Geothermal Energy Regulation 2022 (Qld)

Geothermal Energy Regulation 2022

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This regulation may be cited as the Geothermal Energy Regulation 2022.

2 Commencement This regulation commences on 1 September 2022.

3 Definitions The dictionary in schedule 6 defines particular words used in this regulation.

4 Deciding large-scale geothermal production— Act , s 16 For section 16(2) of the Act, the following criteria are prescribed— (a) the total amount of thermal power produced from all geothermal wells measured at the wellhead is 5 megawatts thermal (MWth) or more when the temperature is 0°C and the atmospheric pressure is 1 atm; Example of measurement of thermal power— For a geothermal well that produces 50 tonnes an hour of geothermal fluid with specific enthalpy of 900 kilojoules a kilogram, the total amount of thermal power produced from the well measured at the wellhead is 12.5 MWth (above 0°C). (b) the geothermal production is for a commercial or industrial purpose.

Part 2 Requirements for proposed work programs and development plans

5 Proposed work program— Act , s 47 For section 47(1)(f) of the Act, the following matters are prescribed— (a) a description of the geological model for the geothermal reservoirs in the area of the proposed geothermal permit; (b) an assessment of the potential for the discovery of geothermal resources in the area of the proposed geothermal permit; Examples of information that may be included in an assessment— • an estimate of the recoverable thermal energy in the area using units of petajoules thermal (PJth) • the geoscientific information, standards and procedures used to make the estimate of recoverable geothermal energy (c) an explanation of the rationale, having regard to the geological model mentioned in paragraph (a), for the activities proposed to be carried out under the proposed geothermal permit; (d) an outline of the expected outcomes to be achieved by the proposed work program.