THE Whicher Range gas project could expand in the South West if tests show it is commercially viable.
CalEnergy have been at the site since 2013 and began drilling in recent weeks to evaluate if there is enough conventional gas below the surface to set up an operation in the South West.
Testing should take the company 40 days to complete and another three months to analyse the data to determine if the operation would be profitable.
CalEnergy managing director Peter Youngs said at this stage it was too early to tell if the company would seek permits from the state government to setup more gas wells in the area.
Last week CalEnergy directors took stakeholders to the active gas well at Whicher Range on a site visit to answer any questions about the project.
Amongst the groups were representatives from the Department of Water, nearby landowners and the Augusta Margaret River Shire.
Also in attendance were the Busselton and Dunsborough Environment Centre convener Alison Cassanet and the Busselton and Districts Residents Association representative Ian Clarke.
Both agreed they would like assurances from CalEnergy to hold community consultations if the company decides to expand or alter its operations in any way.
Mr Youngs said keeping communities and stakeholders informed about what CalEnergy do was a key priority for the company.
“Our recent on-site tour at Whicher Range was an example of how we work hard to inform and also listen to those who have an interest in what we do,” he said.
“Our engagement process will continue in respect of all petroleum drilling activities on the permit.”
The Whicher Range gas wells are located near Busselton amongst bushland and pine plantations which are managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Forest Product Commission.
Whicher Range is CalEnergy’s only Australian asset with the company owning other oil and gas projects in the UK and Poland.
The drilling takes place 4000 metres below the surface and through the Yarrgadee aquifer.
Department of Water source protection officer Clint Roberts attended the gas fields and said his department worked closely with the Department of Mines and Petroleum to ensure potential impacts on water recourse were considered in the approvals process.
“The department provided its advice to the DMP on the management of risks to water resources from the Whicher Range operations, and this advice was incorporated into the approved environmental plan for that operation,” he said.
To minimise the environmental footprint CalEnergy have not cleared anymore land at the site and currently only take gas from existing wells.
To protect the ground from chemical drips Mr Youngs said the company set a precedent in WA and placed a thick black sheet beneath the equipment to line the ground.
He said tanks at the site were drained out every six days which held oil and contaminated water.
The whole operation can be shut down in two seconds in the event there is a safety risk such as a bushfire threat.
CalEnergy director Travis Enman said the well produced very little condensation and carbon dioxide emission was around one per cent making it a clean gas.
