Woodside is the major equity holder and operator of the Browse LNG Development, which is an important part of Woodside’s LNG production growth plans. Browse also represents substantial opportunities for economic and social development in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The Browse LNG Development concept is to commercialise the Browse Joint Venture’s three gas and condensate fields, Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa, 400 km off the Kimberley coast. Gas and liquids from these fields will be brought to an onshore LNG plant at the Western Australian Government’s Browse LNG Precinct, 60 km north of Broome.
In 2010 the Browse LNG Development reached a number of significant milestones, and invested approximately A$350 million in engineering, environmental and social impact studies.
In February 2010 the Joint Venture participants unanimously selected the development concept for Browse, which included the Western Australian Government’s Browse LNG Precinct as the preferred location of the onshore processing facilities, complying with the retention lease conditions accepted in December 2009.
Basis of design studies were completed in November 2010, on schedule and to budget. The development has now entered the detailed front end engineering and design (FEED) phase, which involves undertaking environmental, geophysical, geotechnical and design studies.
On 30 June 2011, a Native Title Agreement was executed to enable the establishment of the Browse LNG Precinct near James Price Point, 60 km north of Broome in Western Australia.
The Agreement, between Woodside, the State of Western Australia and the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr native title claim group, secures the land required for the State Government’s LNG Precinct and provides a significant package of benefits and initiatives for Indigenous people in the Kimberley.
The initiatives in the Agreement are worth in excess of A$1 billion over the life of the precinct and have the potential to enact meaningful and positive change to the economic and social circumstances of Indigenous people in the Kimberley.
Woodside’s commitments include the implementation of ongoing education, training and employment initiatives, Indigenous job targets, support for Indigenous businesses, cultural initiatives and payments upon project milestones being met.
| Joint Venturers: |
Woodside Energy Ltd (operator)
BHP Billiton Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd
BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd
Chevron Australia Pty Ltd
Shell Development Australia Pty Ltd |
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