Shell Australia has won approval from the relevant statutory authority to develop the Crux gas field in the Browse basin, offshore northwest Australia.

The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) accepted the proposal from Shell after two years of assessments.

It is now subject to further regulatory approvals including an accepted environment plan, a well operations management plan and facility safety case before activity can begin.

The proposal consists of a platform and five production wells tied back to the Prelude Floating LNG facility through a 165km export pipeline.

Shell plans to operate the project remotely from the Prelude facility and the development is expected to include a subsea integration system comprising risers, subsea isolation facilities, pipeline inspection gauge receiver and associated controls systems.