Overview

Woodside, as Operator for and on behalf of the Browse Joint Venture (BJV), is proposing to develop the Calliance, Brecknock, and Torosa fields located approximately 425 km north of Broome in the offshore Browse Basin.

In September 2018, the BJV selected the Browse to North West Shelf (NWS) Project development concept to progress into the concept definition phase. The proposed development concept includes: two floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities delivering 11.4 Mtpa of LNG/LPG and domestic gas; and an approximately 900 km pipeline to the existing NWS Karratha Gas Plant.

A carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution to sequester the majority of the Browse reservoir carbon dioxide (CO2) has been determined by the BJV to be feasible and the CCS infrastructure has subsequently been incorporated into the development concept.

Regulatory approvals processes are ongoing.

Browse’s role in the energy transition

The development of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, such as Browse, in Western Australia can help to meet growing regional energy demand while also supporting decarbonisation of industries. In particular, major regional economies such as Japan remain clear that they need Western Australia to continue as a secure, affordable supplier of energy as the energy transition progresses.

Some uses of natural gas include – very high temperature industrial heat (in glass, ceramic and steel production) and chemical feedstock for fertiliser production.

Managing our impacts

Investment in new gas supply, such as Browse, is needed to deliver domestic gas for Western Australians. In WA gas is increasingly used to replace coal in generating electricity needed to heat and cool homes and keep lights on. Natural gas is also used in the production of bricks, aluminium and fertiliser, and our mining, manufacturing and critical minerals industries rely on it. We recognise that strong environmental performance is essential to our success and continued growth.

Environmental approvals

Commonwealth

The proposed Browse to NWS Project was referred to the Commonwealth regulator in October 2018 and was determined to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for assessment through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Woodside released the draft EIS for the Browse to NWS Project for public comment from 18 December 2019 to 12 February 2020. The EIS was finalised taking account of any comments received during the public comment period. The final EIS, including a Supplement to the EIS, was published in September 2022.

The Browse Carbon Capture and Storage Project was referred to the Commonwealth regulator for assessment in accordance with the EPBC Act, in October 2024. This seeks environmental approval of the Browse CCS Project as a separate but related proposal to Browse to NWS.

State

The WA State Waters component of the proposed Browse to NWS Project was referred to the WA Environment Protection Authority (EPA) under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) in October 2018. It was determined that the Proposal was to be assessed through a Public Environmental Review (PER). The Environmental Review Document was published for public comment in December 2019, and a Response to Submissions was published in December 2023.

In September 2024, Woodside provided further information to both the Commonwealth and State regulators on the Browse to North West Shelf Project referrals, including new scientific data and additional best practice mitigations to further demonstrate our commitment to avoid and minimise any potential environmental impacts from the proposed development.

In March 2025, Woodside submitted an amendment to the State Browse to NWS Project proposal under section 43A of the the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) to reflect new measures and changes to the proposal that were committed to in response to feedback from the EPA. Further information regarding the amendments is available here.

Woodside continues to work with State and Commonwealth regulators to finalise environmental assessment of the proposed Browse to NWS Project.