A first for onshore petroleum inspectors, surveillance from the skies
With recent rainfall causing access restrictions to remote onshore petroleum well sites, inspectors from Petroleum Operations and Weeds Management Branch of the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security took to the skies to conduct their first wet season surveillance exercise across the Beetaloo Sub-basin, via helicopter.
Eight well sites of 4 interest holders were inspected from above. Of interest to inspectors was the effectiveness of wet season controls; containment of wastewater storages, freeboard levels, surface water management and erosion and sediment controls in place, to ensure compliance with commitments made by interest holders in their approved Environmental Management Plans. This exercise, to confirm interest holder reporting during the wet season, was an alternative approach that would otherwise be constrained by limited access and intermittent satellite imagery.
