The Western Australian Government has granted State Significant Project status to a Woodside Energy-operated offshore development project, described as Australia’s largest untapped conventional gas resource.
With a forecast production capacity of 11.4 MTPA and a peak condensate production rate of 50,000 barrels per day, the proposed Browse to North West Shelf (NWS) Project would deliver natural gas from the Calliance, Torosa, and Brecknock fields to the existing Karratha gas plant via an approximately 900-kilometer pipeline, connected to two floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) units.
A carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution has been incorporated into the project design and is expected to enable a reduction of 53 million tons (mt) CO2e of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as compared to the project’s 2019 Scope 1 emissions estimate.
According to Woodside Energy, State Significant Project status represents the highest level of prioritization available under the Western Australian Government’s Lead Agency Framework, which is designed to guide proponents through the approvals process. It will support coordinated engagement as the project progresses towards key approvals and development milestones.
An independent economic impact assessment indicates the project could deliver a long-term uplift of around A$141 billion in gross domestic product nationally and approximately A$56 billion in taxes and royalties, including around A$19.8 billion in petroleum resource rent tax.
“Woodside recognises that whole-of-government coordination is essential to unlock the benefits of the Browse to North West Shelf Project. The company will continue to work closely with Government, industry, Indigenous stakeholders, unions and local communities as the proposal advances through approvals processes and key project milestones,” the Australian energy firm reported.