WHILE it may not have been harmful to human health, Arrow Energy's latest contamination scare has again thrown an unwelcomed spotlight on the controversial practices and conduct of the coal seam gas industry.
Arrow Energy revealed at the weekend that traces of the cancer-causing chemicals benzene, toluene, ethylene and xylene (commonly referred to as BTEX), which were banned last year in Queensland for use in fracking, were discovered at five bores at the company's Daandine and Tipton Fields, south of Dalby.
The positive BTEX readings were discovered in shallow, 50mm diameter, PVC-lined holes used for detecting seepage from the CSG associated water storages nearby.
The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) believes the BTEX chemicals do not pose a threat to human health or the environment and were most likely from "remnants of a glue, grease or oil used in the on-site construction of the monitoring holes".
The chemicals can be naturally occurring and can be found in a range of oil-based products including lubricating oil, diesel and petrol.
Arrow Energy said the water in the aquifer, where the shallow bores were drilled, is not suitable for drinking water, nor to water stock or irrigate crops.
Other sites within close proximity to the positive readings showed no trace of BTEX chemicals and neither did the two CSG associated water storages.
DERM said they would work with Arrow Energy on a further sampling regime to confirm the cause of the low- level detections.
It is the latest in a series of negative events to raise the suspicions of landholders. Traces of benzene were also detected in three CSG wells at Arrow Energy's Moranbah gas project, west of Mackay, in November last year and in May an Arrow Energy pipeline ruptured and caused more than 600,000lts of water and gas to spew onto a landholder's property.
The latest incident came the same week that community engagement consultancy firm, JTA Australia, was hired by Arrow Energy to carry out a survey on the company's performance in addressing the concerns of landholders and other stakeholders.
The survey closes this week.
News of the contamination had landholders and environmentalists repeating calls for either a moratorium or an increase in scientific understanding of the controversial industry, with three of Australia's most prominent water scientists claiming on Monday that more research was "urgently needed" to address community concerns, including what the industry will do with the estimated 30 million tonnes of salt that is expected to be generated as a by-product of CSG activities.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke told ABC's Lateline program on Monday that every aquifer exposed to CSG mining must be tested to ensure groundwater was not placed at risk.
On Saturday, mining magnate Clive Palmer, who intends to oversee a multi-billion-dollar expansion in the state's Galilee thermal coal basin, lashed out at the CSG industry.
Mr Palmer said overseas companies were concerned that Australian CSG miners were not as skilled or trained, nor had the same technological background, as their overseas counterparts.
"The risk if they don't get that right is the contamination of the water table with things like arsenic and other carcinogens," he said.
"We don't want that to happen because that affects stock and it could affect human life when we're eating the stock and drinking the water."
However, after it was revealed on Monday that Mr Palmer employed CSG technology to power his Queensland nickel refinery, the billionaire mining boss issued a statement "clarifying" his position.
"Let me be clear, I do support the CSG industry - it is good for this country, and particularly good for Queensland," he said.
"However, the Queensland Government and participating mining companies must commit to the best technologies and practices to ensure there is no risk to the environment or human health.
I have no doubt the majority of CSG operators will be responsible in this space. The government needs to ensure there are clear safety and environmental plans in place."
CSG industry spokesman Ross Dunn could not be reached for comment.
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