SANTOS has revealed plans to transform vast swathes of North West NSW into coal seam gas fields in a briefing to investors this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A map included in the presentation identifies seven “prospective basins” over which the company holds petroleum exploration licences.
The coal seam gas “sweet spots” stretch from Goondiwindi on the NSW-Queensland border down to Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter.
The 62,500sq km tract takes in parts of the Moree, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Tamworth and Liverpool Plains council areas.
The map provides the clearest indication yet that the oil and gas giant’s plans for the region extend far beyond its controversial $2 billion Narrabri Gas Project.
Sarah Ciesiolka, who farms potatoes on a property between Narrabri and Wee Waa, said the plan showed the company’s “complete disregard” for North West residents.
“Finally, we have confirmation of Santos’s long-term plans for our region and it demonstrates what the communities of the North West have long feared,” she said.
“I’m angered that Santos would show such little regard for our community, mapping us as prospective gasfields and not telling us.”
Liverpool Plains farmer Phil Herbert said he had grave fears for the region’s agriculture industry, should the gasfields be developed.
“These plans will potentially involve thousands of wells and hundreds and hundreds of kilometres of gas pipelines and other heavily industrialised infrastructure, right across some of the best food-producing country in Australia,” Mr Herbert said.
Santos NSW general manager Peter Mitchley said the company’s primary focus remained developing its Narrabri Gas Project.
He emphasised that any development of the region’s other coal seam gas hotspots would only occur “where the landholder is happy to work with us”.
“While we are focusing on the proposed project, it is well-known that Santos holds acreage across the broader North West region. The map in question shows this acreage. Future development of acreage would only proceed with landholder consent and through community consultation,” he said.
Santos has stated that the Narrabri Gas Project, which would comprise up to 850 wells, could supply up to 50 per cent of the state’s gas needs.
After an 18-month investigation, NSW Chief Scientist Mary O’Kane recently concluded the risk of coal seam gas extraction could be managed through careful management, monitoring and engineering.
However, many local landholders are still concerned about the impact of the industry on the region’s precious groundwater reserves.