Australia’s oil and gas industry is marked by several large-scale projects, ranging from offshore gas fields to extensive pipeline developments. Below is a list of the most prominent oil and gas projects currently underway in Australia and their various stages of planning and construction.
1. Scarborough Gas Project
- Operator: Woodside Energy
- Location: Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia
- Estimated Value: $16 billion
- Expected Start of Production: 2026
- Construction Status: Approved and Under Construction
- Details: The Scarborough Gas Project involves the development of a major offshore gas field, with gas transported via a 430km pipeline to the Pluto LNG facility. Construction began after the final investment decision (FID) in November 2021. This project is expected to be a key contributor to Woodside’s LNG production expansion
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2. Browse LNG Project
- Operator: Woodside Energy
- Location: Offshore, Western Australia
- Estimated Value: $30 billion
- Expected Start of Production: 2028
- Construction Status: Pending Final Investment Decision (FID)
- Details: The Browse LNG project aims to develop the Torosa, Brecknock, and Calliance fields in the Browse Basin. It involves constructing floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) facilities. While planning is advanced, the FID and full regulatory approval are still pending.
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3. Barossa Gas Project
- Operator: Santos
- Location: Bonaparte Basin, Northern Territory
- Estimated Value: $5.6 billion
- Expected Start of Production: 2025
- Construction Status: Approved and Under Construction
- Details: The Barossa project received its FID in March 2021 and is now under construction. The project will supply gas to the Darwin LNG plant and involves developing an FPSO unit and subsea infrastructure. The project has faced some legal and environmental challenges, but construction continues.
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4. Crux Gas Project
- Operator: Shell Australia
- Location: Browse Basin, Western Australia
- Estimated Value: $2.5 billion
- Expected Start of Production: 2027
- Construction Status: Approved and Under Construction
- Details: The Crux project will supply gas to the Prelude FLNG facility through a remotely operated platform and a 160km pipeline. The project was approved after the FID in May 2022, and construction is underway.
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5. Arrow Surat Gas Project
- Operator: Arrow Energy (Joint Venture between Shell and PetroChina)
- Location: Surat Basin, Queensland
- Estimated Value: $10 billion
- Expected Start of Production: 2026
- Construction Status: Approved and Under Construction
- Details: The Arrow Surat Gas Project is a major coal seam gas (CSG) development involving the drilling of 600 wells and extensive gas processing infrastructure. The project has received all necessary approvals, and construction is ongoing.
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6. Dorado Oil Project
- Operator: Santos (with Carnarvon Petroleum)
- Location: Bedout Basin, Offshore Western Australia
- Estimated Value: $2 billion
- Expected Start of Production: 2026
- Construction Status: FID Pending, Early Works Commenced
- Details: The Dorado project, focusing primarily on oil production, is in the pre-FID phase with early site works already commenced. The project involves developing an FPSO facility with first oil expected by 2026, pending final approvals.
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7. Amadeus to Moomba Gas Pipeline
- Operator: Joint Venture between Central Petroleum, Macquarie Group, and Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG)
- Location: Northern Territory to South Australia
- Estimated Value: $1.2 billion
- Expected Start of Operation: 2024
- Construction Status: Approved and Under Construction
- Details: This pipeline project is designed to enhance gas supply by transporting gas from the Amadeus Basin to Moomba, reducing transport costs. Construction began in 2022, with operations expected to start in 2024.
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8. Greater Sunrise Gas Project
- Operator: Joint Venture (Woodside Energy, Timor-Leste Government, and others)
- Location: Timor Sea, between Australia and Timor-Leste
- Estimated Value: $13 billion
- Expected Start of Production: Mid-2020s (TBC)
- Construction Status: Not Fully Approved
- Details: The Greater Sunrise project is still in the planning and negotiation stages, with significant discussions ongoing between the Australian and Timor-Leste governments. Full regulatory approval has not yet been secured.
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9. Sasanof Gas Field
- Operator: Western Gas
- Location: Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia
- Estimated Value: $1 billion
- Expected Start of Production: Late 2020s
- Construction Status: Exploration and Appraisal Stage
- Details: The Sasanof project is in its early exploration and appraisal stages, with full project development pending the success of these activities. Regulatory approvals will follow based on exploration outcomes.
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For the most up-to-date information and further details, you can visit the project links provided.
Controversy and Public Debate
These developments have sparked significant controversy. Environmental activists and community groups have raised concerns about the potential impact on fragile ecosystems, climate change contributions, and the long-term sustainability of fossil fuel reliance. Legal battles have ensued over environmental approvals, and debates over Indigenous land rights have intensified, particularly where projects intersect with culturally significant areas. Additionally, there is a growing discourse around the social license of these projects, questioning whether the economic benefits justify the environmental and social costs.