PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Coordinator-General has released the draft environmental-impact statement (EIS) of the proposed expansion of the Gladstone liquefied natural gas (GLNG) project for public comment.

The $18.50-billion GLNG project, being developed by Australian major Santos and its joint venture (JV) partners Petronas, Total and Kogas, was slated for first production in 2015 and would deliver about 7.8-million tonnes a year of gas.

The expansion of the GLNG project would involve the construction, operation, decommissioning and rehabilitation of additional production wells and associated infrastructure in tenures held by Santos in the Surat basin.

The expansion project was expected to extend the existing approved gas field development activities of the GLNG project over the next 30 years, and would expand the GLNG’s gas fields from 6 887 km² to 10 676 km², and would develop up to 6 100 additional production wells beyond the currently authorised 2 650 production wells.

The Queensland government has pointed out that the expansion project could create an additional 1 900 jobs in the Surat and Bowen basin regions.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the expansion project entails the progressive development of 35 petroleum tenements covering around 11 000 km² in the south-west of the state.

“These tenements are located across areas in the vicinity of Roma, Wallumbilla, Miles, Surat, Wandoan, Taroom, Injune and Rolleston and could lead to about 6 000 production wells and necessary accompanying infrastructure being constructed progressively over the next 20 years.

“If the project goes ahead, it will provide considerable medium and long-term job opportunities for the region. However, its expansion must strike the right balance between the environment and existing land uses.”

The Coordinator-General is conducting a single assessment on behalf of the state and federal governments with consultation set to occur from November 10 to December 22.