Origin Energy Halts Beetaloo Work

Origin Energy March 26 said it will temporarily pause activities at its Kyalla well site in Northern Territory and reschedule further work to the second half of the year owing to circumstances brought about by Covid-19 outbreak.

“Throughout the response to Covid-19 we have worked with the Northern Territory and federal governments, followed health advice and made changes to our operations to protect people and communities across the Northern Territory,” it said. The company has also worked with the Northern Land Council, the representative body for Aboriginal people where it is exploring for gas.

Activity on site is minimal, Origin said, and includes road works, installing water monitoring bores as required by regulation. The company is packing down the rig and moving it to the side of the lease now that drilling has been successfully completed.

“We will progressively reduce our presence to essential personnel only, ensuring we meet regulatory and environmental management conditions to monitor and maintain the site,” the company said.

Origin holds an operating interest of 70% and Falcon Oil & Gas the remaining 30% in the Beetaloo exploration permits 76, 98 and 117. In September last year, Origin secured the go-ahead from authorities to drill the first of two horizontal appraisal wells targeting shale gas plays in the onshore Beetaloo sub-basin. It spudded the first well, Kyalla 117 N2-1, in October.

Northern Territory lifted a two-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in early-2018.