SANTOS has claimed it will only concentrate on its Narrabri gas project, despite fears of further gas wells being developed across North West NSW following the release of a map of prospective basins at a Santos investor seminar last month.
The seminar in Sydney included a map of seven prospective gas reserves across the region, claiming the area had the potential to "underpin NSW's energy supply".
Pictured aboive is Santos' map of prospective coal seam gas basins, shown at the recent investor seminar.
Anti-Coal Seam Gas organisation the Northwest Alliance, was outraged, with members saying it proved Santos had plans to expand beyond Narrabri.
"Finally, we have confirmation of Santos' long-term plans for our region and it demonstrates what the communities of the North West have long feared," said Northwest Alliance member Sarah Ciesiolka, Wee Waa.
Ms Ciesiolka said Santos showed a disregard for community views by showing the map to investors.
Santos' Energy NSW general manager Peter Mitchley denied this.
"Our position has not changed," Mr Mitchley said.
"The development of the Narrabri Gas Project is the focus of our work in NSW.
"While we are focusing on the proposed project, it is well known Santos holds acreage across the broader North West region.
"The map in question shows this acreage and the prospective basins within that exploration area."
Future development of the acreage on the map would only proceed with landholder consent and thorough community consultation, Mr Mitchley said.
"We have been very clear we will only drill where the landholder is happy to work with us.
"Earlier this year we signed the agreed principles of land access with AGL, NSW Farmers, NSW irrigators and Cotton Australia to reinforce this commitment."
Above the map shown to investors, the words "Santos acreage covers seven sub-basins across the Gunnedah Basin" were written.
The sub-basins of Taroom, Bellata, Maules Creek, Bando, Tooraweena, Murrurundi and Bohena Trough were then singled out on the map.
However, in the notes to the investor seminar preceding the map, there was no mention of any potential projects in any areas outside of the existing Narrabri project.
There was an update on the proposed next steps for the project, which included the drilling of a further seven wells in core areas, and looking at commercial pathways to include smaller regional supply and a dedicated pipeline into the NSW market.
In terms of further exploration in Australia, the Santos seminar limited this to areas in northern Australia, including McArthur, Denison and Carnarvon.