WorldWide Drilling Resource

WorldWide Drilling Resource ® 10 OCTOBER 2015 Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Aquifers containing 100 times more freshwater than all the freshwater used since the beginning of the 20th century have been found under the ocean floor. The water remains untapped, with no immediate prospects of moving it. In an increasingly thirsty world, we need all the water we can get. In the search for freshwater, could offshore “water rigs” be a possibility in the future? Dr. Vincent Post, from the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, and the School of Environment at Flinders University discussed the prospect. “There are two ways to access this water - build a platform out at sea and drill into the seabed, or drill from the mainland or islands close to the aquifers,” said Dr. Post. Either way, it could “be an undertaking of epic proportions, with the constant risk of saltwater intrusion ruining the whole project,” said Stu Campana, an international environmental consultant. It all goes back to economics. Tap water in the U.S. is relatively inexpensive - about 0.004 cents per gallon. Desalina- tion, which is a highly expensive means of getting freshwater, could cost 100 times that, which is still only 0.4 cents per gal- lon. Compare these prices to the price of crude oil from offshore drilling - about $2.38 per gallon, and the difference is 10,000 fold. However, water prices are expected to rise in the future, and offshore drilling costs could decrease. Dr. Post said fresh- water below the ocean should be assessed and considered in terms of cost, sustainability, and environmental impact against other water sources like desalination, or even building large new dams on land. Campana said offshore aquifers would probably only be tapped in desperate times, and then provide just 91 years worth of freshwater. Dr. Post said finding this freshwater still matters to the world. “The discovery of significant... stores off the coast is very exciting. It means more options can be considered to help reduce the impact of droughts and continental water short- ages.” Freshwater Offshore )' ) % ) ' # *# $ ' : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 % ( ) ' ) '%# : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : &4)1*4 *18*4 : &4)1*4 *18*4 ' $ + *#&( $ )% ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : # #4-3/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : # #4-3/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 24 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : -4 4-8* 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : # #4-3/*:>> ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : #4-3/*:>> > ! ! ;)4&7/-( 4276 703 ? ;)4&7/-( 4276 703 ? ;)4&7/-( 4276 703 ? '%*) *#& * ") * *#&( : &52 73/*: ! ! : -/9*// 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : #4-3/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &52 : 73/*: ! ! '#()'%$ $ % $ "% 6, "64**6 = 2(&,216&5 $" < 2745 &;5 & %**. = &: %&665 $" &1&)& 62 21)&; 4-)&; "** 274 %*' &+* 999 &4056421+0&(,-1* (20 0&-/ ))4*55 &0(- &4056421+0&(,-1* (20