Natural gas and water are held in the coal seams by pressure. To extract natural gas from coal seams, water is extracted from the seam. This releases the pressure allowing the natural gas to flow up through the well to the surface.
The water extracted
Natural gas and water are held in the coal seams by pressure. To extract natural gas from coal seams, water is extracted from the seam. This releases the pressure allowing the natural gas to flow up through the well to the surface.
The water extracted is not the same water accessed by agriculture and community bores and is also not taken from the Great Artesian Basin. In the Narrabri area it comes from the coal seams located 500 to 1,200 metres below the surface.
The water extracted in the Narrabri area is about half as salty as seawater; too salty for stock use or irrigation unless it is treated.
Before we take any water, we must have a Water Access Licence in place; just like other users. This water must be obtained, and paid for, from the market. Our water extraction is also assessed against the Government’s Aquifer Interference Policy.
Currently, water from our exploration wells is being transferred from the field via an underground flow-line to doub