Hopeland (ex-Linc Energy) remediation project

Linc Energy operated an underground coal gasification (UCG) project in Hopeland (near Chinchilla). The company was placed in liquidation in May 2016. The liquidators disclaimed the resource authorities in July 2016 without completing decommissioning or rehabilitation. The site is now classified as abandoned operating plant as defined under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004.

• View a glossary of mining terms used on this page.

Since the site was abandoned, we have continued to manage and progressively decommission the site. We are also managing general environmental monitoring and working with the Department of Environment and Science.

The Hopeland site included a gas-to-liquid plant, gasifiers, gathering system and other inoperable infrastructure, 5 dams used for operations and to store process waters, waste and other substances. Historically there were 495 wells or bores on site. A number were decommissioned by Linc Energy, with approximately 140 wells or bores remaining.

We have nearly completed a 3-stage project to eliminate remnant surface infrastructure hazards and remediate broader site safety and environmental hazards. This work has involved:

• Stage 1 – identification and assessment of site hazards and development of remediation plans (completed)
• Stage 2 – purging and isolating the gas-to-liquid plant and associated surface infrastructure remaining on site (completed)
• Stage 3 – dismantling, decontamination and removal of gas-to-liquid plant and associated surface infrastructure and ongoing environmental monitoring programs (completed in 2020-21 financial year).

We are consulting with adjoining landholders on any potential for off-site impacts from site activities.

Photo gallery

Key risks

Health and safety risks associated with:

• gas-to-liquid plant and unmaintained infrastructure
• wells and process water dams
• chemical and hazardous material.

Environmental risks associated with:

• groundwater contamination (under investigation)
• gasifiers
• wells
• process water dams.

Completed works

• Remediation investigation, option assessment and design
• Decommissioning, dismantling and removal of gas-to-liquid plant and surface infrastructure
• Remediation of 5 process water dams
• Consolidation and encapsulation of contaminants in on-site cell
• Installation of new wells to expand groundwater monitoring network
• Assessment of gas wells and boreholes
• Establishment and enforcement of Site Safety Management System compliant with the Petroleum and Gas (Petroleum and Safety) Act 2004
• Removal and disposal of 160,000L of hazardous liquid and 40m³ of packaged goods and waste

Planned works

• Finalisation of telemetry for groundwater monitoring network
• Plug and abandonment of priority legacy petroleum wells and bores (commenced in June 2021, with ongoing works in following years)
• Gasifier investigations and decommissioning strategy (if required)
• Ongoing monitoring