US giant ConocoPhillips has submitted the environment plan with Australia’s offshore regulator for the export gas pipeline for its proposed Barossa gas development off the north of the country.

The plan was submitted with the National Offshore Petroleum Safety & Environmental Management Authority (Nopsema) last week and covers the installation of the export pipeline which will tie-in to the existing Bayu-Undan pipeline.

The activities covered under the environment plan include pre and post lay surveys, pre and post lay span rectification, installation of the pipeline and end terminals, as well as pipeline pre-conditioning activities.

In the activity description lodged with Nopsema, ConocoPhillips noted that the installation schedule was yet to be finalised but activities are expected to take place between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2024.

It added the total duration of the infield activities was expected to be roughly nine months.

Upstream reported last month that Allseas and Saipem were competing for the contract to install the 262-kilometre 26-inch carbon-steel pipeline which will also have concrete coating for stability and mechanical protection.

Barossa lies 300 kilometres north of Darwin and will involve the drilling of nine subsea wells in two phases, with gas from the wells being delivered to a FPSO which will be capable of processing 800 million cubic feet per day of gas and 6000 barrels per day of condensate.

Condensate will be exported directly from the FPSO via offtake tankers, while the gas will be transported via the pipeline to a tie‐in point on the existing Bayu‐Undan pipeline which runs to the ConocoPhillips-operated Darwin LNG facilities.

ConocoPhillips operates Barossa with a 37.5%, while Santos holds 25% and SK E&S holds the remaining 37.5% interest.

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ConocoPhillips submits Barossa pipeline plan