Bennett Resources is proposing to undertake an unconventional exploration drilling and hydraulic fracture stimulation program within petroleum exploration permit EP 371 in the Canning Basin, Western Australia.
The proposed Valhalla gas exploration and appraisal program area is located 123 kilometres south east of the town of Derby. The proposal comprises the construction of up to twenty wells in a region of the Canning Basin that has been previously surveyed and explored for petroleum purposes.
The proposal is targeting hydrocarbons in the Laurel Formation, with hydrocarbon shows present at depths in the order of 2000m to 4000m below ground level.
The proposal will require an overall disturbance footprint of 109 hectares.
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has now opened the environmental scoping document up for public comment until September 1, 2021.
The proposal comprises the construction of up to 20 exploration and appraisal wells at 10 sites,, access tracks, accommodation camps and HFS operations.
The program is expected to be completed in a staged manner over seven years.
It has been referred to the EPA in accordance with regulation 2C of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 which have been amended to require referral of all onshore oil and gas exploration and production proposal involving hydraulic fracture stimulation.
The hydraulic fracture stimulation moratorium on all onshore petroleum titles existing as of 26 November 2018 has been lifted, including EP 371.
In September last year Bennett Resources submitted an environmental plan to the WA EPA for the gas exploration and appraisal program within the EP 371 permit.
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