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  • 22 Sep 2024 12:14 PM | Stephanie Berlin (Administrator)

    Energy company Santos’ signature Barossa project is nearing 80 per cent completion, with first production estimated within the next 12 months.

    Santos executive Vince Santostefano told last week’s Northern Territory Resources Week conference in Darwin the “hard slog” project would deliver significant benefits for the Territory, nation and regional neighbours.

    He told delegates the controversial pipeline environmentalists and academics misleadingly persuaded a section of the Tiwi Island community to oppose, according to a federal court judgement, had been completed, and a third Barossa well had also been drilled, with excellent reservoir results.

    He said the floating production, storage and offtake vessel – which is the largest of its type in the world – was on track to arrive in Australia from Singapore early next year and that the Darwin LNG Life extension project was now 50 per cent complete.

    He said Santos was investing more than $6bn in the Darwin LNG life extension, Barossa and the Bayu-Undan carbon capture and storage project.

    When open, Barossa will deliver 300 new operations and maintenance jobs in the Territory with about $2.5bn in wages and supplies expected to flow into the local economy during the project’s life.

    “Getting to the halfway point on the Darwin LNG life extension is a great milestone for a project of critical importance to Darwin,” Mr Santostefano said.

    “Santos has invested heavily to deliver the Barossa Gas Project because our customers continue to need gas for heating, electricity and for making critical products such as fertilisers, steel and the polymers.

    “These are the foundation of all kinds of chemicals and plastics – from toothpaste to medical syringes, from paint to the moulded dashboards of our cars. Countries like Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and China, simply will not sacrifice the energy security of their people or their economies.”

    He said the Territory’s natural endowment meant it would be crucial to delivering the future energy mix required to power Australia and the region.

    “The Territory has enormous potential as a leading supplier of affordable energy to Australia and the giant energy-consuming economies of Asia,” Mr Santostefano said.

    “It has a wealth of gas resources – onshore and offshore – a wealth of renewable resources, particularly solar – and a wealth of both geological and nature-based carbon sequestration opportunities.

    “It’s the ideal place for new industrial development including hydrogen, ammonia and polymers and potentially, critical minerals processing. It has plenty of land and deep water ports and is close to our energy markets in Asia.”

    He dismissed scare campaigns against gas.

    “Australia has a responsibility to use its comparative advantage in both gas and carbon storage resources for the betterment of not only our own nation, but to support regional stability by providing energy security and carbon solutions for our trading partners and friends in Asia,” he said.

    Source: The NT News

  • 19 Sep 2024 1:14 PM | Anonymous

    Top End Energy Limited is pleased to provide an update on its recently acquired Exploration Permit (EP) 144 (the Permit), which is located in the South Nicholson Basin area of the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • Existence of organic-rich shales on EP 144 proven by recent drilling on overlapping mineral tenure. 
    • Preliminary analysis confirms Proterozoic organic-rich source rocks are present with up to 3.1wt% TOC, sampled from whole core captured during Encounter Resources’ recent drilling campaign. 
    • Data is consistent with the Lawn Hill shale interval intersected at nearby NDI Carrara-1 stratigraphic well, where TOC was sampled up to 3.2 wt%. • Ongoing organic petrographic analyses to help determine thermal maturity of organic-rich intervals. 
    • Geophysical wireline logging of Encounter’s wells planned ahead of resampling whole core intervals. 
    • Deep stratigraphic well planning to test deeper source rock intervals interpreted on seismic to be present and confirm stacked shale play potential.

    Source: Top End Energy ASX Announcement

  • 19 Sep 2024 12:24 PM | Stephanie Berlin (Administrator)

    The Environmental Defenders Office is poised to deliver the next tranche of documents to Santos, as the oil and gas company tries to identify who funded the failed bid to block a key part of the $5.7bn Barossa LNG ­development.

    The documents, which are expected to be turned over to Santos on Friday, will guide the South Australia-headquartered company as to who it pursues for costs over legal action by a Tiwi Islander, Simon Munkara.

    Mr Munkara had sought an injunction against the gas giant’s plan to develop a 262km pipeline for new LNG wells in waters off the Northern Territory, arguing it would ­irreparably damage cultural associations with the sea.

    The Federal Court rejected the application in a scathing judgment and permitted Santos to pursue costs.

    Santos has said it will not pursue Mr Munkara but will instead demand reparations from the backers of the bid.

    To ascertain who Santos holds responsible, the Federal Court has ordered the EDO to turn over all communications related to the legal challenge, and The Australian understands the body will on Friday submit the third of four tranches of files.

    There is widespread interest in the details of the communications, particularly after the EDO offered to pay Santos’s costs after months of insisting it was not ­liable.

    If Santos had accepted the EDO offer, it would have ended the case and stopped the transfer of all of the EDO’s communications related to the case. The EDO would typically not be considered liable for costs as Mr Munkara’s legal counsel.

    Santos is likely to be eligible for millions of dollars – a figure that would cause significant harm to the EDO.

    Santos earlier this month revealed its legal costs from the case were approximately $8m.

    Typically about 70 per cent of the costs incurred are offered to the victor, a sizeable sum for the EDO.

    A spokeswoman for the EDO declined to comment.

    Lawyers for the organisation said the offer to pay Santos was driven by a desire to end the litigation.

    A spokeswoman for Santos declined to comment.

    However, sources familiar with the case said the company believed the delivery of documents would provide it with the most illuminating information yet.

    However, the EDO may wait until mid-October to provide the most sensitive information as the Federal Court has ruled all documents must be turned over to Santos by then.

    The EDO has little scope for further delays. In the most recent hearings, Federal Court Justice Natalie Charlesworth rebuked the legal group for its failure to comply with an earlier order to hand Santos the relevant documents by the end of August, though she gave a short extension.

    Lawyers for the EDO said the process of determining relevant documents was difficult, and the entity had to be mindful of so-called privileged information.

    Privileged communication includes interactions between two parties where the law recognises a private, protected relationship. Whatever is communicated between the two parties must remain confidential, and the law cannot force disclosure.

    The EDO assured Justice Charlesworth it was moving as quickly as possible, and had engaged outside help to accelerate the transfer.

    Santos is eager to see the documents, and had offered to pay for an independent entity to accelerate the transfer – underscoring the keenness and conviction of the oil and gas company.

    Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher has repeatedly declined to comment on the matter directly, but has said that those who brought cases that were deemed to have no merit should be held accountable.

    The comments illustrate growing frustration in the Australian gas industry after environmentalists used the courts to slow or block LNG developments.

    Santos has been a particular target, with critics successfully arguing on behalf of Indigenous groups.

    Santos’s Barossa project was delayed by more than a year when the Federal Court ruled the company had not adequately consulted with stakeholders before seeking approval for its environmental plan.

    The federal government had promised to restrict the capacity of opponents to use the courts, but shelved plans earlier this year.

    But Santos’s aggressive pushback appears to have altered the legal landscape.

    In August, in an unrelated case, the Australian Conservation Foundation dropped its legal bid to block Woodside’s $16.5bn Scarborough LNG project off the coast of Western Australia.

    In 2022, the ACF asked the Federal Court to order a suspension of work on the project until an assessment was made about its potential effects on the Great Barrier Reef.

    Source: The NT News

  • 18 Sep 2024 1:18 PM | Anonymous

    The CLP Government will fix the economic mess Labor left behind and aim to capitalise on record mineral exploration expenditure in the NT.

    Mineral exploration expenditure for 2023-24 was the highest financial year on record at $227.4 million, increasing from $200.1 million in 2022-23.

    Kicking off NT Resources Week in Darwin, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the 14 per cent rise was nearly nine times higher than the Australia-wide increase of 1.6 per cent.

    “Under my new CLP Government’s economic policies, we will vigorously pursue mining, gas, defence, tourism and agriculture,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.

    “This is unlike the previous Labor Government which left the Territory as a place which was too hard to do business. We saw no new major mines open in eight years and approval times have blown out to ridiculous levels.

    “The development of new mines, as well as the Beetaloo Basin, is now an urgent priority for us to rebuild the Territory’s economy.

    “Labor failed to have the right framework to deliver, which is why we have changed up government departments, and we are making it easier to do business through reducing payroll tax and establishing a new Territory Coordinator to slash red tape and fast-track approvals.”

    Mr Maley said: “The mining and resource sector will continue to play a vital role keeping Territorians employed, and hundreds of businesses across our regions engaged.”

    “We have recently established the Department of Mining and Energy to support our key resources industry. We have also established the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment to ensure timely environmental approvals are achieved and create a better system for economic development,” he said.

    Mrs Finocchiaro said: “Our CLP Government is full of hope and optimism about the future of the Northern Territory.”

    The Territory has 17 of the world’s most in demand critical minerals, including cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, rare earths, and zinc.

    The total value of mineral production in the Northern Territory was $4.32 billion in 2023-24.

    Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom

  • 10 Sep 2024 11:42 AM | Anonymous

    Empire is now entering an exciting phase, targeting commencement of sales from the Beetaloo.

    Following the recent successful capital raising, the team has been progressing design and execution planning for the C-5H pilot development well and engineering works for the installation of surface facilities to allow for the sale of test gas into the McArthur River Pipeline.

    We remain on track to drill and stimulate C-5H this year, with initial flow test results due in Q1 2025.

    Engineering work on the surface facilities continues with installation on track for Q2 2025, with pilot production sales anticipated to commence in mid-2025 (subject to regulatory approvals for sale of test gas which are well advanced)

    To view the fill announcement, visit: Beetaloo Services Contracts Executed

    Source: Empire Energy Group  

  • 10 Sep 2024 10:40 AM | Stephanie Berlin (Administrator)

    Changes to Northern Territory public sector agencies will create a strong, effective government focused on our key priorities of reducing crime, rebuilding the economy and restoring our lifestyle.

    In line with the official swearing-in of the new Cabinet today, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the machinery of government changes enable Ministers to deliver on the Northern Territory Government’s commitments to Territorians. 

    “We are determined to lead a government which is effective, coordinated and focused on the priorities of Territorians,” she said.

    "A strong public service is vital in delivering the changes the Northern Territory and its people need. Public sector jobs are safe.

    "Together, we will rebuild the Territory for all Territorians.”

    Under the changes, the number of key agencies will increase from 12 to 18.

    The Chief Minister said the new arrangements have been designed with clear objectives in mind.

    “We are aligning our public sector structures with our Government’s top priorities, building a stronger, more specialised public service with technical expertise within smaller departments, empowering quicker and informed decisions that are made closer to the ground” the Chief Minister said.

    “The new structures will also enable services to be more agile and responsive.

    “Mr Ken Davies PSM, CEO of the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet is experienced and knowledgeable and will provide sure footing to implement the machinery of government changes and our reform agenda.

    "I take this opportunity to thank Ms Karen Weston for her service to education in the Northern Territory, as well as Dr Marco Briceno for his service to Health, who will continue to bring his professional expertise to the frontline in health.  I also thank Mr Craig Graham for his long service as Under Treasurer and I am pleased that he will take on a strategic advisory role to support the development of the Middle Arm Sustainability Development precinct as a major driver of the Territory’s economy.”

    Full changes can be viewed through the Administrative Arrangement Order at https://legislation.nt.gov.au/en/Legislation/ADMINISTRATIVE-ARRANGEMENTS-ORDER

    Agencies under the new structure with CEO (in Administrative Arrangements Order)

    Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet (CM&C) - Ken Davies PSM
         including the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE) – Nicole Hurwood

    Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) - Under-Treasurer Tim McManus

    Attorney-General’s Department (AGD)- Gemma Lake

    Department of Corporate and Digital Development (DCDD) - Catherine Weber 

    NT Police (NTPOL) - Commissioner Michael Murphy APM

    NT Fire and Emergency Service (NTFES) - Commissioner Andrew Warton

    Department of Education and Training (DET) - Susan Bowden 

    Department of Health (DOH) - Chris Hosking

    Department of Children and Families (DCF)- Emma White

    Department of Corrections (DoC) - Commissioner Matthew Varley

    Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (DTBAR) - Hayley Richards

    Department of Mining and Energy (DME) - Alister Trier

    Department of Logistics and Infrastructure (DLI) - Louise McCormick

    Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (DLPE) - Joanne Townsend

    Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) - Andrew Kirkman

    Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development (DHLGCD) - Luccio Cercarelli PSM

    Department of Tourism and Hospitality (DTH) - Suzana Bishop

    Department of People, Sport and Culture (DPSC) - Samantha Livesley

    Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom 

  • 09 Sep 2024 3:34 PM | Anonymous

    Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has announced the new CLP Government’s full ministry.
     
    “The CLP has been given a mandate to deliver change for all Territorians and our new Cabinet will ensure a better Northern Territory for everyone,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.
     
    “Community safety is my government’s first priority, and we are on track to deliver our promised reforms on bail and increased police powers in the first week of Parliament.
     
    “Rebuilding the economy and restoring the Territory’s reputation as a competitive destination to live, work, visit and invest is a key focus of our new Cabinet.
     
    “Territorians voted for change for the better and our Cabinet will lead the Territory forward.”
     
    Here is the full list of the Finocchiaro Government’s Cabinet:

    Lia Finocchiaro

    Chief Minister

    Minister for Police

    Minister for Fire and Emergency Services

    Minister for Defence NT

    Minister for Territory Coordinator

    Gerard Maley

    Deputy Chief Minister

    Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries

    Minister for Mining and Energy 

    Minister for Corrections

    Minister for Renewables

    Minister for Recreational Fishing 

    William (Bill) Yan

    Treasurer

    Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure

    Minister for Housing Construction

    Marie-Clare Boothby

    Attorney-General

    Minister for Tourism and Hospitality

    Minister for Major Events

    Minister for Parks and Wildlife

    Minister for Racing 

    Steven (Steve) Edgington

    Minister for Health

    Minister for Mental Health

    Minister for Alcohol Policy

    Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

    Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development 

    Minister for Essential Services

    Joshua (Josh) Burgoyne

    Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment

    Minister for Corporate and Digital Development

    Minister for Water Resources

    Jo-Anne (Jo) Hersey

    Minister for Education and Training

    Minister for Early Education

    Minister for Public Service 

    Robyn Cahill

    Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations

    Minister for International Education, Migration and Population

    Minister for Workforce Development

    Minister for Advanced Manufacturing

    Minister for Children and Families

    Minister Child Protection

    Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence 

    Jinson Charls

    Minister for People, Sport and Culture

    Minister for Disability

    Minister for Arts

    Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality

    Minister for Multicultural Affairs 

    Minister for Veterans

    Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom

  • 30 Aug 2024 9:17 AM | Anonymous

    Highlights

    • Tamboran Resources Corporation has commenced its Shenandoah South (SS) Pilot Project drilling program with the spudding of the Shenandoah South 2 (SS-2H) well in EP 98. The SS-2H well is being drilled off a new pad located approximately 3 miles north of the Shenandoah South 1H (SS-1H) well and within the Tamboran-operated SS Pilot Project area (47.5% working interest).
    • Following the drilling of the SS-2H well, Tamboran will immediately drill the Shenandoah South 3H (SS-3H) well off the same pad ahead of the stimulation program.
    • The SS-2H and SS-3H wells will be drilled with the Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP) super-spec FlexRig® Flex 3 rig and will target the Middle Velkerri B Shale at a depth of approximately 9,910 feet (3,020 metres). Each well is expected to be drilled in 30 days.
    • Both the SS-2H and SS-3H wells are designed to include a 10,000-foot (3,000-metre) horizontal section and will each be stimulated with up to 60 stages utilizing the Liberty Energy (NYSE: LBRT) modern frac fleet which has recently been mobilized from the US to Australia. The increased efficiency and performance of the Liberty frac fleet is expected to result in a material increase in the number of completed stages per day and optimized gas flows.
    • Initial flow test results from each well are expected in Q1 2025. Once flow testing is complete, both wells will be suspended as future producers to supply Tamboran’s proposed 40 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) SS Pilot Project. Production from the SS Pilot Project is expected to commence in H1 2026, subject to final stakeholder and regulatory approvals.
    • The two well program will be the largest single campaign in the Beetaloo Basin to date.

    To view the full ASX Announcement, click here.

    Source: Tamboran Resources

  • 30 Aug 2024 8:13 AM | Anonymous

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. is pleased to announce the commencement of the 2024 drilling programme with the spudding of the Shenandoah South 2H (“SS2H”) horizontal well in exploration permit 98 in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia with Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited’s joint venture partner, Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited (“Tamboran B2”).

    Following the drilling of the SS2H well, Tamboran B2 will immediately move to the Shenandoah South 3H (“SS3H”) well off the same well pad location ahead of the stimulation program.

    Both wells will be drilled with a H&P super-spec FlexRig® Flex 3 Rig and will include a horizontal section of approximately 3,000 metres and will target the Amungee Member B-shale at an estimated target depth of 3,020 metres. Each well is expected to be drilled in 30 days.

    The wells will be stimulated with up to 60 stages utilising the Liberty Energy modern frac fleet currently being mobilised from the US to Australia. The increased efficiency and performance of the Liberty fleet is expected to result in a material increase in the completed stages per day and optimised gas flows.

    Initial flow test results from each well are expected in Q1 2025. Once flow testing is complete, both wells will be suspended as future producers to supply the proposed 40 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) Shenandoah South Pilot Project, which is expected to commence production in H1 2026, subject to final stakeholder and regulatory approvals.

    The two well program will be the largest single campaign in the Beetaloo Sub-basin to date. An additional four well program is planned for 2025 which will complete the drilling for the proposed Shenandoah South Pilot Project that will supply 40 MMcf/d to the Northern Territory government.

    Falcon Australia will participate in both wells in the Shenandoah South Pilot Project at its elected participating interest of 5%.

    Source: Falcon Oil and Gas

  • 22 Aug 2024 8:50 AM | Anonymous

    SunCable has announced that the Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) has received environmental approval from the Commonwealth Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

    This follows last month's approval of the project by the Northern Territory Government under the Environment Protection (EP) Act (2019).

    These approvals enable SunCable to proceed with the next phases of development to deliver industrial-scale electricity to customers in Darwin and Singapore.

    AAPowerLink is one of the largest energy infrastructure projects to receive EPBC Act approval, covering a project footprint approximately 2,000km long, stretching from the heart of the Northern Territory to the Australian and Indonesian maritime border.

    Through its flagship AAPowerLink project, SunCable aims to supply power to both Darwin and Singapore by harnessing, storing, and transmitting renewable energy sourced from the Northern Territory of Australia.

    AAPowerLink is set to attract large-scale investment and global talent to Australia, further solidifying the country’s standing as a global leader in renewable energy technology.

    A Final Investment Decision (FID) on the project is anticipated in 2027, with electricity supply expected to begin in the early 2030s.

    Source: SunCable

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