Coal Seam Gas Development Research Articles

Investigating the potential human health impacts of coal seam gas development at a study site in the Surat Basin in southern Queensland

This paper reports on an ongoing study of the potential human health impacts of coal seam gas (CSG) development at a study site in the Surat Basin in Queensland. This study follows the methodology established in GISERA’s human health effects of CSG activity study design project and focuses on potential physical (dust, noise, light) and chemical stressors. The study will focus on an area bounded by the Warrego Highway to north, between Chinchilla and Miles, extending south towards Tara. This area contains a diverse range of CSG activities involving two operators, over 2300 wells, 70 water storage ponds, four water treatment plants and over 20 gas treatment or compression stations. The area has a range of land uses with low to moderate population densities. These activities have been characterised to determine the physical and chemical stressors present and an exposure pathway assessment is being conducted to determine whether any of the stressors identified have a complete exposure pathway to humans. This assessment considers controls and other strategies already in place to mitigate and alleviate the impacts of stressors. The project involves a high degree of engagement with stakeholders, including the local community, industry and government, with the aim of ensuring the research is independent and trustworthy. The results of this research will assist government and industry in the regulation and conduct of CSG activities by providing an evidence base on potential health impacts, allowing the development of risk mitigation actions to reduce the potential for human health impacts, should any be identified.

Regional-scale modelling and predictive uncertainty analysis of cumulative groundwater impacts from coal seam gas and coal mining developments

The geological basins in Australia across which the hydrogeological Great Artesian Basin (GAB) exists, hold significant coal and coal seam gas (CSG) resources. Resource development from deep sedimentary basins often involves the risk of impacting groundwater resources. Predictive analysis of potential impacts on water resources are important for the risk analysis of resource development projects. A regional-scale numerical groundwater model was developed to probabilistically assess potential groundwater impacts due to additional coal resource development from a deep sedimentary basin underlying the GAB. The probabilistic simulation considered the plausible variability of the model parameters and accounted for uncertainties. Predictive uncertainty analysis was undertaken using a rejection sampling method after screening the model runs using predefined objective functions to evaluate the performance of the model runs with respect to historical observations. The predictive simulations were undertaken using 2,618 model runs to obtain maximum head drawdown caused by CSG and coal mining developments. The results showed that the water-table drawdown from an individual coal mining development becomes insignificant (maximum difference in drawdown <0.2 m) beyond 5 km. In general, less water-table drawdown was produced near the CSG development site but small amounts of drawdown spread further from it. Separation of surficial aquifers from deeper coal formations, as generally found in the GAB, limits the propagation of CSG-induced drawdown into the aquifers closer to the surface. While this study was specifically done for the Namoi region, similar outcomes could be expected in the broader GAB and other basins where equivalent hydrogeological conditions exist.

Field investigation of potential terrestrial groundwater-dependent ecosystems within Australia’s Great Artesian Basin

Quantitative field methods were used to refine eco-hydrogeological conceptual models of terrestrial groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), Queensland, Australia. There are few studies which report on the effectiveness of published methods to ground truth the occurrence of assumed GDEs, particularly in areas subject to coal seam gas development. Using a combination of methods, a field investigation was completed at four sites in vegetation communities dominated by river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in areas overlying the GAB. Multiple lines of evidence determined the predominant source of water utilised by large trees at each locality to assess if the terrestrial ecosystems were dependent on the presence of groundwater. Methods included soil coring to observe tree rooting depth and underlying hydrogeological conditions, matching of soil moisture with leaf water potential, and analysis of naturally occurring stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen found in tree xylem, soil moisture and groundwater. Results indicate that despite study locations being conceptually mapped as GDEs, trees located within at least three of the four assessed sites were predominantly utilising shallow sources of soil moisture located above the regional water-table aquifer. Also, rooting depths of targeted tree species were consistently much shallower (maximum depth 7.6 mbgl) than what is commonly reported in literature (12–22.6 mbgl). The findings highlight the importance of ground-truthing to refine the eco-hydrogeological conceptual models of GDEs using a combination of methods to create a holistic understanding of water sources for terrestrial vegetation communities in areas vulnerable to groundwater abstraction.

Energy solution or future pollution? Applying an energy justice perspective to coal seam gas in New South Wales

ABSTRACTThe emergence of an unconventional extractive industry of coal seam gas (CSG) in New South Wales, Australia has caused a range of social tensions. Although the industry has generally received strong support from state-level governments across Australia, an eclectic social movement has arisen in opposition. Critical questions of justice have emerged in these debates about CSG, particularly about the ‘winners' and ‘losers' that would emerge should large-scale CSG extraction be introduced into New South Wales. However, the question of justice in relation to CSG extraction is not altogether so simple. Actors on all sides of CSG development have mobilised the language of justice in their claims about this energy source in sophisticated ways and at different scales. In this paper, we draw upon ‘energy justice’ scholarship to tease out different energy justice dimensions of the CSG debate in New South Wales. We show how there are significant issues that will likely intensify regarding the recognition of different forms of knowledge, the access citizens have to forms of decision-making, and the risks that span geographic and temporal scales. We argue that it is vital to appreciate the significant and interrelated injustices faced by those challenging the industry.

Challenges in sustainably managing groundwater in the Australian Great Artesian Basin: lessons from current and historic legislative regimes

In certain areas, key aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), Australia, are experiencing continued declining water-level trends. This has been accompanied by heated conflicts between water users and a lack of trust in governance arrangements, particularly since the introduction of coal-seam gas development. These outcomes suggest current and historic unsustainable groundwater extraction within the GAB. An analysis of the current governance framework using Ostrom’s (1990) design principles for common pool resources reveals several management challenges which appear to create incentives for individualistic behaviours. Historic legislative approaches provide additional insight into key factors that have influenced decision-making. This research has implications for the future management of the GAB. Acknowledging these current and historic challenges will facilitate changing attitudes and behaviours so as to elevate the communal status of the resource and progress towards sustainable management of the basin. Ostrom E (1990) Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. Cambridge University Press, UK.

Coal seam gas: a space‐based perspective

AbstractCoal seam gas and other unconventional gas industries have often struggled to develop a social licence to operate in surrounding communities, frequently resulting in the emergence of broad opposition coalitions and legal challenges. In this article, the authors explore the relational aspects of coal seam gas's space‐based setting with reference to Keith Halfacree's three‐fold model of rural space. Applying this model to coal seam gas development in New South Wales' Hunter Valley, we argue that it is only by understanding the so‐called total space that efforts can be undertaken to promote the more inclusive stakeholder collaboration, which is a prerequisite for achieving shared value for industry and society.

Multi-tracer and hydrogeophysical investigation of the hydraulic connectivity between coal seam gas formations, shallow groundwater and stream network in a faulted sedimentary basin

Characterization of geological fault networks in sedimentary basins targeted for coal seam gas development typically use deep-penetrating seismic data. Such methods can reveal the presence of numerous fault zones at depths greater than 100 m but not necessarily show if these extend to the surface or provide a significant degree of hydraulic connectivity between deep and shallower geological formations. Our combined multi-tracer and hydrogeophysical study used transient electromagnetic surveys to image the subsurface in a sedimentary coal seam gas basin (Gloucester Basin, NSW, Australia) and indicated that deep faults (greater than 200 m) from seismic analysis may extend to within metres of the ground surface. Analysis of environmental tracers in surface water and groundwater samples near fault traces showed the presence of hotspots of deeper groundwater from the coal seams discharging into the stream network via the alluvial aquifer. The isotopic composition of methane was extremely variable in groundwater (δ13C-CH4 from –81.6 to –29.2‰ V-PDB) and surface water (δ 13C-CH4 from –56.0 to –19.9‰ V-PDB), suggesting several sources of methane being recycled in the connected alluvial aquifer and stream network. A 4He hotspot (1.67 × 10−6 cm3 STP g−1) in the alluvial aquifer close to a fault line showed high methane (463 µg L−1) with a thermogenic signature (δ 13C-CH4 of −62.4‰ and δ2H-CH4 of −174.7‰). The Gloucester Basin, which has experienced multiple episodes of complex restructuring, displays high dilation tendency of fractures close to fault damage zones with fracture orientations parallel to the orientation of maximum horizontal stress. As a result, there is increased permeability for wells close to the fault damage zone and with increasing depth. These findings resulted in a robust hydrogeological conceptual model of a faulted basin, which can be used in a monitoring and modelling framework for improved evaluation of risk associated with unconventional gas developments.

Water data and the legitimacy deficit: a regulatory review and nationwide survey of challenges considering cumulative environmental effects of coal and coal seam gas developments

ABSTRACTEnvironmental water management in relation to groundwater occurs mainly by controlling groundwater withdrawals under water and environmental assessments and approvals, rather than by actively managing groundwater rights for environmental purposes. Despite apparently close regulation of coal mining and coal seam gas developments, significant public concerns remain regarding the assessment and approval processes that seek to control their cumulative effects on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. This paper analyses a key element of concern: regulatory aspects of water data relevant to assessments and approvals. It outlines a three-part framework for considering requirements for water information in the regulatory context. It then analyses Australian federal legal requirements in relation to water information and data from a new nationwide, exploratory survey of groundwater professionals. Both suggest improved legal measures are required to govern the nature of groundwater data that is produced by governments and proponents, and how and when it is produced.

Synergies in the role of the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment and the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on coal seam gas and large coal mining development in environmental assessments

The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC) is a statutory committee that provides scientific advice to Australian governments on the impacts that each coal seam gas (CSG) and large coal mining development may have on water resources. In this context, the IESC consider all aspects of a water resource, including water, organisms and ecosystems that contribute to or rely on them. The Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) is an independent statutory entity responsible for undertaking cumulative impact assessments from CSG and other petroleum production in Queensland, including the Surat Cumulative Management Area (CMA). OGIA also establishes impact management arrangements and identifies responsible tenure holders to implement specific aspects of those arrangements. Neither the IESC nor OGIA are regulators. Due to their respective functions both entities have different roles and interaction with CSG development in the Surat CMA. The IESC and OGIA engage regularly to ensure a shared understanding of knowledge, research and management. This paper provides an overview of key synergies between the roles and functions of the IESC and OGIA and considerations for proponents when using OGIA assessment in their environmental assessments that are referred to IESC for advice.

Australia's unconventional future: where next?

Eastern Australia is now reliant on coal-seam gas (CSG) for its domestic gas supply; in 2018, it accounted for two-thirds of total eastern coast gas production. Australia has seen a rapid transition from relying on ‘conventional’ resources to relying on ‘unconventional’ gas supply. As legacy conventional supply sources mature and decline, exploration has been insufficient to keep up with market demand. This has created the opportunity for Australia’s vast CSG resources to fill the gap. But the development of CSG has been neither easy nor straightforward. And the costly requirement to drill hundreds, if not thousands, of wells in every single development has driven up the cost of supply. Most CSG reserves will be produced for the Pacific Basin LNG market via the three LNG projects on the east coast of Queensland. However, it is the resources beyond these LNG projects that will need to be developed, so as to ensure future supply to the east coast gas market. It is these other resources, both CSG and shale, that we evaluated to gain a picture of future gas supplies and costs. Our indicative economics showed that alternative CSG resources and Beetaloo shale both have high well-head break-even costs. In addition, the infrastructure required to get them to market will be expensive. The high costs, coupled with the demand from the LNG plants of Gladstone leads us to conclude that eastern-coast gas prices are likely to remain closely linked to global LNG prices for the foreseeable future.

Managing well integrity in Queensland

A significant increase in activity in the Queensland petroleum industry began around 2005 with the rapid growth of coal seam gas developments. The integrity of these drilled wells is paramount to the continued safe operation of the Queensland petroleum industry, ensuring no detrimental effect to safety, health and environment. The Queensland Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate (PGI) is responsible for monitoring industry compliance with well integrity management requirements under the regulatory framework. This is achieved through three proactive actions (engagement, inspections, audits) and three reactive actions (response to enquiries, complaints, incidents). This paper focuses on the well inspections and audits conducted by the PGI. The PGI conducts an annual program of well inspections as part of its risk-based compliance program. These inspections are in addition to the inspections performed by industry. Although recent inspections have found well integrity-related deficiencies requiring rectification, no major or systemic problems have been identified. In fact, industry generally appears to be proactively addressing any deficiencies they find through their own well integrity management processes. The PGI is in the process of ensuring a renewed focus on well integrity during its own well inspections through structured and standardised inspections that have clear aims. This is part of a continuous improvement process and is a risk-based decision informed by the data that have been gathered. This will help ensure the program is not simply focused on quantity of inspections, but also on outcomes and quality. To complement the well inspection program, several audits have been conducted over the past 4–5 years. As part of this, in the first quarter of 2019, the PGI began conducting audits of the well integrity management systems (WIMS) of the four major coal seam gas producers. The results of this audit show improvement in both WIMS documentation and the implementation of those systems. Future PGI work in this area includes continuing with the recent audit programs, reviewing inspection processes and a plan to increase focus on plug and abandoned wells over the next 18 months.

Listening in polarised controversies: a study of listening practices in the public sphere

Listening is an important feature of policy making and democratic politics. Yet in an era of increased polarisation the willingness and capacity of citizens to listen to each other, especially those they disagree with, is under strain. Drawing insights from a divisive community conflict over proposed coal seam gas development in regional Australia, this article examines how citizens listen to each other in a polarised controversy. The analysis identifies four different listening practices that citizens enact in a polarised public sphere, including (1) enclave listening between like-minded citizens; (2) alliance listening across different enclaves; (3) adversarial listening between citizens on opposing sides of the debate to monitor opponents; and (4) transformative listening where citizens listen selectively to other community members with the intention of changing their views. The article argues that all four listening practices fulfil important democratic functions in polarised debates such as enhancing the connective, reflective and communicative capacity of the public sphere. Notwithstanding these democratic contributions, under polarised conditions participatory interventions may be required to enhance the prospects of listening across difference.

Quantifying Gas Content in Coals Using Resonance Borehole Magnetic

Evaluating gas content in coals has significant commercial and operational importance. In coal seam gas exploration and development, gas contained in coal seams is the resource of interest. In coal mining, quantifying gas content and evaluating the effectiveness of degassing is essential to safe mining operations. Traditional approaches to saturation evaluation in conventional oil and gas reservoirs rely on relationships between resistivity and water saturation. These relationships are challenging to apply in coals due to complexities in their pore systems and gas trapping mechanisms. Therefore, geophysical log-based methods are not commonly employed for saturation evaluation, and core canister desorption measurements are the standard approach for gas content evaluation. Desorption measurements present their own challenge due to the unknown and variable volume of gas lost during core recovery, so an in-situ measurement of gas content is desirable. Advanced magnetic resonance measurements are one method of resistivity-independent saturation evaluation that have been employed in the oil and gas industry for the past approximately fifteen years. However, previous approaches to these types of measurements have focused on the evaluation of conventional reservoirs and hence free gas and oil volumes, and have lacked sensitivity to quantify adsorbed gas, which has a different magnetic resonance response. A novel magnetic resonance acquisition scheme has been developed that provides sensitivity to both adsorbed and free gas, as well as water, allowing for the complete evaluation of fluid content in coal seams. This measurement has been employed in evaluating coal gas content for mining optimisation with encouraging results.

Emulator-enabled approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) and uncertainty analysis for computationally expensive groundwater models

Bayesian inference provides a mathematically elegant and robust approach to constrain numerical model predictions with system knowledge and observations. Technical challenges, such as evaluating a large number of models with long runtimes, have restricted the application of Bayesian inference to groundwater modeling. To overcome such technical challenges, we use Gaussian process emulators to replace a transient regional groundwater MODFLOW model for computing objective functions during model constraining. The regional model is designed to assess the potential impact of a proposed coal seam gas (CSG) development on groundwater levels in the Richmond River catchment, Clarence-Moreton Basin, Australia. The emulators were trained using 4000 snapshots derived from the MODFLOW model and subsequently used to replace the MODFLOW model in an Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) scheme. ABC was deemed the more appropriate choice as it relaxes the need to derive an explicit likelihood function that the formal Bayesian analysis requires. The study demonstrated the flexibility of the Gaussian process emulators, which can accurately reproduce the original model behavior at a fraction of the computational cost (from hours to seconds). The gain in computational efficiency using the proposed approach allows the global calibration and uncertainty algorithms to become more feasible for computationally demanding groundwater models. Based on the ABC analysis, the probability for the simulated CSG development causing a water table change of more than 0.2 m was less than 5%. In addition to a probabilistic estimate of the prediction, an added value of emulator-assisted ABC inference is providing information on the extent to which observations can constrain parameters and predictions, as well as the flexibility to include various quantitative and qualitative parameter constraining information.

Energy, Anthropology and Ethnography: On the Challenges of Studying Unconventional Gas Developments in Australia

Over the last decade, unconventional coal seam gas (CSG) reserves in the Australian State of Queensland have been rapidly developed and include controversial extraction techniques such as hydraulic fracturing ('fracking'). Large-scale CSG projects primarily supply an international liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. This has integrated regions of CSG extraction into global energy networks and wider societal debates about envisioned energy futures and climate change. In this article, we discuss how ethnographic research that aims to understand CSG or other energy developments holistically prompts ethnographers to rethink their 'field sites' and forces us to pay attention to global interconnections, methods, positionality, ethics, and the politics of representation. We explore these themes by first outlining some of the key developments in anthropology and ethnographic research over the past decades. This outline provides the groundwork for a discussion of the challenges arising during our own multi-sited ethnographic research in Queensland's Western Downs region. Our aim here is to spark debate about the shape of ethnographic energy research. With ethnographic methods increasingly used in social research, this discussion should be of broader interdisciplinary benefit. We conclude by highlighting the need for ethnographic reflexivity and contemplate the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration to address these questions.

Probabilistic assessment of the impact of coal seam gas development on groundwater: Surat Basin, Australia

Modelling cumulative impacts of basin-scale coal seam gas (CSG) extraction is challenging due to the long time frames and spatial extent over which impacts occur combined with the need to consider local-scale processes. The computational burden of such models limits the ability to undertake calibration and sensitivity and uncertainty analyses. A framework is presented that integrates recently developed methods and tools to address the computational burdens of an assessment of drawdown impacts associated with rapid CSG development in the Surat Basin, Australia. The null space Monte Carlo method combined with singular value decomposition (SVD)-assisted regularisation was used to analyse the uncertainty of simulated drawdown impacts. The study also describes how the computational burden of assessing local-scale impacts was mitigated by adopting a novel combination of a nested modelling framework which incorporated a model emulator of drawdown in dual-phase flow conditions, and a methodology for representing local faulting. This combination provides a mechanism to support more reliable estimates of regional CSG-related drawdown predictions. The study indicates that uncertainties associated with boundary conditions are reduced significantly when expressing differences between scenarios. The results are analysed and distilled to enable the easy identification of areas where the simulated maximum drawdown impacts could exceed trigger points associated with legislative ‘make good’ requirements; trigger points require that either an adjustment in the development scheme or other measures are implemented to remediate the impact. This report contributes to the currently small body of work that describes modelling and uncertainty analyses of CSG extraction impacts on groundwater.

High-pressure X-ray imaging to interpret coal permeability

Coal seam gas (CSG) is an unconventional resource drawing attention globally and is considered to play a crucial role in the future natural gas market. In CSG reservoirs, the characterisation of fracture aperture sizes is critical since coal permeability and wellbore performance are highly dependent on this parameter. To optimise gas recovery and predict gas production rate, it is important to analyse reservoir properties at in situ conditions. By using a high-pressure flow cell and X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) imaging, we visualise how the internal structure of coal changes under prevailing reservoir conditions. Important differences in the size of fractures can be seen from images of the coal sample obtained at different pressure. As anticipated, aperture size was found to decrease with increasing confining stress from atmospheric to reservoir pressures and it was more sensitive to the change of initial pressure. Similar conclusions were drawn for both gas and Klinkenberg-corrected permeability using helium and methane gases. In the permeability experiments, methane gas is used to mimick in situ conditions whereas helium is used for comparison as a non-adsorbing gas. There was less change in fracture aperture size if the ends of a coal cleat are sealed by minerals. We successfully applied micro-CT imaging on coal samples under high confining stress. The coal sample studied has a relatively large diameter compared to the common core sizes used for high-pressure imaging. Overall, this paper demonstrates a quantitative analysis of coal permeability at reservoir conditions, which provides a better understanding of deformation and further insights into enhanced CSG exploration and development techniques.

Probabilistic modelling and uncertainty analysis of flux and water balance changes in a regional aquifer system due to coal seam gas development

Large scale development of coal seam gas (CSG) is occurring in many sedimentary basins around the world including Australia, where commercial production of CSG has started in the Surat and Bowen basins. CSG development often involves extraction of large volumes of water that results in depressurising aquifers that overlie and/or underlie the coal seams thus perturbing their flow regimes. This can potentially impact regional aquifer systems that are used for many purposes such as irrigation, and stock and domestic water. In this study, we adopt a probabilistic approach to quantify the depressurisation of the Gunnedah coal seams and how this impacts fluxes to, and from the overlying Great Artesian Basin (GAB) Pilliga Sandstone aquifer. The proposed method is suitable when effects of a new resource development activity on the regional groundwater balance needs to be assessed and account for large scale uncertainties in the groundwater flow system and proposed activity.The results indicated that the extraction of water and gas from the coal seam could potentially induce additional fluxes from the Pilliga Sandstone to the deeper formations due to lowering pressure heads in the coal seams. The median value of the rise in the maximum flux from the Pilliga Sandstone to the deeper formations is estimated to be 85ML/year, which is considered insignificant as it forms only about 0.29% of the Long Term Annual Average Extraction Limit of 30GL/year from the groundwater management area.The probabilistic simulation of the water balance components indicates only small changes being induced by CSG development that influence interactions of the Pilliga Sandstone with the overlying and underlying formations and with the surface water courses. The current analyses that quantified the potential maximum impacts of resource developments and how they influences the regional water balance, would greatly underpin future management decisions.

Examination of Child and Adolescent Hospital Admission Rates in Queensland, Australia, 1995\u20132011: A Comparison of Coal Seam Gas, Coal Mining, and Rural Areas

Objectives At present, coal seam gas (CSG) is the most common form of unconventional natural gas development occurring in Australia. Few studies have been conducted to explore the potential health impacts of CSG development on children and adolescents. This analysis presents age-specific hospitalisation rates for a child and adolescent cohort in three study areas in Queensland. Methods Three geographic areas were selected: a CSG area, a coal mining area, and a rural area with no mining activity. Changes in area-specific hospital admissions were investigated over the period 1995–2011 in a series of negative binomial regression analyses for 19 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) chapters, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Results The strongest associations were found for respiratory diseases in 0–4 year olds (7% increase [95% CI 4%, 11%] and 6% increase [95% CI 2%, 10%] in the CSG area relative to the coal mining and rural areas, respectively) and 10–14 year olds (9% increase [95% CI 1%, 18%] and 11% increase [95% CI 1%, 21%] in the CSG area compared to the coal mining and rural areas, respectively). The largest effect size was for blood/immune diseases in 5–9 year olds in the CSG area (467% increase [95% CI 139%, 1244%]) compared to the rural area with no mining activity. Conclusions for Practice Higher rates of hospitalisation existed in the CSG area for certain ICD chapters and paediatric age groups, suggesting potential age-specific health impacts. This study provides insights on associations that should be explored further in terms of child and adolescent health.

Update of the information guidelines to improve scientific information provided to the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development

The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC) provides scientific advice to decision makers on the impact that coal resource development may have on Australia’s water resources. In particular, advice is provided on development proposals that have been submitted to the Australian Government and relevant state governments in the form of environmental impact statements (EISs). The Information Guidelines developed by the IESC outline the information considered necessary to enable the IESC to provide robust scientific advice to government regulators on the water-related impacts of coal resource development proposals. Proponents preparing EISs are strongly encouraged to consult the Information Guidelines before developing and submitting a proposal. The Information Guidelines have been updated for the first time since 2015 and will be presented. The update includes important and more detailed information about what types and the level of information that should be included in EISs. In addition a series of ‘explanatory notes’ have been developed which provide practical examples of how information should be presented in an EIS. The first two explanatory notes relate to uncertainty analysis in numerical groundwater modelling and how to undertake comprehensive assessments and manage impacts to groundwater dependent ecosystems. Two additional explanatory notes will be released for use later in 2018. The updated Information Guidelines are a continuing step towards improving the robustness of information provided to the IESC.