While all existing surface and near-surface water is already accounted for in the National Water Initiative’s water balance sheet, and is allowed to be traded, water produced during CSM production is regarded as “new water”.
Current petroleum legislation prohibits gas producers from making any financial gain from the water on the basis that it has historically been thought to be from shallow sources.
Bocking Associates CBM principal Malcolm Bocking will speak about his investigative work into the nature and origins of seam water in the Clarence Moreton Basin near Casino and the ramifications for CSM producers at the EcoForum conference at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast on Thursday February 28.
The conference’s Capitalising on water from coal seam gas production streams will explore potential options for treating and transporting the large quantities of often saline water that are generated during the process of producing CSM, and the potential to add significant value to a CSM venture.
Other sessions will cover issues such as the place of CSM in energy markets; the business challenges for players; and the potential impacts of federal government initiatives on water, energy and climate.
The one-day event will aim to capture the key issues on water management strategies and practice that could make a difference through innovations in policy, practice, technology, partnerships and water trading for this emerging industry.
While the CSM and water stream runs on the Thursday, the conference as whole runs over three days, from Wednesday February 27 until Friday 29, and includes nine streams.
Registration for the one-day CSM and water conference stream is $650, with significant discounts for two- and three-day registrations. Accommodation at Conrad Jupiters is $200 a night. Register online at
EcoForum Limited is a non-profit company established in January 2007 to encourage leadership and best practice in environmental management in Australia.
