NOPSEMA accepts proposal to develop Scarborough gas fields

NOPSEMA has announced approval of the Scarborough project, which it says has satisfied environmental hurdles and the management of greenhouse gas emissions.

This follows a year’s assessment, including an eight-week public comment process.

Revised Schedule

Woodside CEO, Peter Coleman, said NOPSEMA’s acceptance of the offshore project proposal was a significant step forward for the proposed development of the gas resource, which is now being progressed on a revised schedule due to the current global investment environment.

Coleman said: “Woodside is continuing work to ensure we have all the necessary regulatory approvals and commercial agreements in place to ensure a final investment decision can be taken for Scarborough in 2021.”

Woodside has proposed development of the Scarborough gas fields in 2023, following the drilling of wells, installation of pipeline and semi-submersible floating production unit.

This approval is subject to further regulatory approvals, including an environmental plan, a well operations management plan and safety case. Environment plans are reviewed by NOPSEMA at least once every five years.

Located 220km off Exmouth, the Scarborough gas field, discovered in 1979, sits in 900 meters of water.

Scarborough gas would be initially processed on a deep-water floating production unit and transported through a 430 km pipeline to a proposed second LNG production train at the existing Woodside-operated Pluto LNG facility on Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula.

Woodside holds a 73.5% stake in Scarborough and BHP the remaining. 26.5%.