Ground and surface waters

The research supports water resource planning and management to take place according to the Integrated Water Resource Management framework promoted by the Global Water partnership. GISERA’s research aims to improve the understanding of regional ground and surface water flows and the management of water resource impacts. Read more about our water research below.

Research projects

Understanding connectivity between coal seams and aquifers

Integrating geochemical modelling and airborne geophysical surveys to refine the understanding of connectivity between coal seams and overlying aquifers

Improved approaches to long-term monitoring of decommissioned wells

Assessing practices and monitoring for onshore gas well decommissioning in the NT

Groundwater baseline study of the Canning Basin, WA

Exploring and characterising groundwater systems in Western Australia

Microbial degradation of chemicals in aquifers of the Limestone Coast, SA

Assessing the potential of chemical degradation by microbes in South Australian aquifers

Decision support framework for groundwater development scenarios

A research-based framework for managing future groundwater use in south east South Australia

Onshore gas water lifecycle management options framework

Managing wastewater sustainably in the Northern Territory

Fate of hydraulic fracturing fluids and geogenic hydrocarbons

Understanding the lifecycle of hydraulic fracturing and geogenic chemicals in surface facilities and the subsurface

Microbial degradation of chemicals used in coal seam gas activities

Understanding microbial communities and their ability to degrade prospective chemicals used in coal seam gas activities

Groundwater modelling and predictive analysis

Groundwater modelling and predictive analyses to inform the baseline assessment, monitoring and management of coal seam gas impacts to the Great Artesian Basin and alluvial aquifers in the Namoi subregion

Assessment of faults as potential connectivity pathways

Understanding connectivity and pathways for groundwater systems

Cooper Creek flood modelling scenarios

Modelling scenarios, based on future climate and gas industry activities, developed through stakeholder engagement workshops

Examination of stygofauna ecosystems of the Beetaloo Sub-basin

An in-depth examination of stygofauna ecosystems of the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Northern Territory

Review of beneficial reuse and end-use options for brine from the Narrabri region

This project reviews options for the beneficial reuse and end-use of brine in the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) region of New South Wales

Environmental baseline characterisation of the springs in Hot Springs Valley, NT

Improving our understanding of the springs at Hot Spring Valley in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Sub-basin

Baseline groundwater and seismicity, northern Perth Basin

Improving our understanding of seismic activity and groundwater in the northern Perth Basin in Western Australia

Beneficial reuse and disposal options for brine in Queensland

This CSIRO research project will review beneficial reuse and disposal options for brine produced from coal seam gas (CSG) operations in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins

Sources and mobility of gas in formations below the Walloon Coal Measures

Investigating the potential impacts of coal seam gas (CSG) production in the Surat Basin in southeast Queensland on important water supply aquifers that underlie the target coal seams in the Walloon Coal Measures

Microbial activity in the subsurface

Understanding controls and constraints of potential microbially influenced corrosion in onshore gas wells in the Surat and Bowen basins, Queensland

Air, water and soil impacts of hydraulic fracturing, Phase 1

Monitoring environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing in Queensland’s Surat Basin

Re-injection of coal seam gas water

Managing groundwater re-injection

Geochemical baseline monitoring

Monitoring changes in groundwater using baseline data

High-performance groundwater modelling

Determining the feasibility of large-scale groundwater re-injection

Constraining water flows in the Surat

Modelling groundwater flow rates and volumes in the Surat Basin, Queensland

Impacts of CSG depressurisation on the Great Artesian Basin flux

Understanding Great Artesian Basin (GAB) groundwater flow

Hydrocarbons in groundwater, Surat and Bowen Basins

Investigating possible geogenic and gas industry hydrocarbons in groundwater

Spatial design of groundwater monitoring networks, Narrabri

Improved design of bore networks in the Narrabri Gas Project area, New South Wales

Improving the representation of the impact of CSG in groundwater models

Better models for assessing potential groundwater impacts from CSG

Geochemical response to re-injection

Assessing reactions of aquifers to CSG water re-injection

Groundwater contamination risk assessment

Assessing the risk of the contamination of surface and ground waters

Air, water and soil impacts of hydraulic fracturing, Phase 2

Intensive studies of potential environmental impacts from hydraulic fracturing

Water contamination: causes, pathways and risks

Investigating the potential for groundwater contamination

Groundwater balance in gas development regions of SA

Better management of groundwater in the Otway Basin, South Australia, using modelling

Microbial degradation of onshore gas-related chemical compounds

Investigating microbial degradation of gas industry chemicals in soils and aquifers in SA

Baseline monitoring of groundwater properties in the Beetaloo Sub-basin

Understanding groundwater geochemistry and flow in the Northern Territory

Monitoring and microbial degradation of gas activity chemicals, NT

Understanding microbial degradation of shale gas industry chemicals and fluids in the Northern Territory

Characterisation of stygofauna and microbial assemblages in the NT

Characterising groundwater ecosystems of the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Northern Territory