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 (BJV), is proposing to develop the Calliance, Brecknock, 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 the existing NWS Karratha Gas Plant . 

A carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution to sequester the majority of the Browse reservoir carbon dioxide (CO2) has been determined by the BJV to be feasible and the CCS infrastructure has subsequently been incorporated into the development concept.1

1 Regulatory approvals processes are ongoing.

What is the Browse Project?

Read the fact sheet to find out more.

Find out more

Browse’s role in the energy transition

The development of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, such as Browse, in Western Australia can help to meet growing regional energy demand while also supporting decarbonisation of industries. In particular, major regional economies such as Japan remain clear that they need Western Australia to continue as a secure, affordable supplier of energy as the energy transition progresses.

Some uses of natural gas include - very high temperature industrial heat (in glass, ceramic and steel production) and chemical feedstock for fertiliser production.

Browse

Managing our impacts

Investment in new gas supply, such as Browse, is needed to deliver domestic gas for Western Australians. In WA gas is increasingly used to replace coal in generating electricity needed to heat and cool homes and keep lights on. Natural gas is also used in the production of bricks, aluminium and fertiliser, and our mining, manufacturing and critical minerals industries rely on it. We recognise that strong environmental performance is essential to our success and continued growth.

Carbon management is a key focus for the development.

A CCS solution has been incorporated into the offshore design.

The BJV has determined that a CCS solution for the Browse to NWS Project is feasible.2 The CCS infrastructure has been incorporated into the offshore design to capture and sequester reservoir CO2 emissions that would otherwise be vented.

The Calliance Storage Formation into which CO2 from the Browse fields is proposed to be injected is within GHG Assessment Permit G-8-AP, which was granted to Woodside in 2022. The Calliance structure has a proven ability to trap and contain hydrocarbons over geological timeframes, providing a formation which is highly suitable for the permanent storage of CO2. The CCS solution is designed to sequester the majority of reservoir CO2 from the Browse to NWS Project.2 This is expected to enable a net reduction of Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions of the Browse development and allow for the sequestration of reservoir CO2 that would otherwise be sent to onshore processing facilities.

2 Browse Carbon Capture and Storage Project EPBC Referral (2024/10028) submitted October 2024

Woodside has established a set of environmental objectives for the Browse Project to manage impacts and risks to air quality, benthic communities and habitats, marine environmental quality, marine fauna and socio-economic receptors. Management and mitigation strategies were identified through the risk and impact assessment process and will help the relevant environmental objective be achieved. Monitoring and verification activities will be in place for the life of the development.

Detail on environmental objectives, management measures and assurance and monitoring activities proposed for the Development are contained in the proposed Browse to NWS Project final EIS and draft ERD.

Further information on Woodside’s environmental management is available here.

As part of the Browse Project, Woodside and the BJV have funded environmental research and studies lead by Australian academic and research organisations to better understand coral reefs, turtles and marine mammals at Scott Reef and the broader north west marine region.

These programs have resulted in more than 70 scientific peer-reviewed publications in international journals over the last 30 years. This knowledge has contributed to the understanding of the marine environment and species of the Browse region and is used in the Browse project evaluation of environmental impacts and risks.

A key contributor to this is the BJV partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Woodside first supported AIMS with an extensive survey of coral and fish communities of Scott Reef in 1993. This led to the establishment of a formal Scott Reef Long-term Monitoring Program in 1996, which continues today. As a result of the investment by the BJV and others, Scott Reef has one of the most intensive long-term monitoring programs of any Australian reef system.

The BJV continues to support marine monitoring programs to improve our understanding of turtle and whale activity in the Scott Reef area. These programs involve the use of innovative technology including high-definition satellite imagery and underwater microphones to better understand the marine environment and inform our management plans for any future project activities.

Woodside’s Cultural Heritage Standard sets out how we give effect to the intent of our First Nations Communities Policy in respect of cultural heritage. It contains our approach to the identification, management and protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, with the intent to avoid impacts, or where avoidance is not possible to minimise and manage those impacts. Our policy commits us to ensuring our management of cultural heritage is thorough, transparent and underpinned by consultation and continued engagement with First Nations communities. Woodside has engaged with First Nations stakeholders regarding the Browse to NWS Project over a number of years.

Woodside understands that large areas of now-submerged land on Australia’s continental shelf would have been exposed and inhabited in the past. No registered Aboriginal sites are located within the proposed Browse to NWS Project development area. As part of project planning activities, Woodside will investigate the potential for Aboriginal archaeological material that may remain on the sea floor from a time when sea levels were lower, including through the mapping of seabed features from the Ancient landscape. This work will inform project implementation so that underwater cultural heritage is identified, protected and managed.

Theoretical impacts on rock art from atmospheric emissions resulting from the onshore processing of the Browse gas by the NWS JV are addressed in the North West Shelf Project Extension ERD.  Research to date on the potential impacts of emissions on rock art has not been conclusive. Woodside recognises the need for further research and supports the multi-year Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program (MRAMP) run by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

More information on Woodside’s approach to First Nations Cultural Heritage and Engagement is available at First Nations cultural heritage and engagement.

Environmental approvals

Commonwealth

The proposed Browse to NWS Project was referred to the Commonwealth regulator in October 2018 and was determined to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for assessment through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Woodside released the draft EIS for the Browse to NWS Project for public comment from 18 December 2019 to 12 February 2020. The EIS was finalised taking account of any comments received during the public comment period. The final EIS, including a Supplement to the EIS, was published in September 2022.

The Browse Carbon Capture and Storage Project was referred to the Commonwealth regulator for assessment in accordance with the EPBC Act, in October 2024. This seeks environmental approval of the Browse CCS Project as a separate but related proposal to Browse to NWS.

State

The WA State Waters component of the proposed Browse to NWS Project was referred to the WA Environment Protection Authority (EPA) under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) in October 2018. It was determined that the Proposal was to be assessed through a Public Environmental Review (PER). The Environmental Review Document was published for public comment in December 2019, and a Response to Submissions was published in December 2023.

In September 2024, Woodside provided further information to both the Commonwealth and State regulators on the Browse to North West Shelf Project referrals, including new scientific data and additional best practice mitigations to further demonstrate our commitment to avoid and minimise any potential environmental impacts from the proposed development.

In March 2025, Woodside submitted an amendment to the State Browse to NWS Project proposal under section 43A of the the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) to reflect new measures and changes to the proposal that were committed to in response to feedback from the EPA. Further information regarding the amendments is available here.

Woodside continues to work with State and Commonwealth regulators to finalise environmental assessment of the proposed Browse to NWS Project.

 

Participating interests

Lease/permit interests (State): TR/5, R2 and GHG Assessment Permit G-8-AP
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%
BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd44.33%
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

Pilbara enquiries
Phone:

1800 634 988

Fax:

61 8 9158 8000

Street Address:

Level 3, 24 Sharpe Avenue
Karratha WA 6714
Australia