History of sediment geochemical signals in an area of oil reserve development in Lake Kutubu, PNG
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Date
2015-07-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of New South Wales and Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Abstract
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been facing significant development challenges with high growth of oil and gas reserves development as a result of the contribution petroleum and mining industries make to the economy. This increase in oil and gas exploration results in increase of by-product releases into the environment, such as metals and metalloids, and if not properly managed can adversely affect natural environments. In this study, we used a multi-proxy approach which combines 210 Pb dating, measurement of 137 Cs activities and metal concentrations in sediment cores collected from Lake Kutubu in the Southern Highlands Province of PNG. The proxies were used to compare the state of the lake catchment environment prior and post the development of the gas and oil reserves development. 137Cs was successfully used as a proxy to validate the 210 Pb chronology in each core. Sedimentation rates based on 210 Pb results varied according to the distance from the main streams entering the lake from the northwest side. Cores collected close to the input streams on the west side of the lake have higher sedimentation rates than samples collected far from streams at the east side. Metal concentrations in 2 sediment cores increased significantly since 1 995 which correspond with the development of the oil reserves. These increases in geochemical signals, as witnessed in the sediment cores reflect the vast development in the area over the past 20 years. The results of this study provide a greater understanding of the effects of both anthropogenic and natural processes on the Lake Kutubu catchment.
Description
Keywords
Sediments, Historical aspects, Geochemistry, Oil fields, Papua New Guinea
Citation
Schneider, L., Haberle, S., Maher, W., Krikowa, F., Zawadzki, A., & Heijnis, H. (2015). History of sediment geochemical signals in an area of oil reserve development in Lake Kutubu, PNG. Presentation to the 13th Australasian Environment Isotope Conference (AEIC), Sydney, 8-10th July 2015, (pp. 48).