APA Group granted survey license for Galilee-Moranbah gas pipeline

APA Group has been granted a survey license by the Queensland government for its proposed Galilee basin-Moranbah Pipeline (GMP)—a key step towards construction of the line that will link new gas resources in eastern Queensland to markets on Australia’s east coast.

APA is now investigating the proposed pipeline route to seek stakeholder feedback, to refine the proposal and assess the most efficient infrastructure required to connect the basin’s resources with industrial and domestic markets. The stakeholders include state and local government, exploration permit holders, and landowners in the region.

Of note, Comet Ridge Ltd., Brisbane, and partner Vintage Energy Ltd., Adelaide, have renewed a memorandum of understanding with APA for gas transportation services from the Galilee basin.

Comet and Vintage have formed a Galilee Deeps joint venture, which is exploring the Albany prospect in permit ATP 744. Albany-2 was spudded last week. Comet said that success with the drilling and stimulation program at the earlier drilled Albany-1 and Albany-2 would underpin the economics required to support the GMP development.

The viability of the project also could be supported by the Lake Galilee prospect that lies 24 km south of Albany and flowed gas when drilled back in 1964.

In addition, Comet has 100% interest in a shallower coal seam gas play in an area further south, but within easy reach of the proposed GMP.

The proposed gas line could connect to the existing North Queensland Gas Pipeline that transports gas from Moranbah to Townsville on Queensland’s east coast and provides access to many current and potential new industrial and commercial customers.