Gas operations expansion in Queensland to drive growth

Shell QGC venture has announced a new project to expand its existing gas operations which will see around 250 new wells near Wandoan, Miles, Chinchilla and Tara in Queensland.

Project Goog-a-binge will create up to 350 jobs, plus contracts for local suppliers, in the Western Downs region over the next two years.

Minister for Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, welcomed the Shell QGC venture’s announcement.

“Queensland is the nation’s energy powerhouse, and we continue to do the heavy lifting on gas production and policy,” Dr Lynham said.

“This latest expansion plan will help ensure sustained gas supply to domestic customers, as well as royalties to fund frontline services across the state.

“Most importantly, it will pump millions of dollars into local household budgets, local stores and local businesses for the next 30 years.”

Project Goog-a-binge will bring about 930PJ of gas to market over the next 30 years for its domestic and export customers. Goog-a-binge is the Iman name for a scrub turkey, and was chosen by the local Iman traditional owners.

The Shell QGC venture already employs close to 1000 people in Queensland and has spent $140 million on goods and services in Toowoomba and Surat Basin communities in the first half of 2018.

Dr Lynham encouraged local businesses to register online with EconomX, where the project and its contractors will seek expressions of interest for work packages.

“I understand QGC has already engaged three Chinchilla-based fabrication contractors for the project, and just a couple of weeks ago I was in Toowoomba announcing that Easternwell had won a multimillion-dollar, five-year contract with QGC,” Dr Lynham said.

“Ongoing investment in Queensland’s $70 billion gas industry shows the policy settings are right.

“We expect the gas industry to continue to deliver for the south-west, and the Palaszczuk Government will continue to drive increased gas supply with innovative policy, to meet the needs of households and Australian manufacturers.”

QGC will start pre-construction and site preparation activities at some sites in November 2018, with wells to start being drilled from January 2019 through to December 2019, subject to government approvals.

Statewide, the oil and gas industry continues to directly employ some 8000 people and will contribute an expected $447 million in royalties in 2018‑19. The Surat and Southern Bowen basins account for more than three-quarters of the industry.

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John Crane

Superior Pump Technologies

WEG Australia Pty Ltd

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