Woodside Energy is pushing forward with a plan to drill for gas off the north-west coast of Western Australia, but it's hitting major resistance. The state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has flagged serious environmental concerns. In a draft letter from 2023, the EPA criticized the proposal for failing to adequately protect endangered species and control oil spill risks.
The Browse gasfield, situated about 300 kilometers off the Kimberley coast, has come under scrutiny. It's near the Scott Reef ecosystem, home to over 1,500 unique species. The EPA's preliminary view was to reject the development due to these environmental threats.
Woodside, Australia's largest fossil fuel company, plans to drill wells and transport the gas 1,000 kilometers to its North West Shelf gas export plant. This plant, next to the Murujuga rock art, got the green light last year to operate until 2070. But the gas from the Browse basin is essential for its continued operation, potentially leading to 88 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The EPA's concerns are putting pressure on the authorities to oppose the gasfield project. Both the state and commonwealth EPAs are evaluating it, with environment ministers having the final say. EPA staff have advised using the precautionary principle, planning for the worst possible outcomes due to serious threats to turtles and whales from potential oil spills.
Woodside has proposed using explosive-driven shear rams to quickly seal a leaking well, aiming to limit a spill to just 12 hours. However, this technology isn't widely trusted; Chevron, another major gas exporter in WA, dismissed it as unproven. If the shear rams don't work, Woodside plans to deploy a capping stack within 16 days.
The draft letter also pointed out that Sandy Islet, vital for endangered green turtles, could be at risk from seabed subsidence due to gas extraction. Woodside's plan to replenish sand on the islet, where about 1,000 turtles breed each year, was seen as high-risk with low chances of success. To address this, Woodside adjusted its plans to avoid drilling within 20 kilometers of Sandy Islet and to limit gas flaring to prevent disorienting the turtles.
Pygmy blue whales, which migrate between Timor and southern Australia, could be affected by noise, traffic, and vessel strikes. Scott Reef is a known feeding ground on their migration path. While acknowledging the environmental value of the area, Woodside argues that the reef is not as crucial as regions further south.
Greenpeace's Glenn Walker criticized Woodside for relying on unproven technology to prevent oil spills, calling for regulators to reject the project. Greenpeace has nominated Scott Reef for national heritage listing due to its ecological importance.
Right now, only two of the nine WA EPA board members were present when the agency initially moved to reject the Browse project. The board's chair, Darren Walsh, said the assessment process has been lengthy because of the project's complexity and sensitivity. A final report and recommendations will be sent to the WA environment minister, Matthew Swinbourn, followed by a three-week public appeal period before a decision is made.
The national EPA is also reviewing the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The decision-making process is paused while they await more technical advice. They're considering impacts on pygmy blue whales, green turtles, the marine environment, and the Murujuga rock art.
