Carbon site captures international interest
HARVEY's carbon capture and storage drilling site was in the international spotlight on February 6 when a Chinese delegation and representatives from industry, research institutions and State and Federal governments paid a visit.
Department of Mines and Petroleum coordinator of carbon strategy Dominique Van Gent said emission reduction was a high priority for China and the South West Hub project had captured their interest.
"The timing of the delegation's arrival was fortunate and the visitors from China were able to see the extraction of the core which consisted of sandstone and shale," Mr Van Gent said.
"The delegation was part of the eighth Australia-China Joint Coordination Group on Low Emissions Technology, and the visit to the National Geosequestration Laboratory in Bentley and the drilling site in Harvey was an example of the ongoing cooperation between the two countries to develop carbon capture and storage."
Mr Van Gent said he visited China in 2012 and Geoscience Australia was working with China on storage activities.
Department contractors are drilling three stratigraphic wells to collect rock and water samples and take electronic measurements from the underground in the Harvey shire.
Samples and data collected from the three-well drilling program will be used by independent research bodies, such as CSIRO, to inform the department's ongoing investigation work into carbon storage.
Mr Van Gent said the South West Hub CCS feasibility project brought an economic boost to the Harvey and Waroona areas, which scientists had identified as a potential location for the geological storage of man-made carbon dioxide.
"The long-term South West Hub project is Australia's leading onshore investigation into geological storage," he said.
"Harvey benefits from the project through the drilling crews and visitors' accommodation as well as the use of local services and purchasing of local goods."
The Chinese group also had the opportunity to sample some of Harvey's famous produce, including Harvey Fresh orange juice.
