Empire Energy Receives Carpentaria Project EMP Approval

Empire Energy Group Ltd. has secured approval for the Environment Management Plan (EMP) of its Carpentaria Pilot Project from the Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and Environment.

The approval allows Empire to establish up to four new well pads in exploration permit 187 (EP187) as well as drilling, hydraulic fracture stimulation, and completion of up to nine new wells. Empire said in a media release that the approval opens the door for the installation of the Carpentaria Gas Plant (CGP), Water Handling Station (WHS), and gas and water/wastewater flowlines.

Additionally, the company said it has received approval to operate and maintain up to 12 gas wells including the existing Carpentaria-2H and Carpentaria-3H wells, new and existing well pads, the CGP, WHS, gas and water/wastewater flowlines and camps, as well as to send gas from up to 12 wells to the McArthur River Pipeline for export to markets.

"The Empire team continues to progress towards pilot production from the Beetaloo Basin, which will provide much-needed gas supply for the people of the Northern Territory under the gas sales agreement Empire signed with the NT Government earlier this year”, Alex Underwood, Empire Energy Managing Director, said.  “This regulatory approval aligns with the NT Government’s support for Empire and the development of the broader Beetaloo Basin, which is expected to create thousands of jobs, put downward pressure on energy prices across the NT and Eastern Australia, and has the potential to drive a resurgence of manufacturing in the Northern Territory”.

Following receipt of the EMP approval, regulatory approval for the sale of gas under the Beneficial Use of Test Gas provisions of the NT Petroleum Act is the last major approval required for the Carpentaria Pilot Project.

“The Empire team is progressing the final remaining approvals required to sell gas produced from the Carpentaria Pilot Project under the NT Petroleum Act’s Beneficial Use of Test Gas provisions”, Underwood said.

The company is actively engaging with traditional owners to seek approval for gas sales under the Beneficial Use of Test Gas provisions. The company said it is working with the Northern Land Council to facilitate a meeting to enable traditional owners to make a decision, which is a prerequisite for the sale of gas.

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