Latest news with #Beetaloo
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Incredible discovery hidden beneath major Aussie tourist highway
Beneath the dusty stretch of highway frequented by tourists heading to the Top End, a hidden world has come to light. Deep underground, in pitch-black layers of porous limestone rock, hundreds of metres beneath the surface, scientists have found a thriving ecosystem filled with strange, blind creatures. Known as stygofauna, that may hold the key to protecting Australia's groundwater for generations to come. These tiny animals live in water-filled cracks and pockets within underground limestone aquifers (rock formations that store water). They've adapted to total darkness over millions of years, often losing their eyesight and developing unusual features to survive in cold, low-oxygen conditions. Though smaller than a grain of rice, stygofauna play a surprisingly big role. They help keep groundwater clean by feeding on bacteria and breaking down organic matter, acting like a natural filtration system deep below the surface. In simple terms, they're nature's underground clean-up crew, quietly recycling the water many Australians rely on, CSIRO Senior Research Scientist Dr Paul McInerney told Yahoo News. It's not the first discovery of stygofauna in general, but it does highlight the need for careful groundwater management in that region, McInerney explained. In a new report, he said that by researching these communities, we can better understand groundwater ecosystems, assess aquatic health and how human activity affects our water. The creatures were found in the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Northern Territory — a region rich in gas reserves and the subject of ongoing development interest. Scientists sampled water from 33 bores, using fine mesh nets, environmental DNA (eDNA) testing, and specialist video cameras that can record footage up to 200 metres underground. "We used a specialist bore-hole video camera that shines a light in front of the lens and lowered it into the well using a cable. This allowed us to record footage up to 200m below the surface," McInerney said. "In some wells, there were no visible stygofauna. However, the eDNA analysis of water samples revealed the presence of stygofauna." The study found unique combinations of species in different locations, highlighting just how localised and potentially fragile these ecosystems are. Among the stygofauna found were tiny, translucent creatures, including one resembling a prawn. Populations of the shrimp-like species Parisia unguis found in the Beetaloo Sub-basin were genetically different from one another, meaning the groups living in different bores don't mix much and are likely isolated from each other. That matters because it shows just how fragile and localised these underground ecosystems are. If each population of Parisia unguis is isolated, then damage to even one bore or area could wipe out a unique genetic group that doesn't exist anywhere else. The Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Northern Territory is currently a major focus of gas exploration and development. While full-scale commercial production hasn't commenced yet, significant activities are underway by companies such as Empire Energy, Tamboran Resources and Santos. Recently, there have been ongoing protests against gas exploration and fracking in the Beetaloo Sub-basin. Traditional owners, including members of the Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, have voiced strong opposition, citing concerns over environmental impacts, threats to sacred sites, and inadequate consultation processes. Environmental groups and activists have also joined these protests, highlighting potential risks to groundwater and climate implications McInerney said the CSIRO's research did not directly investigate the impact of gas drilling or mining. However, he said any activity that disrupts aquifers could put these creatures, and the delicate ecosystems they support, at risk. "Any activities that change the physical or chemical condition of aquifers in the Beetaloo Sub-basin may threaten the persistence and distribution of stygofauna species," he said. In other words, disturbing the water table through drilling, pollution, or overuse could damage or even wipe out entire populations of creatures we barely understand. One of the most compelling reasons to care about these hidden ecosystems is how little we know about them — and how much we could lose before we ever get the chance to study them. Scientists say stygofauna could one day act as indicators of pollution or aquifer stress, but we're not there yet. Pumping too much groundwater threatens thousands of underground species Households to face decades of water restrictions due to worrying trend 'Poor management': regulator in hot water over licences The latest research has laid the groundwork for bigger questions, and possibly more focused conservation. "There is potential for new projects to expand the known distribution of NT stygofauna and to improve our understanding of their ecology," McInerney said. "Results of these and other CSIRO studies are important for informing appropriate policy and management responses to development proposals." Though invisible to most of us, stygofauna exist across Australia — not just in the NT — and are found anywhere aquifers offer the right balance of pore space, water flow and nutrient conditions. Understanding them helps us to support agriculture, industry, and even our drinking water. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Sydney Morning Herald
26-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Traditional Owners give thumbs up to Beetaloo NT gas sale
Beetaloo Energy has taken a major leap forward in its Northern Territory gas ambitions after securing the formal backing of Traditional Owners to sell gas from its ongoing appraisal program at the company's Carpentaria project. The company recently changed its name from Empire Energy to Beetaloo Energy in a nod to the vast gas basin in which it operates and to reflect the company's determination to become the next big onshore gas producer in Australia. In a landmark on-country meeting concluded yesterday, representatives of the Mambaliya Rrumburriya Wuyaliya Aboriginal Land Trust, who are the custodians of the land covering Beetaloo's grounds, gave their official consent for the 'beneficial use of gas'. The meeting, organised by the Northern Land Council, was held according to the Territory's land rights laws and the company's existing exploration deed, through its wholly owned subsidiary Imperial Oil & Gas. 'We are grateful to Traditional Owners for their decision to continue driving the project forward.' Under the NT's Petroleum Act, the Traditional Owners' consent has now cleared a critical regulatory and cultural hurdle, allowing Beetaloo to monetise gas produced during the appraisal phase of exploration before full-scale production begins. Beetaloo Energy managing director Alex Underwood said: ' We are grateful to Traditional Owners for their decision to continue driving the project forward. Beetaloo Energy is deeply committed to working with landowners and local communities to share the economic and social benefits that are already accruing and will continue to accrue from the ongoing exploration and appraisal of the project.' A formal agreement on a package of benefits for Traditional Owners is still being inked, the company says its collaborative discussions with a committee of Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council are bearing fruit. When agreed, the final deal will be written up under the framework laid out by the Land Rights Act.
West Australian
26-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Traditional Owners give thumbs up to Beetaloo NT gas sale
Beetaloo Energy has taken a major leap forward in its Northern Territory gas ambitions after securing the formal backing of Traditional Owners to sell gas from its ongoing appraisal program at the company's Carpentaria project. The company recently changed its name from Empire Energy to Beetaloo Energy in a nod to the vast gas basin in which it operates and to reflect the company's determination to become the next big onshore gas producer in Australia. In a landmark on-country meeting concluded yesterday, representatives of the Mambaliya Rrumburriya Wuyaliya Aboriginal Land Trust, who are the custodians of the land covering Beetaloo's grounds, gave their official consent for the 'beneficial use of gas'. The meeting, organised by the Northern Land Council, was held according to the Territory's land rights laws and the company's existing exploration deed, through its wholly owned subsidiary Imperial Oil & Gas. Under the NT's Petroleum Act, the Traditional Owners' consent has now cleared a critical regulatory and cultural hurdle, allowing Beetaloo to monetise gas produced during the appraisal phase of exploration before full-scale production begins. A formal agreement on a package of benefits for Traditional Owners is still being inked, the company says its collaborative discussions with a committee of Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council are bearing fruit. When agreed, the final deal will be written up under the framework laid out by the Land Rights Act. Beetaloo is waiting on its contractor United States-based Halliburton to run 60 hydraulic stimulation stages at the company's Carpentaria-5H horizontal well, expected to be completed in three weeks. The company will then be able to move forward with its first gas sales. The Carpentaria-5H well has been drilled into the 70-metre-thick Velkerri B shale horizon to an average depth of 1580m using 5.5 inch casing. The 3.31km-long well is the longest in the Beetaloo sub-basin. Although the company has used the same drill pad as its Carpentaria-2H and 3H test wells, Carpentaria-5H has been developed as a full-blown production hole, allowing it to be used to produce commercial gas for sale into the local market. It also forms part of the company's overall Carpentaria pilot project. Post stimulation, the new well will undergo production flow testing before being shut in and then tied back into Beetaloo's nearby Carpentaria gas plant, currently under construction. When fully operational, the gas will be processed at the facility before being piped directly into the McArthur River pipeline, which runs straight past the company's front door. In time, management plans to draw enough gas from the basin to supply the NT government with as much as 100 terajoules of gas per day. The Beetaloo Basin has been touted as one of Australia's most promising onshore gas plays, with some estimates placing its gas endowment as high as 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. In all likelihood, the basin is destined to play a key role in the nation's energy transition and export strategy. Adding to the gas field's growing credentials, oil major Santos Limited is doubling down on the basin with plans for two wells in 2026 and is eyeing a second LNG train in Darwin to enable exports. That move coincides with APA Group's $66 million pipeline ambitions to connect Tamboran's Shenandoah South project to the Amadeus pipeline by 2026. Meanwhile, offshore players, such as ENI, are also watching closely as momentum builds across the region. Beetaloo is sitting pretty with a healthy $40.5 million in the bank, giving it plenty of firepower to fuel its ambitions. The cash pile was boosted with a $28 million capital raise in May and doesn't include a further $28.8 million in undrawn debt facilities from Macquarie Bank, ready to be tapped into when needed. The 'beneficial use of gas' consent is a huge step forward for Beetaloo and is a worthy prize for a company that started exploring the emerging basin in 2011. With exploration and appraisal already yielding promising signs, the company's ability to soon sell appraisal gas will add a crucial early revenue stream as it continues to assess the basin's long-term commercial potential. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
The Age
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Traditional Owners give thumbs up to Beetaloo NT gas sale
Beetaloo Energy has taken a major leap forward in its Northern Territory gas ambitions after securing the formal backing of Traditional Owners to sell gas from its ongoing appraisal program at the company's Carpentaria project. The company recently changed its name from Empire Energy to Beetaloo Energy in a nod to the vast gas basin in which it operates and to reflect the company's determination to become the next big onshore gas producer in Australia. In a landmark on-country meeting concluded yesterday, representatives of the Mambaliya Rrumburriya Wuyaliya Aboriginal Land Trust, who are the custodians of the land covering Beetaloo's grounds, gave their official consent for the 'beneficial use of gas'. The meeting, organised by the Northern Land Council, was held according to the Territory's land rights laws and the company's existing exploration deed, through its wholly owned subsidiary Imperial Oil & Gas. 'We are grateful to Traditional Owners for their decision to continue driving the project forward.' Under the NT's Petroleum Act, the Traditional Owners' consent has now cleared a critical regulatory and cultural hurdle, allowing Beetaloo to monetise gas produced during the appraisal phase of exploration before full-scale production begins. Beetaloo Energy managing director Alex Underwood said: ' We are grateful to Traditional Owners for their decision to continue driving the project forward. Beetaloo Energy is deeply committed to working with landowners and local communities to share the economic and social benefits that are already accruing and will continue to accrue from the ongoing exploration and appraisal of the project.' A formal agreement on a package of benefits for Traditional Owners is still being inked, the company says its collaborative discussions with a committee of Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council are bearing fruit. When agreed, the final deal will be written up under the framework laid out by the Land Rights Act.
Arabian Post
20-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Abu Dhabi Bid for Santos Sparks Energy Sovereignty Debate
Santos Ltd's board of directors has endorsed a US $18.7 billion cash offer from an Abu Dhabi-led consortium, pledging immediate relief for stretched gas markets but plunging Australia into a high-stakes national interest conflict. The bid, sponsored by ADNOC's investment arm XRG alongside ADQ and Carlyle, offers A$8.89 per share—a 28 per cent premium to Santos's market value—while assuming A$36.4 billion in enterprise debt. It marks the largest all‑cash takeover ever in Australia. Investors have reacted with caution: Santos shares rallied nearly 11 per cent upon news of the bid but remain significantly below the offer price, reflecting deep concern over regulatory approval. Analysts warn that the deal's fate now hinges on the Foreign Investment Review Board and Treasurer Jim Chalmers, whose approval will weigh economic gain against strategic control of critical energy infrastructure. ADVERTISEMENT Proponents emphasise that ADNOC's financial strength can catalyse development of Santos's undeveloped assets—including Narrabri and shale projects like Beetaloo—and help mitigate an anticipated east‑coast gas shortage by 2027. With ADNOC targeting 20–25 million tonnes per annum of LNG capacity by 2035, acquiring Santos's stakes in Gladstone, Darwin and PNG LNG represents a strategic alignment for both parties. However, a chorus of concern has emerged over the implications for domestic energy sovereignty. The high concentration of export‑oriented gas supply—over 70 per cent in Queensland—raises alarms that ADNOC might prioritise LNG sales over local consumption, deepening east‑coast supply pressures. RenewEconomy warns that 'if ADNOC's focus is primarily on LNG markets, it will likely seek to export as much gas as possible'. Australian Energy Producers, which counts Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher as a board member, has yet to publicly weigh in, but the Australian Energy Market Operator has flagged potential domestic shortfalls by late decade if projects like Barossa and Narrabri are delayed. Political figures are sharpening oversight. South Australia's energy minister, Tom Koutsantonis, invoked state power to oversee licence transfers, while Treasurer Chalmers cautioned that the deal 'would be a big decision' and pledged not to pre‑empt FIRB's findings. Historical precedents include the federal government blocking Shell's bid for Woodside in 2001 and the NSW Ausgrid sale in 2016—illustrating a willingness to restrict foreign control of strategic infrastructure. From Adelaide to Canberra, voices across politics and industry are watching keenly. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas stressed that the headquarters and local workforce must be retained; this position is reinforced by new state laws granting oversight over petroleum licence assignments. On the investor side, divergent assessments persist. UBS analysts see ADNOC's deep pockets as a positive, while others like Evans & Partners downgraded Santos stock, suggesting investors might prefer Woodside, citing superior oil market positioning. The bid aligns with Australia‑UAE economic ties following a free trade agreement, yet regulatory scrutiny is expected to be heightened due to the sovereign‑state nature of ADNOC. Approval would mark a milestone in Australia's economic evolution, yet rejection—or imposition of conditions like domestic supply carve‑outs—could serve as a policy catalyst in securing energy infrastructure for public benefit. This takeover bid places domestic energy security at the centre of policymaking, challenging Australia to find balance between foreign investment and safeguarding its energy future.
