The Western Australian government has granted "State Significant Project" status to Woodside Energy's proposed Browse to North West Shelf (NWS) offshore development, prioritizing the regulatory approval path for what is considered the country's largest untapped conventional gas resource.
Offshore Energy reported that the designation represents the highest level of prioritization available under the state's Lead Agency Framework, a system designed to guide project proponents through complex regulatory and development milestones by providing whole-of-government coordination.
The proposed Browse to North West Shelf (NWS) project aims to tap the Calliance, Torosa, and Brecknock fields. The development plan involves connecting two floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) units to the existing Karratha gas plant via a 900-kilometer pipeline.
Once operational, the project has a forecast production capacity of 11.4 million tonnes per annum and a peak condensate production rate of 50,000 barrels per day.
An independent economic impact assessment projected that the development could deliver a long-term national gross domestic product uplift of approximately A$141 billion. The project is also expected to generate A$56 billion in taxes and royalties, which includes an estimated A$19.8 billion in petroleum resource rent tax.
To address environmental impact, Woodside has incorporated a carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution into the project's design. The company expects the CCS component to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 53 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to its initial 2019 Scope 1 emissions estimates.
"Woodside recognises that whole-of-government coordination is essential to unlock the benefits of the Browse to North West Shelf Project," the company said in a statement.
The energy firm added that it will continue to work closely with government bodies, industry partners, Indigenous stakeholders, unions, and local communities as the proposal moves through the approvals process.