Browse LNG

{{Short description|Shelved Australian liquefied natural gas plant project}}

The Browse LNG was a liquefied natural gas plant project proposed for construction at James Price Point, {{convert|52|km}} north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia. It was considered by a joint venture, including Woodside Petroleum, Shell, BP, Japan Australia LNG, and BHP Billiton, with Woodside as the operator. It would have processed natural gas extracted from the Browse Basin. Liquefied natural gas would then be shipped from a port facility also located in the Browse LNG Precinct. It was abandoned as an onshore project owing to lack of economic viability.

Background

The Browse Basin is estimated to contain combined contingent volumes of 15.9 trillion cubic feet of dry gas and 436 million barrels of condensate. The reserves are contained in the Torosa, Brecknock, and Calliance fields.{{cite web |url=http://www.woodside.com.au/our-business/browse/Pages/default.aspx |title=Browse LNG - Woodside |website=www.woodside.com.au |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226194444/http://www.woodside.com.au/our-business/browse/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=26 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}

History

The proposed project included an LNG gas plant located at James Price Point, {{convert|52|km}} north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, WA.

{{As of|December 2012}}, the owners of the joint venture were:{{cite web |url=http://www.woodside.com.au/our-business/browse/Pages/default.aspx |title=Browse LNG |publisher=Woodside Petroleum |access-date=2012-12-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226194444/http://www.woodside.com.au/our-business/browse/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=2012-12-26 }}

Woodside Petroleum (Operator)
Shell
BP
Japan Australia LNG (MIMI Browse) (a joint venture of Mitsubishi and Mitsui){{cite news

| title = UPDATE 2-Mitsui, Mitsubishi to buy Australia LNG stake for $2 bln | publisher = Reuters | date = 2012-05-01

| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/woodside-lngstake-idUSL4E8FU9EX20120501 | access-date = 2012-12-27 | archive-date = 2012-05-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120512175749/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/01/woodside-lngstake-idUSL4E8FU9EX20120501 | url-status = live }}

BHP Billiton

In December 2012, PetroChina agreed to buy BHP Billiton's 8.3% stake in the East Browse and 20% holding in the West Browse joint venture for US$1.63 billion. The transaction was subject to regulatory approval and an option for the other members of the joint venture to match the offer.{{cite news | title = PetroChina to buy BHP's stake in Browse LNG project | publisher = BBC News | date = 2012-12-12 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20690364 | access-date = 2012-12-27 | archive-date = 2014-11-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141125012140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20690364 | url-status = live }}

The onshore project was abandoned by the joint venture after Australia's rising costs made the project unviable.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/13/business/global/woodside-petroleum-cancels-onshore-lng-project-in-australia.html?_r=0|title= Woodside Petroleum Cancels Onshore L.N.G. Project in Australia|work= New York Times |date= 12 April 2013 |access-date= 2013-06-27 |archive-date= 2018-12-02|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181202155052/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/13/business/global/woodside-petroleum-cancels-onshore-lng-project-in-australia.html?_r=0|url-status= live}}

Concerns

=Indigenous concerns=

James Price Point is close to as several Aboriginal sacred sites.

The Kimberley Land Council, as the representatives of the local Jabirr Jabirr people at Goolarabooloo relating to the Native Title Act 1993, supported the onshore project by 60% of votes.{{cn|date=May 2025}} However, some traditional owners engaged in a legal challenge against this decision. In a press statement they say "…many local Indigenous people are disgusted by the apparent abandonment of the established process put in place by the previous State government. Concerns include the threats made earlier in the year by the Premier regarding compulsory acquisition of land and the pre-empting of the Joint State and Commonwealth environmental and cultural assessment process via announcements by Woodside and the Premier."{{cite journal |url= http://www.theajmonline.com.au/mining_news/news/2009/december/december-10-09/other-top-stories/premier2019s-announcement-of-lng-site-challenged |title= Premier's announcement of LNG site challenged |journal= Australian Journal of Mining |date= 2009-12-09 |access-date= 2011-08-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110405014155/http://www.theajmonline.com.au/mining_news/news/2009/december/december-10-09/other-top-stories/premier2019s-announcement-of-lng-site-challenged |archive-date= 2011-04-05 |url-status= dead }}

=Environment=

According to Australian Greens, construction of the port facilities, including the dredging and blasting of reefs and seabed, is expected to result in a {{convert|50|km2}} "marine deadzone".{{cite press release |url = http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/dead-dugongs-glimpse-future-kimberley-gas-hub |title = Dead dugongs a glimpse into the future for Kimberley gas hub |publisher = Australian Greens |date = 2011-07-29 |access-date = 2011-08-05

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20121129074348/http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/dead-dugongs-glimpse-future-kimberley-gas-hub |archive-date = 2012-11-29 |url-status = dead}}

The involvement by the Australian Greens was criticised by Jabirr elder Rita Augustine, representing the Environmental and Cultural Heritage Team and Jabirrlabirr traditional owners, who wrote an open letter to Bob Brown in August 2012.{{cite news |url = http://www.news.com.au/business/companies/we-are-not-museum-pieces-elders-blast-greens-crusader-bob-brown/story-fnda1bsz-1226444934302 |title = WE ARE NOT MUSEUM PIECES': Elders blast Greens crusader Bob Brown |first1 = Flip |last1 = Prior |newspaper = News.com.au |date = 2012-08-07 |access-date = 2013-01-01 |archive-date = 2012-11-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121117141701/http://www.news.com.au/business/companies/we-are-not-museum-pieces-elders-blast-greens-crusader-bob-brown/story-fnda1bsz-1226444934302 |url-status = live}}

According to one scientist, construction was expected to irreparably damage a large number of fossils unique to the area, including the only example of dinosaur footprint extant in Western Australia,{{cite news

|date = 2011-07-14 |access-date = 2011-08-05 |archive-date = 2011-07-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717221923/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/9842057/gas-hub-plan-an-international-disgrace |url-status = live

}} and reputed to be the largest in the world.

One 2010 report on the significance of the dinosaur footprints stated that they were not of museum quality, were often degraded by erosional processes, and that many "footprints" identified by the public are in fact the results of erosion of the Broome Sandstone and not the result of biological origin (i.e. they are not fossils or fossil remnants).{{cite report

|url = http://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/Preliminary_Palaeontology_Report.pdf |title = Preliminary Report upon the Paleontology (Including Dinasaur Footprints) of the Broome Sandstone in the James Price Point Area, Western Australia

|archive-date = 2013-04-10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130410025220/http://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/Preliminary_Palaeontology_Report.pdf |url-status = live}}

Once operating, the plant is expected to discharge some {{convert|30|e6m3|abbr=off}} of waste water into the ocean each year.{{cite news |url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/9735731/executives-clash-over-gas-hub/ |title = Executives clash over gas hub |first1 = Flip |last1 = Prior |first2 = Michelle |last2 = Ridley |newspaper = The West Australian |date = 2011-07-29 |access-date = 2011-08-05 |archive-date = 2012-09-29 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120929130600/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/9735731/executives-clash-over-gas-hub/

|url-status = live}} A coalition of 25 international conservation groups raised questions as to how it would impact the area's wildlife, the area providing important habitat for turtles, whales, and seabirds.{{cite news

|url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/8518554/worldwide-groups-join-fight-againt-gas-hub/ |title = Worldwide groups join fight {{sic|nolink=y|agai|nt}} gas hub |first1 = Flip |last1 = Prior |newspaper = The West Australian |date = 2010-12-15 |access-date = 2011-08-05 |archive-date = 2012-09-29 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120929130849/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/8518554/worldwide-groups-join-fight-againt-gas-hub/

|url-status = live}} Broome's coast is home to the world's largest humpback whale nursery, five species of turtle, dugong, coral reefs and snubfin dolphin.{{cite journal |url= http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/battle-over-james-price-point-heats-up.htm |title= Traditional owners voice James Price Point concerns |first1= Natalie |last1= Muller |journal= Australian Geographic |date= 2011-07-12 |access-date= 2011-08-05 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110817072125/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/battle-over-james-price-point-heats-up.htm

|archive-date= 2011-08-17 }} The Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (EPA) report on the Browse Liquified Gas Precinct noted that: birthing grounds for the humpback whales were between 60 km and 240 km North of James Price Point; when the whales pass by the James Price Point, 95% of them pass more than 8 km off the point; and that as long as the EPA conditions are met, the protection on whales and turtles at the population level were likely to be met.{{cite report |url = http://edit.epa.wa.gov.au/EPADocLib/Rep%201444%20Browse%20LNG%20Precinct%20SEA%20160712-web.pdf |title = Report and Recommendations of The Environmental Protection Authority. Browse Liquefied Natural Gas Precinct |first1 = Paul

}} The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society disputed the EPA study findings, referring to a documentary by Fair Projects, produced in collaboration with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which purportedly showed video footage of hundreds of whales in the James Price Point area within 8 km of the coast line.{{cite web|title=Operation Kimberley Miinimbi |url=http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/09/12/operation-kimberley-miinimbi-summary-and-launch-of-campaign-film-1437 |publisher=Fair Projects |access-date=2012-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020110001/http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/09/12/operation-kimberley-miinimbi-summary-and-launch-of-campaign-film-1437 |archive-date=2012-10-20 |url-status=dead}}

On 16 July 2012, the EPA announced that it had recommended the project for "strict conditional approval" and that "the precinct would provide for multiple users to be co-located on a single site, avoiding a number of LNG processing sites to spread along the coast and in more sensitive parts of the Kimberley."{{cite news | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | title = EPA recommends Browse approval | first1 = Josh | last1 = Lewis

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1260430.ece | date = 2012-07-16 | access-date = 2012-07-16 | archive-date = 2016-03-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213212/http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1260430.ece | url-status = live }}

References

Category:Proposed liquefied natural gas plants

Category:Natural gas in Western Australia

Category:Kimberley (Western Australia)

Category:Woodside Energy