The injection of production water at Borgsweer is safe, according to the State Supervision of Mines (SodM). The Public Prosecution Service (OM) suspects NAM of injecting waste streams from natural gas extraction into the deep underground without a permit.
The Public Prosecution Service had no indications that this way of discharging waste endangers people and the environment or that this way of acting increases the risk of earthquakes, the SodM reports. ‘That is confirmed with this research.’
In order to assess whether the water injection at Borgsweer is taking place safely, SodM carried out on-site research into the composition of the water, risks for the deep subsoil and the condition of wells, pipelines and installations.
‘The conclusion is that there are no indications that chemical reactions resulting from this water injection lead to significant damage to the integrity of the reservoir or the sealing layer. The injection water therefore poses no unexpected risks for the deep subsoil.’
According to the SodM, the chance that the waste water flows around the injection in Borgsweer come into contact with people and the environment is ‘very small’.
Investigate permit compliance
An investigation into the administrative and procedural processes surrounding the processing of the waste water is still ongoing. SodM investigates the origin of the injection water and whether NAM complies with the permits for its processing.