1.2.4 Catalogue of potential resource developments

Summary

Potential coal resource developments in the Namoi subregion are concentrated around areas of current coal mining in the central part of the subregion.

Proposed development of coal seam gas (CSG) resources is concentrated in the Narrabri area and includes the Narrabri Gas Project, which may incorporate the Bibblewindi and Dewhurst pilot testing wells, and the Kahlua and Glasserton pilot testing wells.

There are five potential new mines (Maules Creek, Vickery, Watermark, Caroona and Goonbri) and two expansion projects (Tarrawonga and Boggabri). Of these projects, four have recently been given approval to operate (Maules Creek, Vickery, Tarrawonga Extension and Boggabri Extension), one is in the late stage of assessment (Watermark) and one is at an early stage of assessment (Caroona). Goonbri is currently in the exploration stage. The larger proposed developments (Watermark and Caroona) are located in the south-east of the subregion, to the west of the Werris Creek Mine (see Figure 9). There are a number of designated mining leases and consolidated coal leases in the Namoi subregion (see Table 6) and while there is little information available for these leases, they are also included as potential developments given their lease status.

Proposed development of CSG resources is concentrated in the Narrabri area where Santos Ltd has recently submitted a Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA). In preparation for developing the Narrabri CSG reserves, Santos has also proposed expansions to its Bibblewindi and Dewhurst gas exploration pilots, as well as a third modification to the Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project under the Energy NSW CSG Exploration and Appraisal Program.

Table 6 and Table 7 list potential developments with locations, resource figures and development status. Locations of the projects in relation to current coal mines are shown in Figure 9. Resources for coal are consistent (where possible) with the Joint Ore Reserve Committee (JORC) Code and include measured, indicated and inferred resources (inclusive of any reserves). CSG resources are reported as proved plus probable reserves (2P) using the Petroleum Resource Management System (PRMS). Information in the tables is derived from the OZMIN National Mineral Deposits Database (Geoscience Australia, 2013). Resource figures presented in Table 7 have been updated using information available from Santos (2014b).

Table 6 Catalogue of potential coal resource developments in the Namoi subregion (see Figure 9)

Project name	Company	Longitude	Latitude	Record date^a	Material^b	Total coal resources (Mt)^c	Status of EIS^d	Notes
Boggabri Extension	Idemitsu	150.08° (approx.)	–30.37° (approx.)		Thermal coal	90	EIS submitted	Project has been approved. Deposit includes ML 1685 and MLA 0464
Caroona	BHP Billiton	150.4346°	–31.3985°		Thermal Coal	260e	EIS in preparation	BHP Billiton (2012)
CCL 711	Curlewis Coal and Coke	150.2143°	–31.0933°				Pre-EIS	Part of the Preston Extended deposit
Goonbri EL 7435	Goonbri Coal	150.12° (approx.)	–30.37° (approx.)				Pre-EIS	Goonbri deposit is not in OZMIN database
Gunnedah CCL 701	Whitehaven Coal	150.141°	–31.0187°	24 Aug 2012	Coking and Thermal Coal	153	Pre-EIS
Gunnedah EL 5183	Whitehaven Coal	150.0838°	–30.9779°	24 Aug 2012	Coking and Thermal Coal	39.4	Pre-EIS
Maules Creek CL 375 and (A) 346a	Whitehaven Coal, ICRA, J Power	150.02° (approx.)	–30.35° (approx.)		Coking and thermal coal	610	EIS submitted	Project has been approved. Deposit includes CL 375, MLA 0404 and MLA 0453
ML 1471	Whitehaven Coal	150.1729°	–30.7385°				Pre-EIS	Part of the Canyon deposit
ML 1662	Whitehaven Coal	150.2758°	–30.7415°				Pre-EIS	Part of the Rocglen deposit
ML 1671 and ML 1672	Werris Creek Coal	150.62° (approx.)	–31.38° (approx.)				Pre-EIS	Part of the Werris Creek deposit
Tarrawonga Extension ML 1579	Whitehaven Coal and Idemitsu	150.10° (approx.)	–30.38° (approx.)		Thermal coal	78	EIS submitted	Project has been approved. Deposit includes ML 1693
Vickery	Whitehaven Coal	150.12° (approx.)	–30.46° (approx.)		Coking and Thermal Coal	507	EIS submitted	Resource Strategies (2012). Deposit includes CL 316 and MLA 0447
Vickery South	Whitehaven Coal	150.194°	–30.794°	24 Aug 2012	Coking and Thermal Coal	111.15	Pre-EIS	Whitehaven Coal (2014a)
Watermark	Shenhua Watermark	150.375°	–31.247°		Coking and Thermal Coal	268^e	EIS submitted	Shenhua Watermark Coal (2013)

A = authorisation; CL = coal lease; CCL = consolidated coal lease; EL = exploration licence; ML = mining lease; MLA = mining lease application

^aThe record date is the most recent date for updated coal resource numbers.

^bMaterials fall into one of the following four classes: thermal coal, coking coal, pulverised coal injection (PCI) and unspecified.

^cThis is calculated by summing the resources with Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) codes of measured, indicated and inferred.

^dThe status of the project within an environmental impact statement (EIS): pre-EIS, EIS in preparation, EIS submitted, EIS closed, supplementary EIS and EIS approved.

^eFrom EIS, see Notes column for relevant reference

Full company names are: Curlewis Coal and Coke Pty Limited (Curlewis Coal and Coke), Goonbri Coal Company Pty Limited (Goonbri Coal), ICRA Limited (ICRA), Idemitsu Australia Resources Pty Ltd (Idemitsu), J Power Electric Power Development Co., Ltd (J Power), Werris Creek Coal Pty Limited (Werris Creek Coal), Whitehaven Coal Limited (Whitehaven Coal)

Table 7 Catalogue of potential coal seam gas resource developments in the Namoi subregion

Project name	Company	Longitude	Latitude	Record date^a	2P coal seam gas reserves^b (PJ)	Status of EIS^c	Notes
Bibblewindi Gas Exploration Pilot wells	Santos Ltd	149.62° to 149.64° (approx.)	–30.62° to –30.66° (approx.)			Pilot testing	Any proposal to convert the pilot wells into production wells will be included in the Narrabri Gas Project
Dewhurst Gas Exploration Pilot wells	Santos Ltd	149.65° to 149.75° (approx.)	–30.54° to –30.70° (approx.)			Pilot testing	Any proposal to convert the pilot wells into production wells will be included in the Narrabri Gas Project
Kahlua and Glasserton	Santos Ltd	150.19° to 150.00 ° (approx.)	–31.21° to –30.58° (approx.)			Pilot testing	No further activities proposed
Narrabri Gas Project	Santos Ltd	149.85° to 149.47° (approx.)	–30.3° to –30.7° (approx.)	31 Dec 2013	196	Pre-EIS	Preliminary Environmental Assessment submitted (GHD, 2014), Santos awaiting Director Generals Requirements for EIS

^{EIS = environmental impact statement}

^aThe record date is the most recent date for updated coal seam gas resource numbers.

^bThe Petroleum Resource Management System of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (PRMS-SPE) code 2P refers to estimated quantities of proved reserves plus probable reserves.

^cThe status of the project within an environmental impact statement (EIS): pre-EIS, EIS in preparation, EIS submitted, EIS closed, supplementary EIS and EIS approved.

Last updated:

10 January 2019

1.2.4 Catalogue of potential resource developments

Product Finalisation date

Numbered headings

ASSESSMENT

PRODUCT DATA