operations could significantly help our farmers, ranchers and recreational users, not to mention the habitats of many plants and animals.

Today, President Bush signed a measure sponsored by United States Senator Ken Salazar, the “More Water, More Energy, Less Waste Act of 2007,” (S. 1116) which could lead to the clean-up and usability of “produced” water from oil and gas drilling and coal-bed methane extraction.

The President signed the bill which was a part of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008.

This bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) and it would direct the Department of Interior to evaluate the feasibility of recovering and cleaning “produced water” – groundwater contaminated when it is brought to the surface during oil and gas drilling or coal bed methane extraction – for use in irrigation and other purposes.

The bill would also authorize a grant program to test “produced water” recovery technologies. The grants would help fund pilot projects for this technology in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico, plus one additional site in Arizona, Nevada or California.

“Every day, two million gallons of ‘produced water’ are wasted in this nation, unfit for any use,” said Senator Salazar. “Recovering that water could help lift a huge burden off the backs of farmers, ranchers, communities and recreation users. We owe it to them and to future generations to test the feasibility of this technology.”

The House companion (H.R. 902) to the “More Water, More Energy, Less Waste Act of 2007” is sponsored by Rep. Mark Udall and was passed by the House in March 2007. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on the bill in April 2007.

See - Sen. Salazar's Bill to Recover and Reuse "Produced Water" Signed Into Law.

Wyoming's Powder River Basin - treated CSG water ...

Excerpt from Casper Star Tribune:

Industry treats more water

6 May 2008

CHEYENNE - More groundwater extracted by coal-bed methane operators in the Powder River Basin is being cleaned so it can be discharged into river drainages, and the trend should continue as operators move into areas of the basin where water quality worsens.

Last year, gas companies treated about 56 million barrels of coal-bed methane water in Wyoming, according to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. That represents about 8.8 percent of the 638 million barrels of water pumped to the surface by operators in order to extract the gas trapped by water in underground coal seams.

In 2006, 45 million barrels of water, or 6.6 percent, was treated out of 680 million barrels extracted in the state. A barrel of water holds about 42 gallons.

Don Likwartz, supervisor of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, said most of the 4.784 billion barrels of coal-bed methane water produced in Wyoming since the late 1980s was clean enough that it didn't need to be treated before being released into drainages and stock ponds.

However, Likwartz said drilling activity is now moving into more areas of the basin where the water quality is not as good because it contains more sodium, barium and other chemicals that make it unsuitable for discharging directly into drainages.

"I do see the treated portion going up both in volume and percentage-wise," he said.

The Powder River Basin extends into southeast Montana, where gas companies removed about 39.4 million barrels of water in 2007, according to the Montana Board of Oil and Gas. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality reports that about 13.7 million barrels of coal-bed methane water, or 35 percent of the total produced, was treated in that state last year.

Treatment is one of several methods of disposing of the water that isn't clean enough to simply dump into nearby waterways. Other methods include using it to irrigate fields in conjunction with soil amendments that counter the high sodium, storing it in large pits or reinjecting the water into the ground.

When conditions don't allow for other methods of disposal, companies must have the water cleaned through processes such as ion exchange and reverse osmosis.

"There's a lot of different technologies, and in all honesty, they are existing technologies that are being reoriented to this specific area," said Dennis Lamb, who oversees coal-bed methane water treatment for the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

The technology also is used in some industrial processes and to produce drinking water in some places, Lamb said.

DEQ recently permitted a new plant near Gillette that can treat up to 30,000 barrels of coal-bed methane water a day.

The drawback to treating the water is the cost.

"Very little has been treated because of the cost," Likwartz said. "They keep saying they hope they can do it for 20 cents a barrel. I don't know of any that have achieved that. Most of them have been more than 30 to 50 cents (a barrel) and higher."

Likwartz said 50 cents a barrel may not sound like much, but it makes a huge difference because of the quantity of water being extracted for the amount of gas recovered. In addition, Wyoming coal-bed methane usually sells for less than methane produced elsewhere, he said.

See - Industry treats more water.

QGC to develop LNG plant with BG Group - reserves update ...

See - Sydney Morning Herald - QGC to develop LNG plant with BG Group.

CH2M Hill Selects Agility Project Logistics for Darling Downs Power Station Project ...

The Darling Downs power station will be the biggest combined cycle power station in Australia and operates on coal seam methane gas. It will emit about half the greenhouse gas emissions of a coal-fired power station using current technology.

See - Earth Times - CH2M Hill Selects Agility Project Logistics for Darling Downs Power Station Project.

Qld Libs agree to National merger ...

See - Courier Mail - Liberal Party agrees to merge with Nats.

Nicholson Animations - Ferguson on fuel ...

See - Ferguson on Fuel.

Green Alleys - Chicago's back alleys filter rainwater for Lake Michigan ...

Excerpt from CNN.com

Chicago's back alleys filter rainwater for Lake Michigan

27 June 2008

- Chicago covers alleys with special concrete that cleans polluted rain runoff

- Microbes in concrete eat pollutants such as fertilizer and oil

- Solution avoids having to rebuild city's massive alley system

- Unique concrete also helps to keep city cooler on sunny days

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Environmentally friendly engineering is really right up Chicago's alley -- in a city project called Green Alleys.

Chicago workers resurface alleys with permeable concrete that cleans rainwater before it runs into Lake Michigan.

The program aims to stop polluted rainwater in the city's alleyways from ending up in adjacent Lake Michigan.

Chicago's 13,000 alleys, which allow rear access to buildings, date back to the 1800s. The 1,900 miles of back alleys ease access for garbage collection, loading and parking.

They also make up about 3,500 acres of impermeable surface, which has created a big problem.

Many of the alleys were built without connections to storm sewers. Rainwater puddles on the pavement and can run into buildings, sometimes flooding basements.

"We wanted to come up with a different way of solving that problem other than reconstructing, putting in a sewer system and adding water to our already full sewer system," said Janet Attarian, sustainability coordinator with the Chicago Department of Transportation.

So, the extreme alley makeover started with the pavement. The alleys are being resurfaced with concrete, asphalt or paving stones that are permeable -- that is, water runs through them like a sieve to the dirt beneath.

Microbes that thrive on stuff like fertilizer and oil are seeded into the pavement or migrate there naturally. They cleanse the water of pollutants from cars and lawns. The cleaner water makes its way into the groundwater, called an aquifer, and then flows into Lake Michigan.

That's a big deal, Attarian explained, because the city takes about a billion gallons of water out of Lake Michigan every year. But only about 1 percent of that water finds its way back to the lake, Attarian said.

"So by infiltrating that aquifer, we have a chance to [give] some of that water back."

Additionally, green alleys feature pavement that's high in albedo, or the ability to reflect light. The surface is lighter in color, reflecting more sunlight and absorbing less.

"It's like putting on a white T-shirt instead of a black one on a hot summer day," Attarian said. "It cools the city off and reduces our carbon footprint."

Other features of the Green Alley program include the use of recycled materials in pavement and energy-efficient light fixtures that direct light downward to reduce light pollution.

How green are those alleys? Chicago has greened 40 of them, with 48 more scheduled to get the treatment this year.

See - Chicago's back alleys filter rainwater for Lake Michigan.