Environment Report - Santos

1. Introduction
Existing TXU WUGS
facility
Port Campbell
National Park
Sales gas
30 km (16 nm)
Nearshore
rocky reef
Two subsea wellheads
Horizontal directional drill
shore crossing under
Port Campbell National Park
Gathering manifold
70 m
water depth
Subsea pipeline to shore and
control umbilicals
Reservoir depth
up to 2,000 m
below sea level
Development wells
drilled by jakck-up rig
Not to scale
Casino
Gas Reservoir
Figure 1.2
Casino Gas Field Development schematic
1.2.2 Australian Worldwide
Exploration Limited
Australian Worldwide Exploration Limited
(AWE) is an Australian oil and gas
exploration and production company
listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
(ASX). AWE was founded in Australia in
1997. Its assets include interests in the
Kipper, Basker and Manta gas and oil
fields in the Gippsland Basin (interests
sold in 1999), the Pillantoqui light gas
field in Argentina and exploration acreage
in the Taranaki Basin of New Zealand.
In late 1999, AWE acquired a 96% controlling
interest in Omega Oil NL and this
became a wholly-owned subsidiary in
September 2002. In January 2000, AWE
acquired all of the Australian assets of
Premier Oil plc, including a 33% share of
the producing Beharra Springs gas field
located in the Perth Basin, Western Australia.
AWE also has a 30% interest in
the Yolla gas field in Bass Strait that is
currently being developed.
During 2001, AWE commenced development
of the Las Bases and Estancia
el Colorado gas fields in Argentina and
the Beharra Springs North onshore gas
field in Western Australia. In mid 2003,
AWE acquired a 25% interest in VIC/
P44, containing the Casino gas field.
1.2.3 Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd
Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd (Mitsui) is
100% owned by its parent company,
Mitsui & Co., Ltd of Japan, which has
offices in 210 cities spanning 93 countries.
Mitsui opened its first Australian office in
Sydney in 1909, followed by a Melbourne
office in 1917. Since the 1960’s, Mitsui’s
activities have expanded to include working
with the public and private sectors in
Australia. Mitsui is active in the development
of minerals, energy and agricultural
exports, investment and, more
recently, promoting new areas, including
telecommunications and forestry.
Australian petroleum joint ventures include
the Northwest Shelf LNG project,
Timor Sea exploration and 25% of VIC/
P44 which contains the Casino gas field.
1.3 Project Justification
Gas from the Casino gas field is earmarked
for use by Victorian consumers
during 2006 as a supplement to existing
Victorian gas reserves, catering for the
predicted increase in demand. The
project development schedule aims to
have the gas available to consumers to
meet the winter peak gas use period.
Other potential benefits of the Casino
Gas Field Development include:
• Employment, particularly during construction.
• Direct and indirect commercial benefits
during construction and operation
through the provision of support
services to the project.
Casino Gas Field Development 3