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At Barrow Island, noise emissions from the Revised Proposal have the potential to affect
sensitive terrestrial and marine fauna.
Occupied buildings in the vicinity of the Gas Treatment Plant and the Gorgon
Construction village/ Turnaround Camp will be built to comply with the recommended
noise levels in AS2107:2000 (Acoustics – Recommended design sound levels and
reverberation times for building interiors).
Ambient noise levels from the development will be assessed against the noise
acceptance criteria listed in Table 11.2. These criteria are referenced from the Western
Australian Noise Regulations.
NOTES:
LAmax: A noise level that is not to be exceeded at any time.
LA1: A noise level that is not to be exceeded for more than 1% of the time.
LA10: A noise level that is not to be exceeded for more than 10% of the time.
1. Industrial and utility premises: classification under Schedule 1, Part A (5) of the Noise Regulations – any
premises used for sand, gravel, clay, limestone, or rock excavation (i.e. a quarry).
2. Noise-sensitive: applies at locations further than 15 m from a building associated with a noise-sensitive
use.
It is proposed to apply the assigned noise limits for industrial and utility premises to the
proposed Gorgon Administration Area, and the noise sensitive development noise limits
to the Gorgon Construction Village and existing Chevon Camp.
Where the noise is received 15 m from a dwelling (or the like) on noise sensitive
premises, the Noise Regulations require that the assigned levels be determined by
inclusion of the influencing factor. The factor accounts for the presence of
industrial/utility or commercial land or major roads within 450 m of the receiving
premises. In the case of the Gorgon Construction Village and the existing Chevron
Camp, there is no such development or a major road within 450 m of these, therefore the
influencing factor should be taken as nil decibels.
Equipment noise limits were based on the general project requirement of 82 dB(A) at 1
m from equipment casings or surfaces, with the exception of air coolers, where the
prescribed limit is 85 dB(A) at 1 m underneath the air cooler fan.
Noise contour maps were calculated at an elevation of 1.5 m above grade. These maps
represent a composite model of the noise emissions from the Gas Treatment Plant.
In summary, although the predicted noise levels from the Revised Proposal at sensitive
receptors are predicted to increase in comparison to the Approved Development, this
increase is relatively small and noise levels still comply with the assigned levels under
the Western Australian Noise Regulations.
Noise predictions for the Revised Proposal at the specified sensitive receptor locations
are provided in Table 11.4, Figure 11.1 and Figure 11.2. These predictions do not
consider the ambient noise conditions, which in some cases could overpower noise
contributions from the Gas Treatment Plant.
The increase of in predicted sound pressure levels (i.e. between 6 and 8 dB(A) on
average) is due to several factors:
♦ the increase in sound power level of the Gas Treatment Plant due to contributions of
the additional LNG train, Acid Gas Removal Units (AGRUs), and CO2 re-injection
compressor
♦ the change of assumptions for the ground type over which sound is propagating. It is
now assumed that an acoustically “hard” ground is present for all areas over which
sound is propagating, which is in accordance with noise level prediction methodology
outlined in EPA Guidance Statement No.8 (EPA 2007a)
♦ the small change in temperature and humidity assumptions to align with
requirements outlined in EPA Guidance Statement No. 8 (EPA 2007a).
Table 11.5 presents the results of a noise study for noise levels from the ground flare at
1.75 m above ground.
>105 100
85–90 505
75–80 1131
70–75 1697
65–70 2505
With the present location of the ground flare (on the western side of the Gas Treatment
Plant plot plan) the noise levels likely to be experienced at the Gorgon Construction
Village/Turnaround Camp and the existing Chevron Camp during plant upset or
emergency events are well below 65 dB(A). These noise levels may never be
experienced as a flaring rate of the magnitude used in the study is considered to be a
very unlikely event.
The Administration Area, although in proximity to the Gas Treatment Plant, will be built
and acoustically insulated to ensure the relevant Australian occupational health and
safety standards are met.
Speed restrictions imposed on LNG carriers and condensate tankers within the Port
limits will ensure that noise associated with engines will be kept as low as reasonably
practicable. LNG carriers and condensate tankers, escorted by infield vessels (pilot boat
and tugs) will also follow a pre-determined safe access corridor to the LNG Jetty, which
will therefore result in noise affecting the same marine areas in and out of the Port of
Barrow Island.
Supply vessel visits will not increase at the same proportion as the increase in LNG
carriers and condensate tanker visits and therefore the frequency at which this noise
source is present in the Port of Barrow Island should not significantly increase.
Support vessels (i.e. pilot boat and tugs) will be purpose built to GJV’s specifications and
requirements. These specifications include a number of environmental considerations
including light spill, noise and air emissions, as well as marine discharges.
These measures define the best practice approach to noise mitigation for this type of
Gas Treatment Plant.
Based on the modelling completed, increases in noise levels at the Gorgon Construction
Village and the existing Chevron Camp are expected to be minimal and well below the
noise levels prescribed in the Noise Regulations. The noise design philosophy
(developed to be consistent with EIS/ERMP commitments made in relation to the
Approved Development) is expected to manage the increase in noise emissions from the
Revised Proposal to a level consistent with that considered acceptable and therefore
approved for the Approved Development, and to meet the EPA objective on noise
emissions (section 11.1.1).