Sunday, August 21, 2011

Fires are burning James Price Point August 2011



Sunday August 21, 2011 13:17 AEST

At the height of the fires burning in the northeast of James Price Point, on Friday, residents of Walmandan went to Woodside’s compound in order to gain access to Bilby researchers out in the northern part of the land scarring. However, no one was in the compound and the access road gate was locked. This made it impossible to utilise the quickest and safest way to where researchers were working.

On the same day, the Broome Shire used the fire as an excuse to complete Woodside’s trace line (the proposed 120 million dollar highway from the Cape Leveque Road to James Price Point) right through to the biota track.

Meanwhile Woodside’s Fire Management Plan (World’s Best Practice) is hot in action:

Run for your life

Lock up your gates

Leave the fuel tank and

Take the water trucks

Whilst the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) was in discussions with Environs Kimberley about the best way to manage this fire, the Shire of Broome took it upon themselves to undertake this work. The bulldozer was being walked through by other staff members from DEC, with GPS in hands. No Traditional Owners or FESA representatives were present at the bulldozing.

Many government departments were aware of heritage sites located within the trace line path.

On Saturday morning, someone used the trace line to light additional fires.

These aerials shots were taken early Friday morning.

Thanks to the huge crew of people who contributed these photos and film

to keep YOU up to date.

Hands off country.



Thursday, August 18, 2011

Walmadan Camp facing the fires at James Price Point






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Companies fracking WA gas sites, for processing at James Price Point

Dane Griffen, a resident fracking and 'unconventional gas' researcher has compiled this important list of references linking the James Price Point gas hub with the serious threat of fracking for onshore shale gas in the Kimberley's Canning Basin.

These references are important as Premier Barnett is going out of his way to make the JPP gas hub a 'small target', denying that it is part of any 'thin edge of the wedge' for industrialising the Kimberley.

What the references below illustrate is that, whatever Mr Barnett thinks, or wants the public to think, major industry players see the advent of a LNG hub at JPP as a great opportunity to allow the commercialisation of other gas deposits in the Kimberley which would be accessed using the highly controversial and dangerous 'fracking' process.

Reference 1

Overview of Shale Gas Resources in Western Australia
The economic success of shale gas in the United States (US) and the high conventional gas prices in Australia have driven the interest in unconventional gas resources, particularly shale gas resources in Western Australia (WA). The Canning Basin has gathered a lot of interest in recent times and companies such as Buru Energy and New Standard Energy (NSE) are currently involved in an extensive exploration program focussed on this region’s unconventional gas resource. The basin is one of WA’s last frontier onshore provinces and it has the potential for major shale gas reserves that could be linked with the planned LNG hub at James Price Point north of Broome. Buru Energy has identified significant potential for unconventional resources in its Canning exploration permits and is currently undertaking a structured evaluation program of the area. In the wake of Buru Energy’s exploration in the Canning Basin, NSE secured exploration acreage in nearby permits in the basin. The existing granted permits within the NSE portfolio form an integral part of the Goldwyer shale exploration area (Buru Energy, 2010; NSE, 2010a; NSE, 2010b).

Source: "Petroleum in WA: WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S DIGEST OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION"; Department of Mines and Petroleum, April 2011

Reference 2
Oil Basins Limited
http://oilbasins.com.au/OBL%20ASX%20Announcement%20-%20Appointment%20of%20OBL%20as%20USG%20Operator%20-%2021%20July%202011.pdf
Exploration Permit 5/07-8 EP is a very large and hydrocarbon prospective address encompassing some 5,062 km2 (refer to Figures 1 and 2 attached) and is most favourably situated to both the future James Price Point LNG Terminal, the proposed Point Torment industrial area and the existing infrastructure (roads, airports and harbours) and community and light industry facilities associated with the vibrant Kimberley regional townships of Derby and Broome.

http://oilbasins.com.au/OBL%20-%20March%202011%20Quarterly%20Activities%20Report.pdf
DISCLAIMER – CSG PROSPECTIVITY AND CSG RESOURCES POTENTIAL
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of prospective and economic coal seam gas (CSG) resources, including many factors beyond OBL‟s control. Estimates of economically recoverable CSG natural gas reserves are based upon a number of factors and assumptions, such as geological and engineering estimates and judgments (which have inherent uncertainties and risks), the assumed effects of governmental regulation and access to the Browse LNG Hub and estimates of future domestic gas and export-LNG commodity prices and operating costs, all of which may vary considerably from actual results and/or future negotiations.

BURU -
http://buruenergy.com.au/getfile/370.pdf
Highlights
• The four key unconventional plays identified have combined mid range unrisked gross in-place volumes of 362 trillion cubic feet (“TCF”) of gas and 50 billion barrels of oil (“BBO”). (NOTE: the whole of Browse is said to be ~35 TCF - TWS)

New Standard Energy -
http://www.newstandard.com.au/images/stories/Quarterly%20Activities%20Report%20April-June%202011.pdf

New Standard has pretty vague reporting. Not much in this apart from JPP referenced in all map images

NOTE: if this link doesn't work, cut and paste it into your browser.

AM - Broome divided over gas proposal 18/08/2011

AM - Broome divided over gas proposal 18/08/2011

Man made fires are growing at James Price Point






Proposed Gas Hub and Bilby Habitats | Greens MPs

Proposed Gas Hub and Bilby Habitats | Greens MPs

Is this Controlled Bilby Burning?


This photo was taken this morning, looking north towards James Price Point, Walmandan.

A number of fires have sprung up within the last 6 -12 hours within the vicinity of James Price Point, in a strange grid-like, man - made pattern. Smoke has been very thick and the sunlight is tinged orange. Walmandan has been completely smoked out but the wind is dropping.
http://www.firenorth.org.au/nafi2/


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

What is really happening at James Price Point? No equipment, No work!




After hearing from the head pilot from the Broome Community No Gas Campaign’s air force, it has become quite clear that Woodside’s exist from Country on Monday was not due to the fire risk. The fire is no where in sight and the weather is perfect.

Given the fact that Country has suffered a whole lattice of clearing by Woodside and that these grid-lines can very effectively act also as fire breaks it seems very unlikely that Woodside and all its heavy earth moving equipment was taken out of Country for that reason.

According to Woodside Update:



NOTE: A number of our onshore activities have been put on hold due to a bushfire currently burning in the vicinity of James Price Point. The safety of our people and contractors is paramount and we will only return to work as soon as it is safe to do so.


The question needs to be asked, why take out the water trucks and leave a fuel container, if you are really worried about fire?

Mr Coleman, from Woodside said today that the “geotechnical survey work had been delayed by weather and other factors” – what are the other (true) factors? Maybe this really is a question for their shareholders and the stock market.



Considering, how hard and how aggressive Woodside has pushed to get into Country its exceedingly surprising that their lay down compound area currently looks like Woodside have virtually packed up, turned around and moved out of Country.

Even the support vessels that were accompanying the jack-up rig (that still sits, on a strange angle, right out the front of Walmandan) are no where in sight today. Two hostiles (Environmental Services) people were placed at James Price Point, two others were lurking around the illegal gate to the compound and two others seeking shade in the compound.

What are the real reasons for Woodside’s hasty retreat on Monday and how is this living up to Coleman’s claims today: we are “catching up very quickly to our FID process.” How are they achieving this when they are not in Country and are no longer working?

A current rumor that is floating around is that the Department of Main Roads has put all stops to the development for the 19 kilometer, 120 million dollar road to the proposed LNG precinct. Is this true? Maybe questions need to be asked by shareholders and stakeholders.

Whatever the real reasons, Woodside can rest assured that they will not be able to bring all this equipment back into Country without the Broome Community once again blockading their machinery and workforce, challenging their criminal behaviors and questioning the WA government’s total lack of governance over them.

Gas hub rally tells Woodside to save bilbies - The West Australian

Gas hub rally tells Woodside to save bilbies - The West Australian

Bilbies won't delay Browse LNG: Woodside

"We don't expect there to be any undue delay in pursuing ... those approval processes," Mr Coleman told a teleconference on Wednesday.

"Good science and appropriate science, and consultation with community and others, drives our decision processes.

"We are sensitive to it. We're going to take our time to do it right."

Woodside and joint venture partners plan to reach a final investment decision (FID) on Browse by mid-2012.

Mr Coleman said geotechnical survey work had been delayed by weather and other factors - no doubt referring to recent protests and blockades that prevented contractors from reaching the site for several days.

"But we're catching up very quickly and it's essential to our FID process," he said.Bilbies won't delay Browse LNG: Woodside

The following was released by the rating agency

MELBOURNE (Standard & Poor's) Aug. 17, 2011--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings and outlook on Australia-based Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (BBB+/Negative/A-2) were not immediately affected by the company's record cash flows for the six months to June 30, 2011. Although Woodside's bumper first-half cash flows and retention of the fully underwritten dividend reinvestment plan have helped mitigate downward credit pressure, we retain the negative rating outlook. Reported cash flows for the six months to June 30, 2011 of US$1,391 million, compared with US$1,007 million in the first half of 2010, largely reflected high global oil prices. The negative outlook, assigned in June 2011, reflects our view of the commissioning risks associated with the Pluto foundation project. Further cost overruns and project delays had reduced the buffer in the rating in light of inherent volatility in oil prices and exchange rate. Furthermore, the project delay means that the time gap between completing Pluto and Woodside's next investment project is likely to be shorter, reducing the time to establish a sustained improvement in the company's cash-flow-protection metrics.

Dinosaurs, Bilbies and now the Whales are proving that Woodside's studies around James Price Point are again totally inadequate and contemptible.



Kimberley Whale Watching has just completed two extended boat surveys from Broome to Camden Sound, Adele Island and the Lacepede Islands. The highest concentration of whales was recorded between the Lacepede Islands and Broome.

Tables showing sightings from our 2011 Cetacean Survey. Icons are coloured to represent different surveys (yellow 2010, red aerial survey 2010, blue July 2011 and magenta August 2011).




Please contact Richard Costin on 0439 691194 or 08 9192 7162 if you'd like any further information.

kimberleywhales@bigpond.com
www.kimberleywhales.com.au
www.kimberleystockphotos.com.au

Government provides underwhelming response to JPP bilby concerns | Rachel Siewert

Government provides underwhelming response to JPP bilby concerns | Rachel Siewert

News: Australian Stock, Share & Commodity Markets News - Tradingroom.com.au

News: Australian Stock, Share & Commodity Markets News - Tradingroom.com.au

Woodside wants gas hub bilby sites revealed - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Woodside wants gas hub bilby sites revealed - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)