By admin 
Empire Energy Group Ltd. has received approval for the Environment Management Plan (EMP) of its Carpentaria Pilot Project from the Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and Environment.
The approval will allow Empire to construct up to four new well pads in exploration permit 187 (EP187), as well as drilling, hydraulic fracturing stimulation and completion of up to nine new wells. Empire said in a press release that the approval opens the door for the installation of the Carpentaria Gas Plant (CGP), the Water Handling Station (WHS) and gas and water/wastewater flow lines.
In addition, the company said it has received approval to operate and service up to twelve gas wells, including the existing Carpentaria-2H and Carpentaria-3H wells, new and existing well pads, the CGP, WHS, gas and water/wastewater flowlines and camps. and to send gas from up to twelve wells to the McArthur River Pipeline for export to markets.
“The Empire team continues to make progress towards pilot production from the Beetaloo Basin, which will provide much-needed gas supplies to the people of the Northern Territory under the gas sales agreement Empire signed with the NT Government earlier this year,” Alex Underwood, Empire Energy Managing Director, said: “This regulatory approval is in line with the NT Government’s support for Empire and the development of the wider Beetaloo Basin, which is expected to create thousands of jobs, put downward pressure on energy prices in the NT and Eastern Australia, and has the potential to drive a manufacturing revival in the Northern Territory”.
Following receipt of EMP approval, regulatory approval for the sale of gas under the Beneficial Use of Test Gas provisions of the NT Petroleum Act is the final major approval required for the Carpentaria Pilot Project.
“The Empire team is completing the final remaining approvals required to sell gas produced from the Carpentaria Pilot Project under the NT Petroleum Act’s beneficial use of test gas provisions,” Underwood said.
The company is actively working with traditional owners to obtain approval for the sale of gas under the provisions of the Beneficial Use of Test Gas. The company said it is working with the Northern Land Council to facilitate a meeting for traditional owners to make a decision, which is a condition of gas sales.
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