The future of Woodside Energy's North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia faces potential delays as federal Environment Minister Murray Watt announced that the resources company has additional time to address his provisional approval.

Last month, Watt expressed his support for the continued operation of the onshore gas processing plant for an additional 40 years, contingent upon strict conditions aimed at protecting the ancient Aboriginal rock art found in Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula.

Watt indicated that while the original 10-day comment period for Woodside to respond to the proposed conditions expires on Friday, it is common for companies in such situations to require more time.

"We haven't received a final response from Woodside at this point," he stated in an interview, adding that he could not predict when the company would finalize its comments.

Woodside Energy confirmed in a statement that both it and the federal government have agreed to extend the response timeline, acknowledging the significance of the proposed conditions, particularly concerning cultural heritage management and air quality.

However, the company did not specify the duration of the extension.

Complications may arise from Raelene Cooper, a traditional owner who has initiated a Federal Court case to compel the minister to conduct a cultural heritage assessment prior to any final decision on the project.

Cooper stated that Watt agreed to provide her with three business days' notice before making a final decision, allowing her time to consider seeking an injunction.

She has expressed concerns regarding the potential threats to her cultural heritage by the continued expansion of industrial activities on Murujuga.

The North West Shelf is recognized as Australia's largest oil and gas production area, situated off the north-west coast near Karratha.

The site employs offshore platforms and undersea pipelines to extract gas, which is processed at the onshore facility.

In 2018, Woodside submitted a request to extend the operational life of the plant beyond its then-2020 limit, a process that has faced scrutiny and debate before both state and federal authorities.

The proposed extension is essential for Woodside to expand its operations into previously untapped gas fields, particularly the Browse fields north of Broome.

With reserves believed to fulfill Australia’s domestic gas requirements for nearly two decades, the extension aims to exploit these resources without the need for new processing infrastructure.

However, Woodside has yet to secure approval to initiate drilling activities in the Browse area, which continues to undergo environmental assessment after a lengthy review period.

While the extension has been considered a strategic move for economic growth in Western Australia, it has drawn criticism from environmental advocates.

Concerns focus on the project's potential ecological impact, including its emissions and their compatibility with the state’s climate goals.

Additionally, the proximity of the Browse fields to Scott Reef, a habitat for endangered marine species, has raised alarms among conservation groups.

Traditional Owners are also considering legal avenues to challenge the North West Shelf extension, emphasizing the risks posed to ancient rock art in the vicinity.

Proponents, however, argue that natural gas plays a pivotal role as a transitional energy source in the shift towards renewable energy and as a significant export to nations transitioning away from coal.