Exxon identifies 8 species near gas field US oil giant ExxonMobil has identified eight threatened marine species that could inhabit the area around its proposed offshore gas processing plant. Exxon lodged documents with the federal environment department on Tuesday, saying a final investment decision on the remote offshore floating LNG project in Western Australia's Scarborough gas field would be made in 2014. The field is 220km north west of the world heritage-listed Ningaloo reef. Four endangered species, including blue whales, leatherback turtles, loggerhead turtles and southern giant petrel were identified as moving within a 10km buffer of the proposed plant, Exxon said in documents filed on Tuesday. "It is likely blue whales will occasionally transit through, however the site does not overlap any recognised blue whale migratory routes or known feeding, breeding or resting areas and it is unlikely that significant numbers will occur," Exxon's submission said. The company said four vulnerable species, including humpback whales, had been identified in the same region. Exxon said worst case scenario modelling for an oil and gas spill showed the Ningaloo reef would not be significantly affected in terms of water quality.