Gas Processing Chemicals: What Buru’s Rafael Project Means for WA

Posted on 12 Oct 2026

Gas processing chemicals sit behind every pipeline-ready molecule. This week, a Kimberley gas project put that supply chain back in focus. On 12 October 2026, ABC Kimberley reported that Buru Energy has referred its Rafael conventional gas project to the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Information as at 12 October 2026, from the sources listed at the end.

What Buru has put to the EPA

To begin with, Rafael sits in the Canning Basin, in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. According to ABC, the proposal covers a facility that would process conventional gas from two co-located production wells. Moreover, ABC notes that conventional gas comes from simple drilling and pumping, not hydraulic fracturing.

Buru expects an EPA decision by the end of 2026. In addition, it hopes to produce first gas in early 2029. Executive chairman David Maxwell told ABC the plant could produce up to 300 tonnes of LNG a day, about 16 to 17 terajoules, plus LPG and condensate. For context, ABC reports that the Kimberley uses 6 to 13 terajoules a day for power generation, depending on the season.

Other public detail comes from Buru’s own reporting. For instance, a Kalkine Media summary of its June-quarter update names two wells, Rafael 1 and Rafael 2H, with a drilling programme planned for 2027. It also says that partner Clean Energy Fuels Australia would build, own and operate the processing facilities. Separately, Business News (in a sponsored-content article) reports a final investment decision targeted for the second half of 2027, with 2P reserves of 65.74 billion cubic feet of sales gas, 98,500 tonnes of LPG and 2.89 million barrels of condensate. However, all dates depend on approvals.

Where gas processing chemicals fit in a plant like this

Raw gas rarely meets sales or LNG specifications as it leaves the well. Fortunately, the overview of natural-gas processing on Wikipedia lays out the usual steps. First, separators remove free water and condensate. Next, operators have historically used amine treating to strip hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide.

Dehydration comes next. After that, operators can remove water by absorption in triethylene glycol. Consequently, this step helps prevent methane hydrates forming in the plant or the sales pipeline. Then, adsorbents remove mercury, because it can damage equipment through amalgamation and embrittlement of aluminium. Finally, plants separate recovered liquids such as propane and butane for sale as LPG.

However, the sources reviewed do not describe Rafael’s treatment design. Therefore, that material does not say which of these steps apply, or which gas processing chemicals they use. This article makes no claim about Buru’s plant.

Glycols and methanol: the hydrate-control side of gas processing chemicals

Hydrate control is a recurring chemical task in gas handling. For example, the gas hydrate overview says methanol, monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) are the most common thermodynamic inhibitors. Each lowers the temperature at which hydrates form.

The choice between them is practical. Specifically, the same source says MEG is the better option where temperatures may fall to -10 °C or below, because DEG becomes too viscous. It also notes that operators can recover and recirculate all three, although recovering methanol is usually not economical. In addition, methanol escapes to the gas phase in larger amounts than MEG or DEG.

Whether a small onshore development needs hydrate inhibition at all depends on its design. Still, these trade-offs show why glycol and methanol specifications matter to anyone planning supply. See our pages on MEG supply in Australia and methanol supply in Australia for product detail.

Milestones to watch for gas processing chemicals planning

Projects like Rafael move in stages. Consequently, each stage changes what buyers can plan around. The dates reported so far are:

Late 2026: the EPA’s decision on the referral (Buru’s expectation, per ABC).
December 2026: Buru’s target for finalising its Traditional Owner agreement (per Kalkine’s summary of the quarterly report).
2027: the planned Rafael drilling programme, followed by a final investment decision in the second half of the year.
Early 2029: Buru’s hoped-for first gas.

Each date depends on approvals and funding. For that reason, buyers should start specification and sourcing conversations once the design is public.

Key Takeaways

Buru Energy has referred the Rafael conventional gas project to the WA EPA, and it expects a decision by the end of 2026.
Buru describes a plant of up to 300 tonnes of LNG a day, plus LPG and condensate, and hopes for first gas in early 2029.
Typical gas processing steps use amines, glycols, adsorbents and hydrate inhibitors, but the sources reviewed do not describe Rafael’s treatment design.
In addition, MEG, DEG and methanol are the most common thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors, and MEG suits temperatures of -10 °C or below.

Talk to the UD Trading team about gas processing chemicals. Email enquiries@udtrading.com.au or visit udtrading.com.au.