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Health, safety and environment

In New Zealand, we have world-class environmental laws. Most aspects of fracking are subject to Resource Management Act 1991 consents on land and within the marine and coastal area out to the 22km limit. Environmental legislation is in development for the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (EEZ) to cover the gap out to the 370km limit (an initiative the NZ resource sector supports). That said, fracking is unlikely to be carried out within the EEZ because the costs of transporting materials increase with distance from land. Nonetheless, such activities are currently regulated under the Continental Shelf Act 1964, and the Maritime Transport Act 1994.   

Other matters are covered in legislation such as the Health and Safety in Employment Act 2002, and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.

All fluids and materials moving up and down the well are isolated from the surrounding rock by the steel/cement casings of the well, in many cases, multiple casings. Ultrasound equipment is used to measure the integrity of the well. Fracking is only carried out if the well is 100% sealed. In this way, fluids are prevented from entering aquifers.

All used fracking fluids that return to the surface are captured in surface storage tanks and disposed of under strict conditions, for example, via reinjection into a used gas well. There is no forced evaporation of returned fracking fluids. for more information, click here.

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