By Peter Wills The Queensland Hunter Gas Pipeline was originally scoped out in the mid 2000’s and a 200m wide pipeline corridor study area approved in 2009 for 10 years. In 2018 the project was extended for a further 5 years by the NSW State Planning Department with a new expiry date of October 2024 … Read more
2022 is nearly over and in a big boost for the forest & community it would seem that Santos are unlikely to begin any actual drilling or operational activities before the end of the year as threatened. Both on the Liverpool Plains and in the Pilliga Forest. The company has spent the year finalizing its … Read more
When will Santos start clearing? This is the question. We believe that all management plans (click on post-approval) need to have been approved before Santos can begin to clear. It is a possibility that Santos may begin clearing before years end for seismic surveys (length and location to be determined). When will they bring a … Read more
Santos has ramped up gas extraction in the Pilliga Forest under its exploration licence, deploying a type of drilling rig known as a flushby rig 40km south of Narrabri. They are conducting production enhancement and well suspensions, industry jargon for remedial works aimed at preparing gas wells for production. “Santos are using Queensland-based drilling contractors … Read more
An application by QGC and Shell to use BTEX-laced synthetic drilling muds during exploration has been averted following community opposition. QGC/Shell applied to the Department of Environment & Science in Queensland in early June to be given approval to use the currently banned BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) compounds in synthetic drilling muds under its … Read more
The NSW Government has sent a clear signal to would-be investors in the coal seam gas industry in NSW by slashing 77% off the area designated for exploration. Just four Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) out of 12 have quietly been renewed by Deputy Premier and Resources Minister Paul Toole MP, a Government backflip that has … Read more
In a declaration of war against the cultural heritage of the Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga Forest, Santos Ltd will challenge the Gomeroi Nation in the Native Title Tribunal at the Federal Court on 8 April 2022 over an overwhelming decision by the Nation to block the Narrabri Pilliga Gas Project. The decision at … Read more
‘The Pilliga Project’ film by Natalie Haddad is about the threat of Santos’s destructive Narrabri gas project to the Pilliga forest and Australia’s food and water. The gas project will have ripple effects across NSW and Australia, threatening our food and water supply. Protecting the forest will protect Australia’s water supply for generations. During the … Read more
This map shows the combined footprint of gas pipelines, coal seam gas PELs, inland rail, renewable energy zones, special activation precincts, proposed gas-fired/hydrogen power stations and floating LNG terminals in NSW. Some of this infrastructure is in the proposal stage. Mapping of the coal seam gas PELs in NSW is now complete and there has … Read more
This report was produced by the Northern Inland Council for the Environment and the Wilderness Society. It is housed here for reference purposes.