The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) is calling on Chevron and the state government to come clean on an unknown amount of gas seeping to the surface on Barrow Island, where Chevron ceased oil production in May this year.
According to media reports, Chevron said the company had informed the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) of the problem and was working with them to investigate the leak from the Gearle Formation, beneath the surface of Barrow Island.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts urged the state government to take urgent action to seek answers from Chevron, beyond simply asking the company to update its environmental plan as the first step in its compliance action.
“There have been ongoing compliance issues associated with Chevron’s Gorgon LNG project at Barrow Island, and while we don’t have all the details yet, reports of gas releases during the current well decommissioning works would indicate the process is failing,” Mr Roberts said.
“Chevron continues to fall short in its duty to manage its operations in a way that protects the unique environment of Barrow Island, and in turn, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is not meeting its obligation as regulator to protect the island’s environmental values.
"This news is unsurprising given the history of Chevron on Barrow Island. We continue to hold grave concerns about unresolved issues relating to quarantine, beach erosion and PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) ‘forever chemical’ contamination on Barrow Island.
“In March this year it was revealed that contaminated soil has continued to be used as fill in ongoing construction works at the project, despite the very real threat of long-term environmental harm.
“The toxicological effects of PFAS on marine turtles is still largely undetermined, however we know it can be maternally transferred to eggs at levels which are detrimental to birds.
“There are mounting concerns about the risks of immunosuppression, developmental toxicity, and reduced hatching rates across different species of turtle.
“Chevron and DWER have known about this contamination issue for more than four years.
“This shows that we need up-to-date information released to the public as it comes to hand – even when investigations are ongoing. The public has a right to know how corporations are operating on our lands – so that they are accountable when they fail to meet the standards that we have set.
“Chevron is in a privileged position to be operating its facility from this Class A Reserve and should be working to the highest environmental standards possible, which includes protective and precautionary responses.”