Hancock Energy has filed an application to Western Australia’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for its proposed Belisama gas project.
The proposal outlines the construction and operation of a major central processing facility (CPF) and associated pipeline infrastructure.
Located approximately 350 kilometres north of Perth and 25 kilometres south-west of Mingenew, the project is designed to become a hub for gas produced from nearby developments.
The Belisama gas project aims to streamline the processing and transport of gas from surrounding projects that sit outside the current proposal’s scope.
Gas will be transported via a buried central flowline to the Milo-based CPF for treatment. Once processed, the gas will be fed into a new export pipeline connecting directly to the Dampier Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP), a vital artery for the state’s energy grid.
The facility will have a maximum project life of 30 years, with an operational phase of 25 years and 24 months for decommissioning.
Beyond gas, the facility will produce stabilised condensate as a byproduct, which is slated for on-site storage before being trucked off-site for export.
The CPF will be a comprehensive operational hub, featuring a central control room and administration offices, power generation equipment, condensate storage tanks and on-site accommodation buildings, warehouses, and workshops. The site will also include emergency response facilities to support the operations phase.
Hancock Energy has identified a development envelope of 1,326.9 hectares for the project. However, the estimated physical disturbance footprint is pegged at 291.5 hectares.
The company has noted that this footprint includes approximately 5.7 hectares of remnant native vegetation, a key consideration for the EPA during its assessment.
Two areas within the development envelope totalling 21.8 hectares have been designated as clearing exclusion zones (CEZs) and will be avoided.
Hancock Energy proposes to utilise existing cleared areas, such as agricultural land devoid of native vegetation wherever possible, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to traverse three locations – Sand Plain Creek, Yandanooka West Road and Mt Adams Road to avoid impacts to native vegetation, potential heritage values and local traffic.
Only small areas of native vegetation in areas necessary for on-going operational use will be cleared.
Hancock Energy will rehabilitate disturbed areas to re-establish native vegetation, restore the existing land use or establish the agreed post-decommissioning land use.
