❓ A parliamentary question regarding water supply capacity at Broome port to support Browse gas field exploration, and potential economic losses if water supply is inadequate. The Minister denies awareness and states upgrades are the responsibility of the developer.
AnsweredQoN 859Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BROWSE GAS FIELD BASIN EXPLORATION PROGRAM - WATER REQUIREMENTS
(1) With regard to the gas and oil drilling program that has commenced in and around the Browse gas field basin, is the minister aware that - (a) over the next three years approximately 36 exploratory holes will be drilled and that rig tenders will have to make 30 visits per hole to the Broome port to take on one million litres of water each time; (b) because of the current capacity of the water main, it currently takes up to 96 hours to refill the one million litre storage tank at the Broome port; and (c) there is concern that if rig tenders are queued for several days waiting for the port tank to refill, exploration companies may consider alternative ports such as Darwin, leading to a considerable economic loss to both Broome and Western Australia? (2) Given the above, what action will the Water Corporation take to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of water to the Broome port tank to meet the needs of the exploration companies without tenders having to queue? Hon KIM CHANCE
(1) With regard to the gas and oil drilling program that has commenced in and around the Browse gas field basin, is the minister aware that - (a) over the next three years approximately 36 exploratory holes will be drilled and that rig tenders will have to make 30 visits per hole to the Broome port to take on one million litres of water each time; (b) because of the current capacity of the water main, it currently takes up to 96 hours to refill the one million litre storage tank at the Broome port; and (c) there is concern that if rig tenders are queued for several days waiting for the port tank to refill, exploration companies may consider alternative ports such as Darwin, leading to a considerable economic loss to both Broome and Western Australia? (2) Given the above, what action will the Water Corporation take to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of water to the Broome port tank to meet the needs of the exploration companies without tenders having to queue? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Ken Baston for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
(b) because of the current capacity of the water main, it currently takes up to 96 hours to refill the one million litre storage tank at the Broome port; and (c) there is concern that if rig tenders are queued for several days waiting for the port tank to refill, exploration companies may consider alternative ports such as Darwin, leading to a considerable economic loss to both Broome and Western Australia?
(c) there is concern that if rig tenders are queued for several days waiting for the port tank to refill, exploration companies may consider alternative ports such as Darwin, leading to a considerable economic loss to both Broome and Western Australia?
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Ken Baston for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
I thank Hon Ken Baston for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
(1) No. (2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
(2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
(b) because of the current capacity of the water main, it currently takes up to 96 hours to refill the one million litre storage tank at the Broome port; and (c) there is concern that if rig tenders are queued for several days waiting for the port tank to refill, exploration companies may consider alternative ports such as Darwin, leading to a considerable economic loss to both Broome and Western Australia?
(c) there is concern that if rig tenders are queued for several days waiting for the port tank to refill, exploration companies may consider alternative ports such as Darwin, leading to a considerable economic loss to both Broome and Western Australia?
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Ken Baston for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
I thank Hon Ken Baston for some notice of the question. (1) No. (2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
(1) No. (2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
(2) The current infrastructure meets all pressure and flow requirements as stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence. The provision of levels of service - pressure and flow - above that stipulated in the Water Corporation’s operating licence is at the request of the developer or customer, who is required to fund the upgrade. To date no application has been received for the upgrade of the water supply.
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