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Irrigation Feasibility Study

Irrigation Feasibility Study

Specifications

  • Client: Senex Energy
  • Scope:

    Senex commissioned Verterra to undertake an irrigation feasibility study focussing on areas of: water quality, land size requirements, soil characterization, potential irrigation sites and species, irrigation modelling, scheme layouts and risk assessment. Verterra delivered an irrigation report addressing the requirements of Senex’s Environmental Authority including assessment of the water quality and its impacts on soil structure, stability and productive capacity; a water monitoring program for the irrigation scheme; and details of the irrigation infrastructure and equipment required to implement the irrigation trial.

  • Challenge:

    Senex Energy planned to drill and construct infrastructure to bring online up to 15 wells in two Extended Production Test (EPT) areas, as Phase 1 of their WSGP development located approximately 30 km northeast of Roma in southern-central Queensland. As part of their Water Management Strategy, under development, Senex was seeking to undertake irrigation trials of the coal seam gas water produced. Two study areas were defined adjacent to the Glenora and Eos EPTs with initial production forecasts indicating water rates of up to 0.7ML/d at Glenora and 1.1ML/d at Eos. 

  • Solution:

    Verterra brought a depth of experience in beneficial re-use of CSG water, soils and cropping to the project. Results of water quality data analysis, soils analysis and salt and water balance modelling indicated that WSGP produced CSG water could be adequately amended by chemical treatment (without the need for reverse osmosis) to produce an agricultural grade water that would allow long-term, sustainable irrigation of mixed Leucaena-improved pasture system on soils associated with Eos A, Glenora A and B. Soils at Eos B were deemed unsuitable for irrigation with amended water. Verterra recommended Pivot irrigation as the preferred system on a cost and operability basis. The detailed risk assessment identified only one (1) high risk (fire), and appropriate mitigation strategies were proposed.

  • Benefit to Client:

    The results of the feasibility study indicated that WSGP produced CSG water could be adequately amended without the need for reverse osmosis to produce an agricultural grade water allowing sustainable cost-effective pivot irrigation of mixed Leucaena-improved pasture system on soils in 3 of the 4 test zones. Long-term sustainable benefits for the client and CAPEX savings.

  • Market Sector: Oil and Gas
  • Capabilities:
    • Monitoring Systems - Beneficial use of CSG water in Irrigation
  • Location: Queensland
  • Year: 2016