MYTH
Browse involves onshore fracking.
FACT
The proposed Browse Development is a conventional natural gas project and does not involve onshore fracking.
Additional Facts
MYTH
Browse would put threatened sea turtles, whales and other vulnerable species at risk.
FACT
No significant impacts on marine fauna species are predicted to occur as a result of the proposed project’s activities.
For more information, refer to the environmental impact assessment in the Proposed Browse to North West Shelf Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environment Review Document.
In conjunction with leading Australian academic and research organisations, the Browse participants have funded environmental research and studies for over three decades to better understand the offshore marine environment in the vicinity of the Browse resources.
As a result of the investment, Scott Reef has one of the most intensive long-term monitoring programs of any Australian reef system.
MYTH
In 2024, media reports suggested that the Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority (WA EPA) was not supportive of the Browse to NWS Project proposal.
Woodside acknowledges the importance of feedback from the regulator and is committed to addressing concerns raised by the WA EPA.
FACT
Woodside provided further information to the WA EPA on the Browse to NWS Project proposal, including new scientific data and additional best practice measures to further demonstrate our commitment to avoid and minimise any potential environmental impacts from the proposed development.
Woodside believes the proposal and the measures proposed are consistent with the principles of the Environment Protection Act 1986 and the relevant EPA environmental objectives. This information was also provided to the Australian Government regulator and is intended to inform the finalisation of both the State and Commonwealth environmental assessments.
MYTH
The Browse CCS Project does not align with the Australian Government’s Safeguard Mechanism (SGM) which requires zero reservoir carbon.
FACT
If approved, Browse would be required to comply with the Australian Government’s SGM.
It is expected to be considered a 'new facility' under the SGM, with the baseline based on international practice benchmarks and incorporating an annual decline rate.
Estimates indicate that the SGM will require the abatement of 57.4 Mt of CO2-e.
Compliance with the SGM requirements is expected to result in residual (unabated) net Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 1.6 Mt of CO2-e.
MYTH
If Browse is approved, Scott Reef/Sandy Islet is at risk of sinking, putting threatened sea turtles and other vulnerable species at risk.
FACT
Subsidence (the technical term for the downward movement of the ground) from gas extraction was identified as a potential threat to Sandy Islet in the Browse to North West Shelf Project Environmental Impact Statement.
To improve our understanding of this threat, in 2024, with the emergence of new technology, Woodside conducted higher resolution subsidence modelling that indicated there is a 95% probability that subsidence under Sandy Islet would be less than 3.8 mm over the life of the project.
MYTH
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) isn’t a real option.
FACT
CCS is a mature technology which represents a proven solution to abate large-scale industrial emissions.
Globally, CCS has been
successfully used for decades, in particular in support of enhanced oil
recovery but is now being utilised for permanent emissions storage.*
* IPCC, 2022. 'Climate Change
2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the
Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change', Summary for Policymakers, paragraph C.4.6.
MYTH
Woodside has no plan to address the associated emissions from Browse.
FACT
The Browse participants have determined that a carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution for the Browse to North West Shelf Project is feasible.*
The Browse CCS Project would be designed to sequester^ most of the reservoir CO2 from the project.*
The CCS Project is expected to reduce the Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from Browse by approximately 53 Mt (47%). It will also enable a further reduction of approximately 9 Mt of Scope 3 GHG emissions from reservoir CO2 that would otherwise be sent to the North West Shelf onshore processing facilities.
* Refer to the Browse CCS Availability Commitments and Targets and Browse Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act section 156A application reviewed and submitted in 2023.
^ Sequestration refers to the practice of storing CO2 after it's captured from industrial facilities and power plants or removed directly from the atmosphere (www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainscarbon-sequestration).
MYTH
Browse involves drilling wells on Scott Reef.
FACT
No drilling would occur on Scott Reef, in the North/South Scott Reef lagoons or in the Scott Reef Channel.
The nearest drilling would occur approximately 3 km from the reef.
No physical contact is predicted to occur with Scott Reef (above the 75 m water depth). All proposed activities would occur in waters more than 300 m deep.
The closest operational vessel (known as a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel) would be located almost 8 km from the reef and nearly 30 km from the Sandy Islet turtle nesting habitat.
MYTH
If the North West Shelf Project (NWS) Extension is approved, the proposed Browse Development will go ahead.
FACT
The NWS Extension and proposed Browse Development are separate projects seeking separate approvals from State and Federal regulators and government.
MYTH
Browse will destroy Scott Reef and the adjacent marine environment.
FACT
The design of the proposed project has considered the proximity to Scott Reef and includes a number of commitments and measures to avoid or minimise potential environmental impacts.
Further details are available in the Browse to North West Shelf Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environment Review Document (EIS/ERD) and the amendment.
In conjunction with leading Australian academic and research organisations, the Browse participants (Woodside, bp, MIMI and PetroChina) have funded environmental research and studies for over three decades to better understand the offshore marine environment in the vicinity of the Browse resources.
As a result of the investment by the Browse participants and others, Scott Reef has one of the most intensive long-term monitoring programs of any Australian reef system.
