GOLDEN Beach locals will have another opportunity to learn about CarbonNet’s offshore appraisal well drilling at a community information meeting this Saturday.
Joining the CarbonNet team will be representatives from CarbonNet’s drilling management contractor AGR Australia.
The CarbonNet project is jointly funded by the federal and state governments and is part of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industry via carbon capture and storage.
International climate and energy experts agree that CCS must play an important role alongside renewables and energy efficiency to meet climate change action goals.
CarbonNet will begin drilling an offshore appraisal well between early-November and December 2019 to verify the properties of rock layers below the seabed and confirm the suitability of the Pelican site in Bass Strait to safely and permanently store carbon dioxide.
Exact timing of the drilling activity is dependent on the planned completion of the contracted drilling rig’s current work program in Western Australia.
During the appraisal drilling, the Noble Tom Prosser rig will be located approximately 8km offshore in Bass Strait and may be observed from the shoreline.
To ensure public safety, a 500 metre exclusion zone will be in place for the duration of the drilling, which depending on sea conditions is expected to take between 45 and 60 days.
An environment plan for the offshore appraisal well was approved by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority in April 2019. An EP summary is available on the NOPSEMA website.
The community information meeting will be held from 1pm to 2.30pm at the Golden Beach Community Centre. The local Men’s Shed will provide a free sausage sizzle from 12.30pm.
CarbonNet project director Ian Filby said the information session would be a ninth with the Golden Beach community.
“We’re looking forward to again updating locals about CarbonNet’s progress,” he said.
“On Saturday, we’ll be detailing our upcoming offshore investigations and again be providing the opportunity for locals to put their questions to our team of experts.”
