Fracking for gas in the Northern Territory

The Honourable Justice Rachel Ann Pepper, the Chair of the NT Fracking Inquiry, “emphasised that it was not the role of the Inquiry to recommend whether or not the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory be lifted.”

“Today the Inquiry delivered its Final Report to the Government and in doing so fulfilled its Terms of Reference. The decision whether or not to retain the ban on hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory is a political decision that rests with the Government alone,” Pepper sprayed when she released the Final Report.

Justice Pepper made it clear that the Terms of Reference limited the Inquiry to asking “How can the gas industry proceed?” and not “Should the Northern Territory start hydraulic fracturing (fracking)?”.

Similarly, NSW Chief Scientist Mary O’Kane faced bewildered farmers and scientists who were giving credible evidence against the gas industry during her Inquiry in NSW – and she was not accepting it, or devising ways to overcome the obstacle with recommended regulations.

The Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of Onshore Unconventional Reservoirs in the Northern Territory (Inquiry) heard evidence concerning the environmental, social and economic risks of the extraction process known as fracking which was invented in 1998 by George Mitchell.

On 14 September 2016 the Northern Territory Government announced a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing of onshore unconventional reservoirs including the use of hydraulic fracturing for exploration, extraction, production and including Diagnostic Fracture Injection Testing (DFITs) – and announced the Inquiry would take place to placate public concerns.

On April 17, 2018 Northern Territory lifted their moratorium on fracking to extract gas and reopened shale gas reserves in the Beetaloo and McArthur basins for development. Shale gas requires fracking to release the methane gas trapped underground.

The NT government said it would tightly regulate the industry after lifting the ban. Almost half the Northern Territory will remain “frack-free”, including national parks and reserves.

Drillers must make their gas wells compliant with new design codes and include plans for their decommissioning and rehabilitation before production begins.

Summary of the Final Report PDF (1.4 MB) (External Link) or mirrored on 1EarthMedia

Activist groups opposing fracking the Northern Territory include:
° Protect Country Alliance NT ° Environment Centre NT ° Arid Lands Environment Centre °
° Australian Youth Climate Coalition ° Original Power ° Lock The Gate ° Environs Kimberley

Oil and gas industry subsidised by the Territory Government.

The NT Fracking Inquiry showed that costs of administering the industry are not recovered by the fees paid according to the Territory’s budget papers. Costs of administering the applications, fees and titles of the industry average $2.7 million while fees paid are almost certain to be less than $500,000 per year.

NT budget papers (pdf from The Australia Institute) show that $94 million has been directed at assistance for the onshore oil and gas industry over the last decade

Gas Exploration commences in the Northern Territory

In April 2019, Santos QNT Ltd McArthur Basin EP 161 Drilling Program 2019 was the first Environmental Management Plan (EMP) application after the moratorium was lifted to be accepted for comment and consideration. 

As at end 2022, the following Environment Management Plans have been approved in the Northern Territory:

And finally some exploration wells drilled before the moratorium came into effect.