Keeping gas flowing through Cyclone Narelle

May 2026

What Cyclone Narelle revealed about WA’s gas market resilience

The challenge

The Carnarvon Basin underpins WA’s gas supply. As Narelle approached, production at Karratha, Wheatstone and Varanus Island was disrupted, affecting facilities that typically supply around 55% of the state’s gas market. The cyclone also forced the shutdown of Tubridgi and Mondarra storage, alongside Waitsia and Xyris production further south.

The shortfall reached 650TJ a day between 26 March and 3 April, the market relied heavily on storage and pipeline flexibility to maintain supply. On 28 March, the gasTrading Spot Market^TM was interrupted for the first time in its history and remained offline for seven days.

This was, in every sense, a rare high-impact event. In fast-moving supply disruptions, timing and flexibility become just as important as contracted volume.

This kind of disruption shows the difference between having a contract and having a plan.

The solution

Our priority was clear: Maintain supply continuity and minimise curtailment risk for clients. That outcome was driven by three factors.

1. We positioned ahead of the disruption

EMG didn’t wait for Narelle to make landfall. We built a positive imbalance position, effectively buffering gas in the pipeline while conditions allowed and operating within DBNGP operator constraints.

2. We maximised storage flexibility

Storage accounted for around 20% of our supply response. We actively managed intraday and day-ahead movements to maintain a positive pipeline balance and respond to shifting curtailment conditions.

3. We secured returning supply early

Throughout the disruption, we worked with producers to secure As-Available supply arrangements. This enabled us to restore firm supply quickly, rebuild customer positions and support the return of stability to the spot market.

Results and industry impact

By early April, production across key facilities was steadily restored, with the market returning to normal operations shortly after. Importantly, our clients came through one of WA’s most significant gas supply events with minimal disruption. We were assisted by customers reducing nominations, demonstrating resilience across the gas market is a shared effort. Three lessons stand out.

1. Resilience is built before disruption occurs
   An extended disruption of this scale is unusual, but not impossible. Contingency planning must reflect the real scale of risk, not just normal operating conditions.
2. Diversification matters more than price during supply shocks
   Gorgon and Macedon were largely spared, and their customers avoided major curtailment. That was luck, not strategy. Supply diversification remains one of the most effective ways to manage exposure during system-wide disruptions
3. Storage buys time, not immunity
   Storage is invaluable as an immediate response tool over days or weeks, but it is finite and comes at a cost. Beyond that window, the market rebalances – often at materially higher prices.