Case study: Inpex

Delivering energy for a brighter future

Listed on the Tokyo stock exchange, INPEX is Japan’s largest exploration and production company, engaged in the development and operation of energy projects worldwide.

Background

The INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG onshore process facilities at Bladin Point near Darwin, cool gas from the Ichthys field and transform it into liquid for transport. The gas arrives in Darwin via an 890-kilometre gas export pipeline from Western Australia - the longest subsea pipeline in the southern hemisphere.

Ichthys LNG’s onshore processing facilities include:

• two LNG processing trains
• LPG and condensate plants
• product storage tanks
• a combined cycle power plant
• administration facilities
• utilities and a product load out jetty.

The LNG processing trains have capacity to produce 9.3 million tonnes of LNG per annum, at peak production.

INPEX is committed to delivering sustainable energy and is actively pursuing carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives in the Bonaparte Basin, located approximately 260 kilometres offshore from Darwin.

Situation

Key to decarbonising INPEX’s LNG operations in the Northern Territory is the development of a CCS compression system at Bladin Point.

The proposed Bonaparte Carbon Capture and Storage Project Assessment Joint Venture have commenced preliminary front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) work following the drilling of two CO₂ storage appraisal wells and approximately 1,800 km³ of 3D seismic data acquisition.

These efforts confirmed the presence of a high-quality saline aquifer reservoir and thick sealing formations in the Bonaparte Basin—key indicators of a viable site for safe, permanent carbon storage.

The extracted CO₂ is proposed to be compressed at Ichthys LNG and transported via a pipeline to a permanent underground storage reservoir in the Bonaparte Basin, off the Northern Territory’s northwest coast.

In July 2025, the Australian Government awarded Major Project Status to the proposed Bonaparte Carbon Capture and Storage Project.

Approach

Leveraging a decade-long relationship with the Northern Territory Government, INPEX is continuing to strengthen its strategic collaboration to harness the Territory’s abundant natural gas resources and decarbonising their operations.

Solution

INPEX and the Northern Territory Government signed a significant commitment statement in July 2022 to accelerate complementary net zero transition targets and initiatives including the realisation of CCS technologies and generate new economic and social opportunities.

The agreement features three pillars for strategic alignment, collaboration and synergy, including:

1. an increase in LNG production capacity and expansion of its facility at Bladin Point
2. creation of a CCS Hub (at the Middle ArmPrecinct)
3. development of carbon storage in the Bonaparte Basin.

Outcomes

The proposed Bonaparte CCS Project is a Joint Venture between INPEX - the operator, TotalEnergies and Woodside Energy.

The Joint Venture intends to transport and store CO₂ safely and permanently offshore northern Australia in the Bonaparte Basin proposing to commence CO₂ injection around 2030.

At-a-glance