Woodside Energy investigated the construction of a liquefied natural gas processing plant near James Price Point on the Dampier Peninsula, 60 km north of Broome. The gas was to be piped to the Browse LNG Precinct from offshore platforms in the Browse Basin.
Rockwater undertook hydrogeological and environmental investigations to confirm the potential for developing a groundwater supply of up to 8 GL/annum for the Browse LNG Precinct.
Rockwater was responsible for establishing a groundwater monitoring network at the precinct, including bore-site selection, bore design, supervision of drilling, bore construction and testing, groundwater sampling and reporting, and biological surveys for stygofauna.
A production bore was constructed in the Broome Aquifer and test-pumped at 28 L/s for 48 hours. When completed, the water was filtered and reinjected back into the aquifer to minimise environmental impact.
Groundwater modelling was used to predict the effects of groundwater extraction on water levels and the environment, and the position of the saline-water-interface in the Broome Aquifer.
Rockwater identified the James Price Point monsoon vine thickets as a potential groundwater-dependent ecosystem. A groundwater investigation and monitoring programme was designed to assess the hydrogeological environment in the monsoon vine thicket area.
We also conducted a comprehensive stygofauna survey at James Price Point. Sampling identified nine potential endemic species at the LNG Precinct and many more regionally in the Broome Aquifer.
An H3 Level of Hydrogeological Assessment was prepared by Rockwater for submission to the regulator.
