Tirrawarra Compression Hub Optimisation Project (TCHOP)

The Tirrawarra Compression Hub Optimisation Project (TCHOP) is an industrial energy efficiency project located at the Tirrawarra Oil and Gas Field, approximately 50km north of the Moomba processing facility in the Cooper Basin of South Australia. Registered on September 7, 2021, the project is situated in a remote pastoral unincorporated area characterised by arid desert landscapes, including the distinctive dunes and gibber plains of the Sturt Stony Desert. The region is predominantly used for petroleum extraction and extensive pastoral grazing, with the nearest significant industry settlement being the Moomba camp.

The project operates under the "Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency" methodology. This framework credits activities that reduce the energy consumed by industrial equipment, such as upgrading compressors or installing variable speed drives. For this specific project, the activities involve "Process drives," which likely refers to the modification or replacement of gas compression units to improve fuel efficiency. Specific industry reports link the project to the "Tirrawarra LLP Upgrade," which involved integrating Low Low Pressure (LLP) compression facilities into the existing satellite infrastructure to optimize gas recovery and reduce fuel usage.

The environment of the Cooper Basin is harsh and arid, with very low, variable rainfall and soils consisting of ancient desert loams, clay pans, and red sand. The Tirrawarra field itself holds historical significance as the site of the first oil discovery in the Cooper Basin in 1970, proving the region held more than just natural gas. Santos, the project proponent, manages this facility as part of its broader operations in the basin, which also includes the nearby Moomba Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project, demonstrating a wider strategic focus on emissions reduction in this hydrocarbon-rich province.