Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) said its $30-billion proposed Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Western Australia would have a low risk to the environment.

The company released on Monday its draft environmental impact study on the effect of its offshore processing platforms and wells, subsea pipelines and infrastructure on federal waters. Woodside expects to drill between 50 and 90 wells in the area over 50 years to tap the estimated 13.3 trillion cubic feet of gas and 360 million barrels of condensate from the Torosa, Brecknock and Calliance fields.

Some of the developments are close to Scott Reef which is home to or the migratory path of five threatened specials of marine turtle, endangered blue whales and humpback whales.

Michael Hession, senior vice president of Woodside, said that infrastructure, vessel and helicopter movements, artificial light, underwater noise, invasive species, solid and liquid waste and atmospheric emissions would be low risk to the marine environment.

The marine fauna face medium risks from noise and artificial light which could change behaviour, particularly for nesting turtles on Scott Reef. Mr Browse added fisheries in the area are also at medium risk from subsea infrastructure, disturbance and exclusion zones.

However, Environs Kimberley spokesman Martin Pritchard warned that an oil spill at Scott Reef, considered a jewel of the Indian Ocean, would be a disaster

The public has until Jan. 25, 2012 to comment on the draft environmental impact report, after which Woodside will submit the report to the federal Department of Environment for approval.

Mr Hession said the proposed LNG project would create 8,000 jobs in construction and generate up to $50 billion for the Australian economy for the venture's life span.

RELATED STORIES