Concept Dewatering, Hydrotest Water and Land Release Management Plan (DHWLRMP)
Concept Dewatering, Hydrotest Water and Land Release Management Plan (DHWLRMP)
Concept Dewatering, Hydrotest Water and Land Release Management Plan (DHWLRMP)
CLIENT:
GLNG Operations P/L
STATUS:
FINAL
REPORT NUMBER:
SC12-0029/R001688
ISSUE DATE:
June 2012
This report has been prepared for the sole use of the GLNG Operations P/L (herein, ‘the client’), for a
specific site (herein ‘the site’, the specific purpose specified in Section 1 of this report (herein ‘the
purpose’). This report is strictly limited for use by the client, to the purpose and site and may not be used
for any other purposes.
Third parties, excluding regulatory agencies assessing an application in relation to the purpose, may not
rely on this report. O2 Environment + Engineering waives all liability to any third party loss, damage, liability
or claim arising out of or incidental to a third party publishing, using or relying on the facts, content,
opinions or subject matter contained in this report.
O2 Environment + Engineering waives all responsibility for loss or damage where the accuracy and
effectiveness of information provided by the Client or other third parties was inaccurate or not up to date
and was relied upon, wholly or in part in reporting.
Concept Dewatering, Hydrotest Water and Land Release Management Plan Page ii
Figures
Figure 1: Site Layout Plan 4
Figure 2: Launch pad infrastructure draft drawing 5
Figure 3: Receptor pad infrastructure draft drawing 6
Figure 4: Photo and inspection points 7
Figure 5: A schematic for water around the site 12
Figure 6: Water schematic 12
Tables
Table 1: Water quality limits for disposal of hydrostatic water to land 16
The area of interest is located approximately 16km north of Gladstone. The location is commonly called the
‘Narrows’.
This plan describes physical controls and processes that are expected to result in general compliance with
the objectives in Section 1.2. Should the controls indicated in this document not achieve the identified
performance criteria for any reason, it is the responsibility of the operator to notify the nominated
specialist so that a revision of the plan can be undertaken.
This plan should be read in conjunction with the O2 Marine Crossing – Gas Transmission Pipeline:
Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (Document Number R001631).
Dewatering – Relating to dewatering tunnelling operations to meet requirements as set out in 5.2 (a) & 5.3
of the DERM additional information request (375042/BNE45992) and Condition 32 (e), (m) & (n) of the
EPBC Approval (22/10/2010).
Hydrotest water – To meet requirements as set out in 5.1 of the DERM additional information request
(375042/BNE45992), Appendix 3 Part 3 Condition 3 e) of the CG (May 2010) Report and Condition 37 (d) of
the EPBC Approval (22/10/2010).
Land Release – In accordance with 5.1 (Hydrotest Water) of the DERM additional information request
(375042/BNE45992) and 5.3 (Dewatering) in accordance with 5.1 (Hydrotest Water) of the DERM additional
information request (375042/BNE45992)
The objective of this plan is to minimise harmful impacts on receiving land and waters during the
operational period.
The Areas of Interest associated with the project include the following:
Launch pad and receptor pad for tunnel boring activities located on the mainland and Curtis Island
respectively
Tunnel between the mainland and Curtis Island
Pipeline laid within the tunnel
The draft site layout plan provided by client is shown below in Figure 1, with layout details of the launch
and receptor pads provided in Figure 2 and Figure 3 respectively.
The site has four constructed waterholes / dams which are all very stable and mostly well vegetated with a
range of macrophytes and aquatic plants (native and exotic).
Areas from the access gate and southern parts of the “orchard” appear to drain towards a drainage line.
This drainage line was flowing at the time of inspection following significant rainfall in the week prior to the
site visit. This drainage line flows into the southern dam.
The second dam will be bypassed (in fairly close proximity) by the proposed access track with no impacts
anticipated. This area is open and relatively flat with good opportunities to manage surface erosion and
stormwater impacts.
The third larger central dam capture runoff from areas from within and to the south of the proposed pad
and is a large and well established landscape feature. Drainage patterns for the pad area appear to flow
mostly from the east either north to the small Baumea articulata and Eleaocharis packed waterhole, or
south to the large third central dam. Areas draining to the southern dam are presently wet on the site with
numerous sedges and wetland plants interspersed with grazing grasses.
The existing proposed location of the pad is well positioned avoiding both drainage features (dams) to the
north and south, and positioned such that the seaward edge of the clearing is perched on the top of the
existing natural ridgeline. Due to the topography and possibly soil type there is minimal intertidal zone with
the open forest dropping immediately into tidal mudflats. A mangrove community is located approximately
50m from the edge of the mudflats
Preliminary Narrows Crossing Information For Environmental Studies (Document Number: 3301-GLNG-
4-3.3-0004)
Hydrotest Conceptual Plan – Marine Crossing (Company Doc. No. 3380-SAIP-4-1.3-XXXX)
Hydrotest Water Management Plan (Company Doc. No. 3380-SAIP-4-1.3-1840)
The tunnel construction will be carried out by a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) beginning at the launching
pad on the mainland and concluding at the receptor pad on Curtis Island.
Once the tunnel construction is complete, the pipe will be installed with welding taking place immediately
before the tunnel entrance.
The water for the tunnel construction will be sourced, treated and discharged separately from the water
for the hydrotesting.
The concrete segmental rings and the grout placed between them is substantially watertight, however a
small quantity of water is expected to infiltrate the tunnel. Over the period of 13 months the estimated
total infiltration of water is expected to be between 2,500m3 to 5,000m3. Infiltration of water into the
tunnel will cease when the tunnel is flooded.
The client advises that, based on past experience with similar tunnels, water imported by tankers from
approved Gladstone Area Water Board sources will be used at the commencement of tunnelling and
periodically during operations.
Water is considered a valuable resource and will be recycled to the greatest practical extent for use in
tunnel construction. Water for this purpose will be processed through a dedicated site water treatment
plant located at the launch pad and stored in tanks for reuse.
The majority of this water will ultimately be returned to the tunnel either as a component of the 6000 m3 of
grout required or when the tunnel is flooded.
Water will also be used during construction for dust suppression and housekeeping on the pad.
On completion the tunnel will be flooded with any water remaining in the tanks holding (treated) tunnel
water, and the balance made up with seawater sourced from the Narrows.
If it is considered inappropriate to use this water to flood the tunnel once it has been completed, the water
will be treated to a standard suitable for discharge.
The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR
Convention) regulates international cooperation on environmental protection in the North-East Atlantic
region. The OSPAR Commission is the mechanism by which the European Community and fifteen
Governments of the western coasts and catchments of Europe co-operate to protect the marine
environment of the North-East Atlantic. Bentonite is listed in the OSPAR Commission’s List of
Substances/Preparations Used and Discharged Offshore which Are Considered to Pose Little or No Risk to
the Environment (PLONOR). (OSPAR Commission, 2012)
3.2. Hydrotesting
The tunnel section will be constructed from the mainland end in the direction of Curtis Island. During the
tunnel construction, pipe will be welded and pretested in readiness for installation. Installation of the pipe
will not take place until the tunnel is completed and the tunnelling infrastructure that is not required for
the pipe installation has been removed.
Hydrotesting, or hydrostatic pressure testing, is the testing of a section of pipeline with water to establish
the strength and leak tightness of the test section and to confirm the maximum allowable operating
pressure.
All sections of pipe to be tested are cleaned with a pig and compressed air to remove any construction
debris prior to filling with water for hydrotesting.
The hydrotest water will be water that has been used for testing inland sections of pipe. Once testing of
the upstream sections is complete, the water will be transferred to the pond at the pad and testing of the
mainland sections of pipe will be carried out. When the tunnel is complete and the pipe has been installed,
hydrotesting of the pipe in the tunnel and on Curtis Island will be carried out. Water will then be returned
to the pond at the pad for land release.
On completion of the adjoining mainline test section, water will be transferred into a pond constructed at
the launch pad. The pond will be approximately 15,000 m3 in capacity with a maximum water depth of
approximately 5 to 6 metres and freeboard of approximately 1m to manage the risk of uncontrolled
release, based on a Q10 event. The pond will be lined to prevent losses due to infiltration and avoid
contamination from groundwater infiltration or interception of any acid sulphate soils at the location. A
sump will allow most of the water to be removed.
Water cannot be passed through the mainline test section once it has been dewatered and dried. Any
additional water (if required) must be obtained via road tankers from the Gladstone Area Water Board or
other available water sources of suitable quality.
A study conducted by the CSIRO (G. Tjandraatmadja, 2005) found that the quality of the used hydrotest
water did not represent a hazard to the environment, provided that the source water was of adequate
quality. The source water quality was identified as the primary driver of the quality of used hydrotest
water.
The water will need to be assessed for Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) and turbidity prior to use for
hydrotesting.
If both SRB and sufficient sulphate availability is detected in the water, measures will be taken to prevent
the growth of SRB. The preferred method is to increase the pH to a minimum of pH10 by the addition of
sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide.
The presence of suspended solids encourages the growth of SRB. Removal of suspended solids by
settlement will assist in controlling SRB. Aeration of the water also reduces SRB activity.
The hydrotest water will essentially be raw fresh water and should require minimal treatment before
discharge. Any treatment that is required, such as pH correction in the case that SRB are found in the
source water, will occur within the pond. The hydrotest water is anticipated to be ultimately discharged to
land.
The volume of pipeline to be hydrotested is approximately 10,000m3. An extra 5,000m3 of water will
account for evaporation and pre-testing. 15,000m3 of water will be collected and stored over a period of 6
months in the pond lined with impervious lining. The hydrotesting will be carried out over a 6 month period
and final disposal of hydrotesting water will be via controlled discharge to land at the end of the 12
months.
The design groundwater infiltration into the tunnel is 1L/hr/100m, resulting in approximately 2,500m3 to
5,000m3 over 13 months being passed through the treatment plant. Some of this water may be lost in the
spoil that is being exported from the site.
The volume of water required for the drilling operations is unknown. This water will also be passed through
the treatment plant.
Groundwater Intrusion
Drilling operations water 1L/hr/100m of tunnel
imported from approved sources 3
2,500 to 5,000 m over 13
months
At this stage, it is understood that at least 10,000m3 of water will require controlled release to land.
Figure and include areas that are at least 100m from water courses, 100m landward of Highest
Astronomical Tide (HAT) and avoid areas of significant vegetation.
The most appropriate site for discharge will be selected prior to discharge. Key considerations for site
selection include:
Locations must be a minimum 100m from watercourses and 100m landward of (HAT)
Areas of saturated soil or high ground water table will be avoided - simple permeability tests will be
carried out to confirm the existing groundwater level and the permeability of the soil
4.1. Dewatering
Any dewatering activity should strive to minimise the radius of influence of the cone of depression and any
impacts on sensitive surface water receptors near the operation. It is anticipated that there will be minimal
dewatering relating to the project’s tunnelling operations.
Given the likelihood that groundwater will be acidic or otherwise need treatment, the Acid Sulphate Soil
Management Plan produced by Golder Associates will describe the management and treatment of all
groundwater. Refer to the following for the dewatering details:
Prior to discharge, the groundwater would be field tested and treated in accordance with the Golder
ASSMP. In the event the volume of tunnelling water generated is higher than anticipated, the number of
temporary holding and treatment tanks may be increased or other contingencies will need to be
considered.
According to the Golder ASSMP, groundwater levels will be monitored prior to and during tunnel
construction via installed groundwater wells adjacent to the launch pad. If drawdown is found to be
excessive, a contingency strategy can be implemented to recharge the aquifer by circulating groundwater
from dewatering operations back behind the sheet piles. This would negate the possible impacts of
lowered groundwater levels and the potential oxidation of surrounding sediments.
4.2. Hydrotesting
Any hydrotesting activity should strive to minimise any impacts on the environment.
The cleanest and most practical water source for hydrotesting water will be chosen to minimise treatment
requirements prior to disposal via controlled land release.
Hydrotesting water will essentially be raw water from bores to the west of the site.
There is no intention of chemically treating the water prior to hydrotesting. However, if sulphate, SRB and
turbidity levels are found to be high enough to encourage SRB growth, the water will require pH correction
prior to hydrotesting to minimise the risk of corrosion. The pH will then be corrected post-hydrotesting to
the range of pH6.5 – pH8.5.
If necessary, the water will be treated to conform with the limits set out in Table 1 for disposal of water to
land. The water will be monitored on the release line to ensure that these criteria are met. Water will be
returned for treatment if the criteria are not met.
Additional treatment methods in the event that performance criteria are not met
Land discharge of appropriate water could be undertaken either via infiltration or irrigation of a nearby
orchard. The controlled discharge will be to appropriate discharge structures 100m from water course and
100m landward of Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) to dissipate energy to reduce erosion, protect the
water quality of nearby water bodies and reduce the potential for the introduction of new species.
There is no intention of chemically treating the water prior to hydrotesting. However, if pH correction or
flocculation is required to minimise the risk of corrosion, the requirements for discharge water quality will
be taken into consideration when determining dosing procedures.
Disposal to land will require erosion protection, runoff controls and sediment interception to minimise
impacts on the receiving environment. Refer to Marine Crossing – Gas Transmission Pipeline: Stormwater
Management and Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for more details.
Control measures will be used to maintain stable landforms. The energy dissipation technique can be
selected with reference to section 8.06 of Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (Natural Resources and
Water, 2007). Suggested energy dissipation techniques could include a Rock Pad, Rock Mattress or Riprap
Basin (See Figure 7).
Discharge locations and downstream land and water bodies will be visually inspected for signs of erosion or
increased turbidity on a daily basis. Groundwater and surface water quality sampling will be carried out
during discharge activities to monitor for adverse changes to the environment. Refer to section 4.1.
Additional treatment methods in the event that performance criteria are not met
Alternative disposal options if the preferred method is considered to be causing environmental harm
A reduction of discharge rates if the discharge is considered to be causing environmental harm
Addition of further erosion protection, runoff controls and sediment interception measures if adverse
changes are observed at or downstream of the controlled discharge location
Reviewing and updating the surface water quality sampling requirements upon the advice of the Site
Environmental Officer, such as in the case where the initial round of sampling indicates that there may
be an issue with the hydrotest discharge water quality
Addition of a comprehensive suite of monitoring at an appropriate frequency if discharge, groundwater
or surface water quality adversely varies significantly compared to pre-dishcharge conditions
Additional assessment of the causes of water quality deterioration if long term water quality is
considered to have degraded for reasons directly attributable to discharge activities. This may include
assessment of soil and groundwater quality, and development of a suitable management strategy
If any non-compliance or adverse environmental effects are observed, the operator will notify the Client
immediately and include suggestions for additional mitigation and management measures.
BOM. (2012). Climate Data Online. Retrieved June 1, 2012, from Bureau of Meteorology:
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/index.shtml
Department of Environment and Conservation. (2011). Treatment and Management of Soils and Water in
Acid Sulfate Soil Landscapes. Department of Environment and Conservation.
Department of Environment and Resource Management. (2009). Queensland Water Quality Guidelines
2009 Version 3. Queensland Government.
Department of Environment and Resource Management. (2010). State Planning Policy 4/10 Healthy
Waters. State of Queensland.
IECA. (2008). Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control - for building and construction sites. Picton, NSW:
International Erosion Control Association (Australasia).
Natural Resources and Water. (2007). Queensland Urban Drainage Manual Volume 1 Second Edition.
Brisbane: Queensland Government.
OSPAR Commission. (2012, May 21). Offshore Chemicals. Retrieved May 21, 2012, from OSPAR
Commission:
http://www.ospar.org/content/content.asp?menu=00120000000058_000000_000000
Swan River Trust. (2001). Policy SRT/DE6 Dewatering. Swan River Trust.