Woodside has chased environmental approval for the $30 billion gas export plan for five years but is yet to start the process for a vital part of the project near pristine Scott Reef.
Woodside is yet to apply for federal environmental approval for a key part of its $30 billon-plus Browse gas export project after its bid for a regulatory shortcut was rejected.
Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek will decide whether Woodside’s plan to bury CO2 under the seabed is environmentally acceptable.Woodside told the federal environment regulator in a 2022 submission that capturing and storing the reservoir CO₂ was a “high-risk, high-cost” option that “remains technically challenging; however, with time, carbon capture and storage technology will improve”.
One risk from carbon storage was CO₂ leaking from wells or under the seabed, making nearby water more acidic, according to the“Successful carbon capture and storage programs in offshore environments are complex to execute because the technology is in its infancy,” the department said. In May, Woodside told the department it would refer carbon storage for assessment in mid-2024, according toThis would place carbon storage six years behind the rest of Browse in the environmental approval process, although the smaller scope could take less time to assess.
Woodside chief executive Meg O’Neill wants three problems solved before committing to expensive engineering work required before Browse can go ahead: storing the reservoir CO₂, obtaining environmental approvals and a deal to process the gas into a liquid for export. Woodside operates the Browse joint venture and has a 31 per cent stake. BP is the largest investor, with 44 per cent, and Japan Australia LNG and PetroChina also have a stake.
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