Waitsia gas project gets environmental nod from Western Australia EPA

The Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia has recommended the Waitsia gas project stage 2 for environmental approval.

The final decision on the approval for the project will be taken by the state’s Minister for Environment.

The recommendation of approval by the EPA is subject to stringent conditions on water management, flora and greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA Chair Tom Hatton said: “The EPA welcomes the proponent’s commitment to emissions targets that go above and beyond the EPA’s long-standing policy of offset reservoir emissions.”

Waitsia stage 2 involves the expansion of the Waitsia gas field by drilling additional wells and constructing a new production facility.

The second stage development of the gas field will be located 16km south-east of the Dongara-Port Denison town sites.

It will involve drilling of up to six new production wells, supplementing the existing two wells at the Waitsia field.

The stage 2 project will also include the construction a new gas processing plant with an export capacity of 250 terajoules per day.

The project will be undertaken by AWE Perth under Mitsui E&P Australia brand.

Hatton added: “The EPA notes AWE has incorporated a number of design elements and technologies along with monitoring and management programmes to achieve emission reduction.

“AWE has also proposed to undertake a refit of the plant and equipment after ten years of operation to adopt further greenhouse gas abatement measures if they are available to further support their endeavours.”

Discovered in September 2014, the Waitsia field is estimated to hold nearly 178 billion cubic feet (Bcf) gross 2P reserves and 306Bcf gross 2C resources.