Assessing connectivity between an overlying aquifer and a coal seam gas resource using methane isotopes, dissolved organic carbon and tritium

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dc.contributor.authorIverach, CPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHankin, SIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorLowry, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorFisher, REen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFrance, JLen_AU
dc.contributor.authorNisbet, EGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBaker, AAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKelly, BFJen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-06T05:27:26Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-06T05:27:26Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2015-11-04en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-10-15en_AU
dc.description.abstractCoal seam gas (CSG) production can have an impact on groundwater quality and quantity in adjacent or overlying aquifers. To assess this impact we need to determine the background groundwater chemistry and to map geological pathways of hydraulic connectivity between aquifers. In south-east Queensland (Qld), Australia, a globally important CSG exploration and production province, we mapped hydraulic connectivity between the Walloon Coal Measures (WCM, the target formation for gas production) and the overlying Condamine River Alluvial Aquifer (CRAA), using groundwater methane (CH4) concentration and isotopic composition (δ13C-CH4), groundwater tritium (3H) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration. A continuous mobile CH4 survey adjacent to CSG developments was used to determine the source signature of CH4 derived from the WCM. Trends in groundwater δ13C-CH4 versus CH4 concentration, in association with DOC concentration and 3H analysis, identify locations where CH4 in the groundwater of the CRAA most likely originates from the WCM. The methodology is widely applicable in unconventional gas development regions worldwide for providing an early indicator of geological pathways of hydraulic connectivity. © The Authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons licence, users will need to obtain permission from the licence holder to reproduce the material.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (funded by the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission). We also acknowledge the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy groundwater funding used to purchase the Picarro G2132-i.en_AU
dc.identifier.articlenumber15996en_AU
dc.identifier.citationIverach, C. P., Cendón, D. I., Hankin, S. I., Lowry, D., Fisher, R. E., France, J. L., Nisbet, E. G., Baker, A., & Kelly, B. F. J. (2015). Assessing connectivity between an overlying aquifer and a coal seam gas resource using methane isotopes, dissolved organic carbon and tritium. Scientific Reports, 5(1), 15996. doi:10.1038/srep15996en_AU
dc.identifier.issn2045-2322en_AU
dc.identifier.issue1en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleScientific Reportsen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1038/srep15996en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12359en_AU
dc.identifier.volume5en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherNatureen_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectCoalen_AU
dc.subjectMiningen_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectMethaneen_AU
dc.subjectCarbonen_AU
dc.subjectTritiumen_AU
dc.subjectQueenslanden_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.titleAssessing connectivity between an overlying aquifer and a coal seam gas resource using methane isotopes, dissolved organic carbon and tritiumen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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