Chevron seeks bigger bite out of Barrow CHEVRON has back-tracked on promises that it would not require any extra land for its $52 billion Gorgon LNG project on environmentally fragile Barrow Island, with the company asking for permission to expand its footprint by more than 10 per cent. The US energy giant has already used the 300ha of uncleared land on Barrow Island that is permitted under West Australian legislation, prompting it to ask the Environmental Protection Authority for permission to clear an extra 32ha of land on the A-class nature reserve. Under the Barrow Island Act passed in 2003, Chevron was limited to 300ha for the massive Gorgon plant, which is under construction and is due to be completed in 2015. Amendments to the act, which would allow Chevron and its partners Shell and ExxonMobil to expand to 332ha, are expected to be debated in parliament in coming days. The application comes despite assurances by Chevron in the past that it would not need to expand beyond the original footprint. The move highlights the numerous problems Chevron has experienced in building Gorgon on Barrow Island. According to Chevron's application to the EPA, the extra 32ha of uncleared land is needed to make way for temporary offices, workshops, laydown facilities, warehouses and parking areas. A Chevron spokesman confirmed yesterday that the Gorgon partners were in fact using cleared land on Barrow Island in addition to the 300ha footprint granted by the state government. The additional land being used -- believed to be at least 100ha -- was originally cleared by the WA Oil joint venture, which is also run by Chevron. "The existing 300ha uncleared land limit always contemplated the use of land previously cleared by WA Oil joint venture," the Chevron spokesman said. Greens MP Robin Chapple said Chevron's bid for more land was an example of "incremental expansion" and should be opposed. He said companies traditionally sought initial approval for the smallest possible footprint in the knowledge that they could expand at a later date.