Environment

A total of $AUD130 million has been committed from 2004 through until 2011 to projects that are helping deliver environmental outcomes. This includes the completed Water Master Plan project that segregates effluent water streams on site; the Residue Catalytic Cracker Unit project that significantly reduced particulate emissions; and the Volatile Organic Compound project that is reducing vapour emissions from storage tanks. This spending is on top of another $210 million investment to produce cleaner fuels (low benzene petrol and ultra low sulphur diesel).

An Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) is a voluntary, public commitment by a company to improve its environmental performance.   It is a commitment between a company and the community and aspires to continuous improvement on emerging environmental concerns.

The refinery’s EIP is designed to build on recent major achievements and to identify any new opportunities.   It expresses the refinery’s long-term aspirational goals and reflects our determination to achieve continuous environmental improvement.

Shell Geelong refinery's EIP for the term 2010 to 2012 focuses on these key areas:

• Water Management;
• Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions;
• Waste Management;
• Air Quality;
• Soil and Groundwater;
• Community Amenity; and,
• Proactive Environmental Management.

The refinery provides an annual update on progress against our EIP, as well as air and water monitoring data.

You can also see our previous EIP and subsequent reports:

Geelong refinery view from Corio Bay

Groundwater
Studies have been carried out to investigate how the refinery affects groundwater, on-site and off-site.

The findings concluded off-site impact is historical in nature, localised and generally stable or reducing. The refinery’s boundary containment system was confirmed as substantially effective.

A groundwater remediation system operates continuously to recover groundwater and pump it to a purpose-built plant located within the refinery for recycling.

Innovative investigation techniques have been used to assess the refinery’s soil and groundwater impact.  These techniques include using laser-induced fluorescence and permeability profiling tools mounted to conventional drilling equipment.  This enables in-situ characterisation of soil and groundwater beneath the refinery.  By using this technique and by drawing on global expertise and consultancy support, Shell Geelong refinery is leading the way in soil and groundwater investigations.  These investigations will support the preparation of an updated soil and groundwater management plan for the site.

All work is being conducted in consultation with EPA in accordance with a Clean-Up Notice.

Shell environment officer

Air quality around the refinery is monitored continuously at designated stations located adjacent to Geelong Grammar School and the Bunnings store in Corio.

All of Shell’s air monitoring is performed by independent NATA-accredited consultants.  Results show that refinery emissions have minimal impact on the air quality surrounding the Geelong refinery.  It is a finding consistent with the EPA's own monitoring that air quality in the Corio area is generally good and consistently meeting State and National air quality objectives.

The ambient air monitoring results are published on this website every six months.

AMBIENT PARTICULATE MONITORING RESULTS
Ambient dust or particulates (as PM₁₀ ) concentrations are monitored, at 24-hour intervals, using a TEOM (Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance) at the Bunnings monitoring station.

The EPA also monitors air quality in the Geelong area and the data is available on its website - view the EPA Air Monitoring website - opens in new window.

The State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality Management) (SEPP AQM) specifies an Intervention Level for PM₁₀ of 60 ug/m3.

2011
All results for 2011 are below the SEPP Intervention Level of 60 ug/m3.

Download a graph of the 24-hour NATA accredited PM₁₀ monitoring results for 2011 (PDF, 136 KB) - opens in new window

AMBIENT SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO₂) MONITORING RESULTS
Ambient SO₂ is monitored, at 1-hour intervals, using DOAS (Differential Optical Absorbing Spectroscopy) open path monitors at Geelong Grammar School and the Bunnings monitoring station.

2011
The SEPP (AQM) Intervention Level for SO₂ is 210ppb. All ambient monitoring results for 2011 are below the Intervention Level.

Download a graph of the one-hour NATA accredited SO₂ monitoring results for 2011 (PDF, 518 KB) - opens in new window

AMBIENT BENZENE MONITORING RESULTS
Ambient Benzene is monitored, at 1-hour intervals, using DOAS (Differential Optical Absorbing Spectroscopy) open path monitors at Geelong Grammar School and the Bunnings monitoring station.

While refinery emissions were already well within public health and environmental guidelines, Benzene emissions from refinery and non-refinery sources (ie both from the refinery and cars using low benzene fuel) were reduced significantly when the refinery began producing low benzene fuel in accordance with the Federal Government's Clean Fuels legislation in 2006.

Further large reductions in the site's total Benzene emissions resulted from installation in the past few years of Internal Floating Covers on storage tanks.  This is evidenced by the drop to 3 tonnes of Benzene emissions in 2008 compared to 23 tonnes in 2005.

2011
All one-hour results for 2011 are below the SEPP Intervention Level of 0.075mg/m3 (0.075mg/m3 or 23.5ppb hourly average).

Download the graphs of the NATA accredited benzene monitoring results for 2011 (PDF, 437 KB) - opens in new window

Definitions

• Particulate Matter (PM10): particulate matter sized 10 microns or smaller
• Sulphur Dioxide:  (also sulfur dioxide) is a chemical compound with the formula SO₂
• Benzene: (also benzol) is an organic chemical compound with the formula C6H6

Unit Definitions

• ug/m3 - micrograms per cubic metre (of air)
• mg/m3  - milligrams per cubic metre (of air)
• 1mg = 0.001 grams
• ppm - parts per million
• ppb - parts per billion

Geelong refinery cooling water outfall

The refinery’s water use performance, as measured by compliance with its licence, continues to improve.  Key to this performance is a behavioural and cultural change that has transformed the way the refinery and its employees work.

Recovery and Re-use
Fuel production at Geelong refinery requires a large amount of water, mostly to feed the boilers to produce steam for the refinery operations.

More than a third of the water used at the refinery is recovered and re-used.  The steam condensate recovery project along with other activities, such as improving the operation of the refinery’s demineralisation unit and minimising steam leaks ensures the refinery's water use is reduced as far as possible.

Northern Water Plant
The refinery has also committed to the Barwon Water owned and operated Northern Water Plant (NWP).

This major water-saving initiative will recycle domestic sewage from Geelong’s northern suburbs as well as Shell’s waste-water.

Once the plant is operational, recycled water will replace most of the fresh water used at the refinery.

The plant will deliver a range of benefits including:

• A 2,000 million litre a year (5%) reduction in Geelong drinking water use (equivalent to the water used by 10,000 homes);
• A 10% reduction in ocean discharge at the Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant;
• Avoid the public disruption and cost of a sewerage system upgrade; and,
• Supply of water for community facilities such as sporting grounds in northern Geelong.

When the NWP is commissioned, 95% of the fresh water used in operations at the refinery will be recycled water sourced from the Northern Water Plant.

Further information is available on the Barwon Water website - opens in new window

Water Discharge
The refinery is licensed to discharge water used in the refining process from a number of outfalls. This consists mainly of cooling water (used to control temperatures within processing units), as well as run-off water from rainfall and a small amount from other sources.

Water streams discharged to Corio Bay are treated to remove any foreign material that may be present.  Foreign material can enter water streams in different ways, depending on how the water is transferred through the plant.

Water quality monitoring is undertaken at each refinery licensed outfall and within declared mixing zones, which are permitted under our EPA licence for the mixing of discharged water from refinery outfalls with water in the bay, in accordance with prescribed requirements in the refinery license.

A number of parameters are tested including: total organic carbon, oil and grease and metals such as zinc, nickel, and copper.  Please see below for a full list of parameters tested and their definitions.

All of Shell’s water testing is undertaken to NATA standards.

Water testing results are published on the website annually.

2009 refinery outfall water testing results
In 2009, results for all except one outfall monitoring test were below licence limits. An elevated result for the parameter BTEX was recorded on 4 August 2009, which was attributed to a small leak on a heat exchanger unit. An incident report was raised for this result and details of the ensuing investigation were communicated to EPA.

Download graphs of the NATA-accredited outfall water monitoring results for 2009 (PDF, 284 KB) - opens in new window

2009 mixing zone water testing results
Within a declared mixing zone, the State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria) 2003 and ANZECC (Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council) 2000 Guidelines do not apply. Not-withstanding this, Shell still undertakes testing in these areas in accordance with licence requirements.

The 2009 mixing zone monitoring results show that all parameters tested were well below the ANZECC guidelines for recreational use. In addition, all results except zinc and copper were lower than ANZECC guidelines for eco-system protection. Zinc and copper have elevated background concentrations and the results are not attributable to the refinery.

Download tables of the NATA-accredited mixing zone water monitoring results for 2009 (PDF, 58 KB) - opens in new window

Water Master Plan Project
Significant improvement has been achieved in the potential for oil or oily water discharges to the bay following the completion of the 2004-2007 Water Master Plan Project (WMPP) and improvements in site awareness.

The WMPP aimed to reduce the potential for discharge of oil or oily water to the bay, through the completion of projects that more effectively segregate and treat water. About $55 million was invested in the WMPP project.
Some of the key achievements made in Water Master Plan were:

• Construction of controlled discharge facilities (CDFs), that ensure surface run-off water (from rainfall) is collected and treated before discharge to bay; and,
• Upgrading of run-off water treatment facilities to remove traces of oil.

Definitions

• ANZECC Guideline, Ecosystem Protection – a guideline concentration set for the protection of ecosystems
• ANZECC Guideline, Recreational Protection - a guideline concentration set for the protection of recreational uses
• BTEX - Abbreviated laboratory term for a test containing the total concentration of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene
• Cooling water discharge temperature – the temperature measured at the outfall
• Copper – an elemental metal
• Dissolved oxygen - the amount of oxygen dissolved in water
• Nickel – an elemental metal
• Oil and grease – a substance which is soluble in an organic extracting solvent
• Salt cooling water intake – an area through which sea water is drawn into the refinery
• Suspended solids – small solid particles which remain in suspension in water
• Surface temperature – the temperature of the Bay measured on the surface
• Total organic carbon (TOC) - the amount of carbon bound in an organic compound
• Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) - the amount of chlorine left in water after the chlorine demand (the amount needed to prevent microbial growth in cooling infrastructure) has been used
• W1 – EPA licensed water outfall no.1
• W3 – EPA licensed water outfall no.3
• W4– EPA licensed water outfall no.4
• W5– EPA licensed water outfall no.5
• Zinc - an elemental metal

Unit Definitions

• mg/l = milligrams per litre

Geelong refinery Geotube ® dewatering technology

Shell Geelong refinery is working continuously to improve its operational impact on the community and environment.

Odour
As required by its EPA licence, the refinery makes every effort to detect, control and minimise the discharge of potential odour from the premises.  Odours are minimised through a combination of well-designed plant facilities and ongoing operational vigilance and control.

This includes:

• Twice daily odour patrols by refinery employees with calibrated noses (tested for sensitivity to odour); and,
• Quarterly odour reviews conducted by members of the EPA, the community odour panel (a team of community members with calibrated noses) and Shell.

Additional odour patrols are conducted in the event of a community odour complaint, enabling the source of the odour to be located and addressed quickly.

For non-routine operations such as maintenance planning, potential odour issues are considered and then managed during the works. The refinery also encourages community members to telephone the refinery hotline (1800 651 818) when an odour is detected that may be coming from the refinery. These calls are investigated promptly.

Noise
Noise from industrialised areas can be a concern to local residents. The likelihood and level of noise is influenced significantly by atmospheric conditions such as wind direction. The refinery endeavours to comply with noise limits outlined in the State Environment Protection Policy (SEPP) (Control of Noise from Commerce Industry and Trade) No. N-1, a policy developed for metropolitan Melbourne – even though the SEPP does not apply specifically to the refinery.

Noise minimisation is a standard consideration in refinery operations and is generally achieved through the application of engineering standards to the design, procurement and installation of new equipment. For non-continuous sources, particularly flaring, close attention is paid to operational controls to minimise the frequency and severity of flaring incidents. In the case of noisy valves or similar equipment, noise levels can often be managed through adjustment, maintenance or replacement of minor components.

Local Amenity
Shell contributes to the local community where we operate and ensures our impact is beneficial where possible and unobtrusive if not.

The refinery respects its local neighbourhood by implementing a range of initiatives to improve aesthetics and remain as unobtrusive as possible.

These include:

• Enhancing the appearance we present along our site boundaries and the refinery buffer zone; and,
• Considering potential impact from vehicles travelling to and from the refinery.

Waste Reduction
Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill is a refinery priority.  Each year, about 1500 tonnes of waste is recycled.

The refinery focuses on waste reduction through its Waste Reduction Action Plan (WRAP), which aligns with the EPA’s Environment and Resource Efficiency Plan regulations (EREP).  Sustainability Victoria has awarded the refinery with a Waste Wise Gold certification for its WRAP.

The EREP regulations require large commercial users of energy, water and waste to identify areas of improvement and implement actions that reduce or minimise their environmental impact. At the refinery 75 per cent of waste is recycled on-site, seven per cent is recycled off-site, 10 per cent is treated and eight per cent is sent to landfill.

One area of waste re-use, has been the use of the Geotube® dewatering technology.  Geotubes® are large geo-textile fabric containers used to hold the refinery’s sludge. The geo-textile fabric allows water to be dispelled through the porous fabric while retaining and drying the solids within the fabric container.

Once dried, locally sourced green and wood waste is added to the bagged waste and micro-organisms begin breaking down the hydrocarbons.  After about 15-weeks, the waste is converted into compost and then spread around the 60,000 plus trees surrounding the refinery.

The use of this technology has halved the amount of waste that is removed and disposed of from site to landfill.