Australia’s Empire Energy signs deal to sell gas to NT

Australian independent Empire Energy has signed an agreement to supply the Northern Territory (NT) with gas from its Carpentaria project in the onshore Beetaloo subbasin.

Empire will supply NT with up to 25 TJ/d (668,000 m³/d) of gas over 10 years, starting from mid-2025. This equates to an estimated total supply of 75PJ (2bn m3) of gas. The deal includes scope for an additional 10 TJ/d for up to 10 years if production level at the Carpentaria plant exceeds 100 TJ/d.

The firm bought domestic utility AGL Energy's dormant 42 TJ/d Rosalind Park gas plant late last yearwith plans to reassemble the facility on site at Carpentaria, subject to a final investment decision on the project.

Gas will be delivered to the NT government-owned Power and Water (PWC) via the McArthur River gas pipeline on an ex-field take-or-pay basis, Empire said on 26 July.

PWC in April signed an agreement to buy 8.6PJ of gas from Australian independent Central Petroleum, to supply gas-fired power generation and private-sector customers.

Low production at Italian energy firm Eni's Blacktip field, offshore the NT, has led PWC to court new supply while providing a new outlet for prospective producers operating within Beetaloo.

The largest Beetaloo acreage holder, Tamboran Resources, has revealed ambitious plans for a 6.6mn t/yr LNG plant to be located near Darwin Harbour's two existing LNG projects, using the basin's shale gas resources as feedstock.

By Tom Major