A 40-year-old Territory gas field is the standard for future NT resource projects

A remote Territory gas operation set the standard for safe, sustainable gas production four decades ago. Read what it is.

While contemporary Territory gas projects face intense environmental and regulatory scrutiny, about 100km west of Alice Springs an onshore gas project has been producing sustainable, reliable oil and gas for decades.

Central Petroleum Limited operates what is currently the Territory’s largest onshore oil and gas fields, producing from long-established reserves at the Amadeus Basin west of Alice Springs from the Mereenie, Palm Valley and Dingo fields

The Amadeus Basin has provided reliable high-quality oil and gas since the 1970s, supplying energy to Alice Springs power station, mine sites and energy wholesalers and retailers in central and Northern Australia.

Concurrently, Central Petroleum is exploring the Amadeus for helium, naturally occurring hydrogen and hydrocarbons and is planning a three well exploration strategy over 170,000sq km of tenements for helium and hydrogen.

A sandstorm hits a drilling operation in Central Australia as Central Petroleum searches for oil and gas

The Palm Valley plant was opened in 1983 and for 40 years has been safely and reliably supplying homes and businesses across the NT with the energy they need to turn on their lights.

Central Petroleum has used a mixture of conventional drilling techniques under “robust” scrutiny from regulators embedded within the departments of Industry, Tourism and Technology and Environment, Parks and Water Security.

Central Petroleum general manager operations Nathan Robertson said there is a significant community advantage from gas production beyond the energy benefits delivered.

“We work really hard, as does the regulator, to ensure there’s a robust regimen at our sites,” he said.

“Our environmental management plans are publicly displayed.

Former Central Petroleum Managing Director, Richard Cottee, with the plaque and sculpture commemorating the opening of the Palm Valley-Alice Springs gas pipeline in 1983. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

“Our company targets 25 per cent Indigenous employment and this and the gas and petroleum we produce is making a real difference to our communities.”

Meanwhile at the Beetaloo, the two major proponents have since May been preparing the ground for gas production by as early as next year.

Tamboran Resources Limited became the major project player last September when Origin Energy divested its stake in the project.

Two weeks ago Empire Energy, the other Beetaloo stakeholder, signed an exclusive agreement with APA to deliver pipeline technology for gas distribution to Australia’s east coast.

The Territory government approved development at the Beetaloo in May.

Santos’ Barossa gas project remains stalled, 11 months after the Federal Court ordered the company to re-consult Tiwi Island Traditional Owners and ENI, which operates the depleting Blacktip field which delivers gas to Darwin’s Channel Island Power Station, has begun drilling additional wells to shore up the dwindling flows coming from the existing resource.

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