NSW Storage Capacity Project
I&I NSW has prepared a Business Plan for NSW State Wide Assessment of CO2 Storage Capacity Project with two aims:
- In the immediate term, it is to identify storage for a CCS demonstration project by 2012; and
- Inform the medium to longer-term outlook by undertaking a state wide assessment of potential storage opportunities in NSW to prepare pre-competitive data for acreage release.
The project has 3 structured stages, and is based on the nationally agreed prioritised basin plan, under the National Carbon Storage Taskforce Report.
- Stage 1 consists of 4 wells and seismic surveys in the Sydney-Gunnedah Basin, 4 wells in the Darling basin and 1 well in the Clarence-Moreton Basin;
- Stage 2 consists of 2 wells in the Clarence-Moreton Basin including seismic, and 2 wells in the Gunnedah Basin (depends on findings in stage 1)
- Stage 3 consists of 4 wells in Sydney Basin, 4 wells and seismic surveys in Darling Basin and 1 well in the Oakland Basin (again this work will require further funding and results from stage 1)
A budget for stage 1 and 2 (including contingency) is estimated at $54.3 million.
Current drilling activity in the Sydney-Gunnedah Basin:
- Munmorah and Vales Point site - Drilling finalised, reaching 2,300m and 2000m. Initial analysis stated likelihood of storage was poor and that further modelling was not recommended.
- Merriwa - Drilling has reached 1450m and ceased as at Friday 18 June 2010. Logging of core has commenced. Awaiting core analysis.
- Rig will be moved to the 4th site.
