ADELAIDE, Australia — The Federal Court of Australia has ruled in favor of Santos, allowing for the resumption of the Barossa pipelay offshore Australia. The court case, brought by Munkara against Santos NA Barossa Pty, has been dismissed and the injunction, which had prevented offshore pipelay activities in the Timor Sea south of the kilometer 86 (KP86) point along the route of the Barossa gas export pipeline, has been discharged. With the court’s decision, Santos can now proceed with the project in accordance with the environment plan.
The Barossa Field, located 285 km north-northwest of Darwin, will serve as the gas production site, while the main gas export pipeline and Darwin Pipeline Duplication system will deliver the gas to the onshore Darwin LNG complex. The project aims to achieve first production by 2025.
Among the main project infrastructure is a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel connected to a subsea production system, as well as supporting in-field subsea infrastructure. Santos has plans to drill up to eight subsea wells, with six wells to be drilled from three different drill centers. Additional contingency plans have been made in case two more wells are required.
In light of the court’s ruling, Santos expressed its satisfaction with the outcome and its commitment to the Barossa gas export pipeline project. According to a Santos spokesperson, The ruling allows us to continue the development of the Barossa project, which will enhance Australia’s energy security and contribute to the ongoing development of Northern Australia.
With this development, Santos has overcome a significant hurdle in the project’s progress and can now move forward with the necessary activities to bring the Barossa gas export pipeline to fruition. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and contribute to Australia’s energy needs. As construction resumes, Santos will continue to prioritize adherence to environmental guidelines and regulations to ensure the sustainable development of the offshore gas reserves.
The news of Santos’ clearance to resume the Barossa pipelay in offshore Australia is expected to pique the interest of energy industry stakeholders, investors, and individuals closely following Australia’s energy sector. The project holds great potential for the country’s economy and its growing energy demands. As Santos progresses with the pipelay activities and subsequent gas production, further updates on the project’s milestones and potential contributions to Australia’s energy landscape are anticipated.
