PROJECT

Browse

Browse is Australia's largest untapped conventional gas resource.

  • 11.4 MTPA

    Project capacity LNG/LPG + domestic gas (100% of project)

  • 2018

    Concept definition phase commenced

OVERVIEW

Browse

Woodside, as Operator for and on behalf of the Browse Joint Venture, is proposing to develop the Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa fields located approximately 425 km north of Broome in the offshore Browse Basin.

In September 2018, the BJV selected the Browse to North West Shelf (NWS) Project development concept to progress into the concept definition phase. The proposed development concept includes: two floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities delivering 11.4 Mtpa of LNG/LPG and domestic gas; and an approximately 900 km pipeline to existing NWS Project infrastructure.

The BJV is evaluating a range of options to manage greenhouse gas emissions and is progressing a feasibility assessment for a carbon capture and storage solution and opportunities to improve energy efficiency.

 

Environmental topics

The proposed Browse to NWS Project was determined by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to be a controlled action and would be assessed at an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) level of assessment.

The decision notice identified these matters of national environmental significance as being relevant to the proposed Browse to NWS Project under Part 3 of the EPBC Act:

  • National Heritage values of a National Heritage place
  • Listed threatened species and communities
  • Listed migratory species
  • Commonwealth marine area, the protected matter being the environment generally.

Consistent with section 103(1)(c) of the EPBC Act, Woodside Energy Ltd. released a draft EIS for the Browse to NWS Project for public comment from 18 December 2019 – 12 February 2020. The period for public comment is closed.

The EIS has now been finalised taking account of any comments received during the period for public comment. The final EIS consists of the EIS and Supplement to the EIS. The final EIS was lodged with DCCEEW in accordance with section 104(3) of the EPBC Act.

The WA State waters component of the proposed Browse Project was referred to the WA Environment Protection Authority (EPA) under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) in October 2018. On 22 January 2019, the EPA determined that the proposed Browse Project requires assessment under Section 29 of the EP Act and set a Public Environmental Review (PER) level of assessment. 

Proposed Browse to NWS Project Draft EIS/ERD (December 2019)

The Browse draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Review Document (EIS/ERD) details the potential environmental impacts and risks associated with proposed development. The draft EIS/ERD was released for an eight-week public comment period, which concluded in February 2020.

Read the document

Proposed Browse to NWS Project Supplement Report to the Draft EIS (July 2022)

The Browse Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) details the potential environmental impacts and risks associated with the proposed development. A draft EIS/ERD for the Browse to NWS Project was released for public comment from 18 December 2019 – 12 February 2020. The period for public comment is closed. The EIS has now been finalised taking account of any comments received during the period for public comment. The final EIS consists of the EIS and Supplement to the EIS. The final EIS was lodged with DCCEEW in accordance with section 104(3) of the EPBC Act.

Read the document

Environmental approvals timeline

Woodside continues to work with the State and Commonwealth regulators with regards to the feedback received on the draft EIS/ERD.

  • Referral Oct 2018

  • Scoping document process Sep 2019

  • Submission of draft EIS/ERD Dec 2019

  • Public comment period Dec 2019

  • Supplement draft EIS/ERD H1 2021

    Respond to comments via submission of Supplement draft EIS/ERD

  • DCCEEW assess acceptability of supplement to the EIS Sep 2022

  • Final EIS published Sep 2022

  • EPA assess acceptability of ERD response to submissions

  • Final ERD published

  • Federal and State Ministers' decision

Participating interests

Lease/permit interests (State): TR/5 and R2
Lease/permit interests (Commonwealth): WA-28-R, WA-29-R, WA-30-R, WA-31-R and WA-32-R

ParticipantInterest
Woodside Browse Pty Ltd 30.60%
Shell Australia Pty Ltd27.00%
BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd17.33%
Japan Australia LNG (MIMI Browse) Pty Ltd14.40%
PetroChina International Investment (Australia) Pty Ltd10.67%

Woodside Energy Ltd is operator for and on behalf of the Browse Joint Venture