Origin’s sneaky plans to sell fracked gas from “exploratory” NT project revealed19 Aug 2022 11:29
Origin Energy’s latest Northern Territory drilling application shows the fracking company is attempting to covertly produce gas for commercial sale from a so-called exploratory project.
Last month, Origin Energy submitted an Environmental Management Plan for 12 new frack wells on Amungee Mungee Station near Daly Waters.
"Despite claiming the project is “exploratory”, a closer examination of the EMP reveals Origin is proposing to produce, use, and potentially sell gas from its project to the McArthur River Pipeline, which supplies Glencore's McArthur River zinc and lead mine.
On page 43 of its EMP, Origin states, “Where possible (and authorised under the Petroleum Act), hydrocarbons may be beneficially utilised onsite for power generation or external sale... In such a case, hydrocarbons may be processed onsite through simple compression and dehydration and piped to the adjacent MacArthur River Pipeline.”
Hannah Ekin from Arid Lands Environment Centre said Origin Energy was trying to pursue production by stealth, which would subvert Fracking Inquiry recommendations requiring additional research and environmental controls to be in place before production commenced in the Territory.
“There are serious questions about the lawfulness of Origin Energy seeking to produce and sell gas under an exploration permit - this seems to be an attempt at production by stealth,” she said.
“This huge proposal to frack 12 new wells and operate them for at least three years and sell off the gas, before Fracking Inquiry recommendations about gas production have been implemented, is a serious risk to the Territory, our water resources, and the climate.
“The Fracking Inquiry specifically raised concerns about exploration creep – production masquerading as exploration to enable the industry to expand without the proper regulations being in place - so it’s very disturbing to see it playing out now” (see p413 of Final Report).”
cont........
https://www.lockthegate.org.au/origin_s_sneaky_plans_to_sell_fracked_gas_from_exploratory_nt_project_revealed
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