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Environmental Review of QER Pty Ltd's Oil Shale Technology Demonstration Plant, Gladstone, Queensland January 2013

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Environmental Review of QER Pty Ltd's Oil Shale Technology Demonstration Plant, Gladstone, Queensland January 2013 Environmental Review of QER Pty Ltd's Oil Shale Technology Demonstration Plant, Gladstone, Queensland January 2013 Prepared by: Environmental Services & Regulation, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection © The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection) 2013 Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. February 2013 Contents Executive summary ......................................................................................................................................................1 1. Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................2 1.1 Queensland Government 2008 decision on oil shale .........................................................................................2 1.2 What is oil shale? ................................................................................................................................................2 1.3 Where is oil shale found in Queensland? ...........................................................................................................3 1.4 What are the main oil shale extraction and processing technologies?...............................................................4 Above ground processing......................................................................................................................................4 In-situ processing ..................................................................................................................................................5 Oil shale as a solid fuel..........................................................................................................................................5 Other novel technologies.......................................................................................................................................5 1.5 Role of the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection in oil shale mining and processing ...............5 1.6 Objective of this report ........................................................................................................................................6 2. Previous experience with oil shale processing at Gladstone ...................................................................................7 2.1 Southern Pacific Petroleum’s (SPP) processing technology – the Alberta Taciuk Processor (ATP) .................7 2.2 Environmental problems experienced with SPP’s processing facility.................................................................8 Dioxins...................................................................................................................................................................8 Sterilisation of oil shale reserves...........................................................................................................................8 Hazardous air emissions .......................................................................................................................................8 Noxious and offensive odours ...............................................................................................................................8 Dust nuisance........................................................................................................................................................9 Water pollution concerns.......................................................................................................................................9 Excessive noise emissions..................................................................................................................................10 Plant upsets.........................................................................................................................................................10 Greenhouse gas emissions.................................................................................................................................10 Social impact .......................................................................................................................................................10 3. QER’s Technology Demonstration Plant and data collection program ..................................................................11 3.1 Description of Technology Demonstration Plant...............................................................................................11 3.2 QER’s data acquisition, monitoring and testing program..................................................................................12 Monitoring and Testing at the Colorado Pilot Plant 2005 – 07............................................................................12 Monitoring at the Gladstone Technology Demonstration Plant during 2011–12.................................................13 4. Environmental review methodology........................................................................................................................16 4.1 Scope and criteria .............................................................................................................................................16 4.2 Review of existing information ..........................................................................................................................17 QER September 2012 report to government.......................................................................................................17 QER monitoring data ...........................................................................................................................................18 4.3 On-site collection of information........................................................................................................................18 4.4 Detailed plant inspection...................................................................................................................................18 4.5 Additional information........................................................................................................................................18 5. Assessment of QER’s environmental performance................................................................................................20 5.1 Water releases and management.....................................................................................................................20 iii Environmental Review of QER Pty Ltd Oil Shale Technology Demonstration Plant, Gladstone, Queensland 5.2 Persistent organic pollutants–Dioxins ...............................................................................................................21 Processed shale ..................................................................................................................................................22 Solids in product stream – Centrifuge solids.......................................................................................................23 Stream sediments................................................................................................................................................23 Conclusions .........................................................................................................................................................23 5.3 Air emissions and management........................................................................................................................23 Emission limits.....................................................................................................................................................23 Review of existing information.............................................................................................................................25 On-site collection of information ..........................................................................................................................25 Observations during plant inspection ..................................................................................................................26 Review of Air Emissions Monitoring Program .....................................................................................................27 Assessment of environmental performance - Air ................................................................................................28 Conclusions - Air .................................................................................................................................................38 5.4 Solid waste management..................................................................................................................................39 5.5 Noise issues......................................................................................................................................................39 5.6 Re-vegetation of waste .....................................................................................................................................39
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