The draft EIS applies to all aspects of the proposed project including the offshore processing facilities at the Ichthys field in the Browse Basin, the subsea gas pipeline to Darwin, and the onshore LNG plant in Darwin.

Inpex Browse managing director Seiya Ito said the statement demonstrated that the project could be developed in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner while delivering economic benefits to the Australian and Northern Territory communities.

"Economic modelling for the Ichthys project indicates the Australian economy will benefit by an estimated $A3.5 billion annually. This includes an expansion of the Northern Territory economy by an average of nearly 18% annually," he said.

Ito also called on the community to get involved in the eight-week review process saying it could only improve the quality and integrity of the assessment process.

The draft EIS, which caps several years of surveys and studies, covers marine ecological studies in Darwin Harbour, along the pipeline route and at the field, ecological studies of potentially affected areas near Blaydin Point, air and water quality monitoring, wastewater discharge and emissions modelling, as well as socio-economic impact and growth assessments.

A final investment decision on the $US20 billion ($A22.7 billion) Ichthys project is scheduled for the fourth quarter of next year.

FID was expected sometime this year but was ruled out in May with no reasons given for the decision.

The Ichthys projects includes plans for what could be the world's largest floating processing platform, capable of stripping out 100,000 barrels of condensate per day, along with a subsea pipeline of more than 850 kilometres long to the onshore LNG plant at Blaydin Point in Darwin.

Ichthys will have an initial output of 8.4 million tonnes per annum of LNG from two trains. It also will produce about 1.6MMtpa of liquefied petroleum gas. First gas is expected in 2016.

Inpex holds a 76% stake in Ichthys while Total has the remaining 24%.