VGP Technical Report 24 - Groundwater sample collection and analytical methods for hydrochemical and dissolved gas analyses Onshore Gippsland Basin
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Product description:About the Victorian Gas Program: The Victorian Gas Program (VGP) is a comprehensive science-led program, incorporating geoscientific and environmental research to assess the risks, benefits and impacts of potential onshore conventional gas exploration and production. The program is also investigating the potential for further discoveries of onshore conventional and offshore gas in the Otway and Gippsland geological basins and assessing the feasibility of additional onshore underground gas storage in depleted reservoirs around the Port Campbell area. The VGP includes an extensive, proactive and phased community and stakeholder engagement program, through which the results of the scientific studies are being communicated. Executive summary: A regional assessment of groundwater chemistry, environmental isotopes, dissolved gas, and hydrocarbon occurrence has been conducted across the Gippsland Basin as part of the Victorian Gas Program (VGP). These baseline groundwater measurements were acquired from State Government groundwater bores using low-flow sampling techniques. This baseline study is the most complete deep groundwater chemistry dataset collected in the Gippsland Basin by the Victorian Government to date, building on existing data and providing a baseline measure of groundwater conditions. As part of the VGP environmental studies program, Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV) hydrogeologists conducted baseline characterisation studies of the groundwater and atmosphere in the Gippsland Basin to determine current environmental conditions. This groundwater chemistry dataset may support regulation of the sector by equipping government with a baseline it can use to monitor and report on any industry impacts. Groundwater is water that is held underground in porous geological formations. Groundwater is more heavily relied upon than surface water in many parts of the world and is used as the main source of drinking water in many places in Australia. Thus, it is important to understand how water enters an aquifer, moves through water-bearing rock, and how long it resides underground so it can be protected from contamination and overuse. Hydrogeologists use geochemical methods to characterise groundwater quality and understand local and regional groundwater processes (such as where the water has come from and how long ago). Results for this project may be used by groundwater users, industry, water suppliers and regulators. This report presents detailed field sampling and laboratory analysis methods for all groundwater samples collected in the Gippsland Basin. This includes field stabilisation data, which ensured water representative of the aquifer was being sampled rather than stagnant water from the bore column. The groundwater sampling equipment and methods used here are common to many groundwater geochemical studies conducted in Australia and internationally. In total, 22 samples were collected across the Gippsland Basin covering a depth range of 15 m to 1100 m. All samples were collected from groundwater bores that are part of the Victorian Government State Observation Bore Network (SOBN). All groundwater samples were analysed for 144 analytes. A regional baseline of the groundwater chemistry (Iverach et al., 2020) and detailed geochemical interpretations (Iverach et al. in prep.) are presented in separate technical reports. Bibliographic reference: Iverach, C.P., Bold, T.A., O’Neill, C. & Hocking, M., 2020. Groundwater sample collection and analytical methods for hydrochemical and dissolved gas analyses Onshore Gippsland Basin, Victoria. Victorian Gas Program Technical Report 24. Geological Survey of Victoria. Download: The downloadable version of this report is supplied in PDF format (12.7 MB) & accessible version (DOCX 8 MB). Related products:
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