Japan’s Inpex, the operator of the Ichthys LNG export project in Australia, is teaming up with compatriot JOGMEC to evaluate the potential of the Bonaparte Basin to become a carbon storage location.
In that regard, the two firms signed a joint research agreement, according to a statement by the state-owned Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security or JOGMEC.
The joint agreement covers the fiscal year 2022 and lasts up to fiscal 2025.
Moreover, the joint research would support Inpex as it assesses the feasibility of using GHG Permit G-7-for long-term geological storage of CO2, JOGMEC said.
Inpex is the operator for the Bonaparte CCS JV and is working with its joint venture partners TotalEnergies and Woodisde to assess the potential for CCS in the permit.
Success in this venture would provide for storage of CO2 from the Ichthys LNG project and support the realization of the Darwin-based, low-emissions carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) hub as proposed by the Northern Territory government, the statement said.
Earlier this year, Inpex signed a deal with the government of Australia’s Northern Territory to create a multi-user carbon capture and storage hub, as part of its plans to reduce emissions from its Ichthys LNG export project.
Ichthys LNG is a joint venture between operator Inpex and major partner TotalEnergies.
Other partners include Australian units of CPC, Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, JERA and Toho Gas.
Natural gas arrives to the 8.9 mtpa LNG plant at Bladin Point from the giant Ichthys field offshore Western Australia via an 890 kilometers long export pipeline.
The project shipped more than 750 cargoes since the start of operations in 2018.