United States fossil fuel giant ConocoPhillips has been given approval by the regulator NOPSEMA to conduct test drilling for fossil gas in six undisclosed locations off the coast of Victoria and Tasmania(1), including right next to the Zeehan Marine Park!
ConocoPhillips is proposing up to six exploration wells from April 2025, in preparation for future plans to start mining for fossil gas(2). These test drilling proposals are the first step for the company to progress to full scale mining of fossil gas in these areas.
A map of the two sites US oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips proposes for test drilling between Victoria and Tasmania. According to modelling provided by ConocoPhillips, a spill or wellhead blowout from their proposed drilling locations in two separate project sites will harm marine life and beaches along South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. Map is not to exact scale.
The two areas off Victoria (lease VIC/P79) and Tasmania (T/49P) are some of the largest areas of ocean that have been handed over to oil and gas companies in southeast Australia. The harm posed to our oceans is serious; these areas are home to blue whales, southern right whales, pygmy blue whales, orca, countless species of fish, rare sharks and unique cool temperate marine ecosystems that all make up our Great Southern Reef.
Fossil fuel exploration projects like this test drilling by ConocoPhillips all start with seismic blasting, the harmful technology that sends deafening sound blasts below the ocean floor to search for fossil fuel deposits, and then sends in the drill rigs to find more fossil fuels.
Australia must stop approving new fossil fuel projects to save the climate, especially in our oceans where the impacts can be devastating to marine life and coastal communities.
Sources:
- https://conocophillipsaustralia.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/otway-exploration-drilling-program/otway-exploration-drilling-program-doclibrary
- https://conocophillipsaustralia.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/otway-exploration-drilling-program/otway-exploration-drilling-program-doclibrary