ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Petroleum Exploration Activities in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions DRAFT May 2020 Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Petroleum Exploration Activities in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions Prepared by: Tri-Star Energy Company Level 35 Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street Brisbane, Q 4000 T: (07) 3236 9800 F: (07) 3221 2146 E: [email protected] W: http://www.tri-starpetroleum.com.au and JBS&G Australia Pty Ltd ABN 62 100 220 479 100 Hutt St Adelaide SA 5000 T: +61 8 8431 7113 F: +61 8 8431 7115 W: http://www.jbsg.com.au Document Status Review Release Version Purpose of Document Original Review QA Review Issue Date Date Approval A Draft for Tri-Star review / discussion RS/AM/AC AC/SM 6/4/2019 SM SM 16/4/2019 Updated draft following Tri-Star B input. Issued for preliminary DC AC/SM 9/8/2019 SM SM 9/8/2019 government agency consultation Updated based on DEW, DPTI and 0 AC DC/AC 8/3/2020 CB/RU/SH JB 28/5/2020 SAAL NRM Board initial comments Tristar Drilling EIR Rev0 Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Petroleum Exploration Activities in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions Contents 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 About this Document .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Tri-Star Energy Company Profile ................................................................. 1 1.3 Location and Exploration Rationale ............................................................ 1 1.4 Scope ........................................................................................................... 2 2 Legislative Framework ....................................................................................... 6 2.1 Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 ............................................. 6 2.1.1 Environmental Significance Assessment and SEO Consultation Requirements .............................................................................................. 7 2.1.2 Activity Notification / Approval Process .................................... 8 2.2 Other Legislation ......................................................................................... 8 3 Proposed Activities .......................................................................................... 11 3.1 Grouping of Operations ............................................................................ 11 3.2 Drilling Operations .................................................................................... 12 3.2.1 Construction Activities ............................................................. 12 3.2.2 Well Drilling Activities .............................................................. 21 3.2.3 Well Completion and Workover Activities ............................... 21 3.2.4 Well Production Testing ........................................................... 22 3.2.5 Well Decommissioning ............................................................. 22 3.3 Fracture Stimulation Operations ............................................................... 23 3.3.1 Well Design and Construction .................................................. 24 3.3.2 Fracture Stimulation Design ..................................................... 25 3.3.3 Fracture Stimulation Monitoring ............................................. 27 3.3.4 Fracture Stimulation Stages ..................................................... 28 3.3.5 Fracture Stimulation Fluids ...................................................... 29 3.3.6 Post Stimulation Flowback ....................................................... 30 3.3.7 Equipment and Materials ......................................................... 31 3.3.8 Water Use and Management ................................................... 31 3.4 Associated Activities ................................................................................. 32 3.4.1 Water Supply ............................................................................ 32 3.4.2 Waste Management ................................................................. 33 3.4.3 Fuel and Chemical Storage ....................................................... 35 3.5 Restoration and Rehabilitation ................................................................. 36 3.5.1 Initial Restoration ..................................................................... 36 3.5.2 Partial Restoration ................................................................... 36 3.5.3 Final Restoration ...................................................................... 37 4 Existing Environment ....................................................................................... 38 4.1 Climate ...................................................................................................... 38 4.2 Bioregions, Landforms and Land Systems ................................................. 38 4.3 Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................... 43 4.3.1 Flora ......................................................................................... 43 4.3.2 Fauna ........................................................................................ 45 Tristar Drilling EIR Rev0 i Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Petroleum Exploration Activities in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions 4.3.3 Threatened Species and Communities ..................................... 46 4.3.4 Listed Migratory Species .......................................................... 48 4.3.5 Weeds and Pests ...................................................................... 49 4.3.6 Recognised Biodiversity Values ................................................ 50 4.4 Surface Water ........................................................................................... 50 4.5 Geology ..................................................................................................... 54 4.5.1 Geological Setting / Background .............................................. 54 4.5.2 Structural Setting ..................................................................... 55 4.5.3 Stratigraphy .............................................................................. 57 4.5.4 Hydrocarbon Targets ................................................................ 61 4.6 Hydrogeology ............................................................................................ 65 4.6.1 Aquifer Use ............................................................................... 71 4.6.2 Great Artesian Basin Springs .................................................... 75 4.7 Cultural Heritage ....................................................................................... 75 4.7.1 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ..................................................... 75 4.7.2 Non-Aboriginal Heritage .......................................................... 76 4.8 Land Use .................................................................................................... 76 4.8.1 Pastoralism ............................................................................... 76 4.8.2 Mining and Petroleum ............................................................. 78 4.8.3 Conservation ............................................................................ 80 4.8.4 Tourism .................................................................................... 81 4.8.5 Native Title ............................................................................... 81 4.9 Socio-Economic ......................................................................................... 81 4.9.1 Population Centres ................................................................... 81 4.9.2 Infrastructure ........................................................................... 82 5 Environmental Impact Assessment .................................................................. 84 5.1 Overview of Risk Assessment Process ...................................................... 84 5.2 Drilling Operations .................................................................................... 87 5.2.1 Soil and Shallow Groundwater ................................................. 87 5.2.2 Surface Water .......................................................................... 90 5.2.3 Groundwater ............................................................................ 91 5.2.4 Vegetation and Fauna .............................................................. 93 5.2.5 Pastoral Operations.................................................................. 96 5.2.6 Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Regional Reserve ..................... 98 5.2.7 Public Safety and Amenity ....................................................... 99 5.2.8 Cultural Heritage .................................................................... 101 5.2.9 Economic Impact .................................................................... 102 5.2.10 Environmental Risk Assessment Summary ............................ 102 5.3 Fracture Stimulation Operations ............................................................. 118 5.3.1 Leakage into Aquifers Due to Loss of Well Integrity .............. 118 5.3.2 Fracture Propagation into GAB Aquifers ................................ 119 5.3.3 Leakage into GAB Aquifers Through Geological Material ...... 122 5.3.4 Lateral Migration of Injected Fluids ......................................