Browse LNG

The Browse LNG was a liquefied natural gas plant project proposed for construction at James Price Point, 52 kilometres (32 mi) North of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia. It was considered by a joint venture including Woodside Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Japan Australia LNG, and BHP Billiton. It would have processed natural gas extracted from the Browse Basin. Liquefied natural gas would then be shipped from a port facility also located in the Browse LNG Precinct.

The onshore project was abandoned by the joint venture after Australia's rising costs made the project unviable. This project is now to be developed as a floating LNG facility with minimal construction work to be undertaken in Australia

As of December 2012, the owners of the joint venture are

In December 2012, PetroChina agreed to buy BHP Billiton's 8.3% stake in the East Browse and 20% holding in the West Browse joint venture for US$1.63 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and an option for the other members of the joint venture to match the offer.

The Browse Basin is estimated to contain combined contingent volumes of 15.9 trillion cubic feet of dry gas and 436 million barrels of condensate. The reserves are contained in the Torosa, Brecknock, and Calliance fields [1].

The Kimberley Land Council, as the representatives of the local Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr Aboriginal people under the 1993 Native Title Act, supported the onshore project by 60% of votes.

However, some traditional owners are currently in a legal challenge against this decision. In a press statement they say "…many local Indigenous people are disgusted by the apparent abandonment of the established process put in place by the previous State government. Concerns include the threats made earlier in the year by the Premier regarding compulsory acquisition of land and the pre-empting of the Joint State and Commonwealth environmental and cultural assessment process via announcements by Woodside and the Premier."

...
Wikipedia