THE NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating a release of about 500 litres of waste water which entered a diversion drain at Santos’ Narrabri gas field this week.
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An EPA spokesman said the water entered the drain during transfer from a test CSG well to a holding pond, but the drain was immediately blocked to prevent it from leaving the site.
It was captured and returned to the pond.
Santos yesterday confirmed a small amount of salty water – about two bathtubs – was released to ground on Tuesday at its Bibblewindi operations in the Pilliga.
A spokesman said the company reported the spill to the Office of Coal Seam Gas (OCSG) and an incident report was being prepared.
He said there was no impact to any nearby water source and no risk to the environment.
Staff from the OCSG visited the site within 24 hours of the incident, while EPA staff arrived in the Pilliga yesterday.
The EPA is undertaking further investigations into the matter.