Drilling starts at Putty, bore water testing
22 Aug 11
Dart Energy started to drill a core hole on Friday 19 August to explore for coal seam gas at 8646 Putty Road. By Saturday afternoon they had drilled down to approximately 100m and started to set the blowout prevention equipment on the hole. This is expected to be completed today. Malcolm Bocking, Dart's principle geologist, said today that ‘things are going to plan at this time. It is expected to be a 3-4 week operation but it is difficult to predict the timing'.
‘Dart Energy is testing a bore on the property and at the Grey Gum Café,' said Malcolm. ‘Samples are taken over a couple of weeks.' When asked if the recent wet weather had been a problem he said ‘they are a bit more safety conscious in the wet'.
The PCA CSG Subcommittee has received a copy of a letter written by another mining company to landholders near an exploration core hole about their appointment of an independent specialist to test their bore water. As Dart has not done this property owners are advised to take samples of water from their bores with a witness, preferably a Justice of the Peace, as soon as possible. Put the sample in a glass jar and seal and date for testing in the future. Samples should also be taken every couple of weeks until drilling ceases.